Mike was born in Brooklyn, NY, but has spent the vast majority of his life in Florida. After initially moving from New York to Ocala, FL, Mike moved all over the state with his family, before eventually settling back in Ocala for high school. Mike graduated from Forest High School in 2001, and then attended college at Stetson University in DeLand, FL, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Business Law.
Afterward, Mike attended Stetson University College of Law, making him one of those rarest of beings, a Double Hatter! After graduating law school, Mike moved back to New York to work in corporate formation before realizing that his true calling was in a court room. Mike then moved back to Florida, passed the Bar Exam, and started his legal career at the Office of the Public Defender back in his hometown of Ocala. Mike worked as an Assistant Public Defender for over 13 years, defending the civil rights of thousands of his fellow citizens. Mike went to trial over 40 times, including multiple murder trials, and has handled criminal cases all over the spectrum in terms of severity.
Outside of work, Mike has worked to serve his community in a variety of ways. He served on the board of the Frank Deluca YMCA, is a member of the Marion County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and has served as a volunteer youth coach for both volleyball and wrestling.
In his free time, Mike loves to spend time with his family, consisting of his beautiful wife Renee and his three amazing daughters: Joey, Andie, and Wylie. He loves to read, go to the movies, and is an active martial artist. Also, Mike is an avid sports fan mainly (and against all evidence of any recent success) of the New York Giants, New York Knicks, and Iowa Hawkeye wrestling team.