Michael co-founded FIRMA Foreign Exchange in 1998 and remained its Co-CEO until 2013. FIRMA was the largest non-bank, privately owned financial services company in Canada, transacting over $14B/yr, through locations in five countries.

In 2007, he was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. FIRMA won recognition as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed companies from Deloitte, Best Workplaces in Canada, and Best Medium Sized Employer in Canada, among other corporate awards. From 2013 to 2022, Michael remained as a director of FIRMA, which was acquired by OFX, an Australian public company, in May 2022 for CAD$90M.

Michael was also elected to Edmonton City Council in October 2013.

He more recently founded Blue Pen Capital, which finances and invests in a variety of businesses.

He is currently on the board of The Business Link (Board Chair) and Startup TNT (Board Chair), and mentors small business owners via the UofA’s Venture Mentoring Service and through other advisory positions.