Michael Cook

For the past 21 years I have been operating a modest sized Organizational Development Company based in Rochester, New York. For many years we worked almost exclusively in the Rochester area, now our marketing takes us throughout Upstate New York. This was a strategic choice on my part as I had a son at home, Jackson, who has now grown and just turned 23. The other boys have grown and done very well in life. Aaron, (39) lives in Portland, Oregon. He and his wife Dena now have two girls, Riley (6) and Reese (almost 2). Matthew (37) lives in the Allentown, PA area with his wife Donnelle, they have two sons, Miles (3) and Shaw (1.5). I also now have a daughter through my most recent marriage, Gretchen (42) who lives near us in Bow, WA

Anyway, when last heard from I was I married to the lovely and demanding Janice, who made it her life’s work to see to it that this frog got his Prince stripes. That status is now changed yet one more time and I am now married to the lovely and even more demanding Pat Jackson, who thanks Janice everyday for the great job she did preparing me for my third marriage. Many of you know that I was first married to Pat Wery for 5 years and she too is to be commended for getting me off to a good start and for doing so much of the heavy work of raising our sons. Patty and I, and her husband John, my second wife Janice, her husband Stewart and now my third wife, Pat and I have all worked very closely over the years to surround our three boys and now our daughter and the grandsons and daughters with love and guidance.

I know some of you did it with just two parents but it has taken all six of us in our case. But the job gets done and we are a close and very extended family, from Pat and John in Delaware to Janice and Stewart in Rochester to Pat and I now living in Anacortes, WA we have the country covered.

The past four years I have begun a slow departure from Vitalwork my business founded in Rochester, New York. Since I last saw the “gang” I have authored and published a book, ‘THRIVE: Standing on Your Own Two Feet in a Borderless World’ and now regularly write a blog, www.heartofengagement.com and also contribute articles on a regular basis to several business publications. My focus these days as I develop the next expression of my commitments is the creation of resilient, sustainable local economic communities. My central focus remains the same, making the workplace a sacred space.

While my most extensive experience has been in larger organizations I see the future of the American economy dependent to much greater extent on smaller vital companies interconnected with others to form robust communities of commerce. People will always go to work; they will focus more on having the fruits of their labors contribute to their local communities

My life is full, rich, I am blessed and humbled by the opportunities which have come my way.