Bio – Michael Winningham

According to Korean custom, your first birthday is one of the most important. Friend’s and family gather together to host a feast marking the important milestone in a child’s life. This ceremony blesses the child with a prosperous future and has taken on great significance in Korean culture. The birthday baby wears a traditional garment called a hanbok and the boys wear a hat called a hogeon (호건).

My first birthday was exactly that. Food, cakes, candies, gifts, thread, books, brushes, small dangerous items, money, and gold among other things were presented to me like a little emperor. However, the highlight of this celebration is when I symbolically foretold my destiny. While seated at the table, I picked an object, as it is believed the one selected first will foretell the child’s future.

At my core, I’m an entrepreneur with an unquenchable thirst for the business world. The business section is always my first stop in any news cycle, where I immerse myself in the stories of incredible ventures and the people behind them. My curiosity is boundless; I love to explore every detail. Science also captivates me, stirring the geek within as I delve into the latest discoveries. Creativity is a constant undercurrent in my thoughts, as I’m forever sketching out new ideas, blending colors and sounds in imaginative ways. My mind is always active, always questioning.

This entrepreneurial mindset and creative zeal translate into a deep empathy for customers and users in the business realm. I have a knack for visual and auditory storytelling, which I believe makes me an effective UX Designer. The fusion of these traits—my empathy for the user experience and my creative abilities—shapes my approach to design, one that is as thoughtful as it is innovative.

Played saxophone on field of a NFL half-time show
Swam under waterfalls in Hawaii
Drank tequila in Mexico
Roller skated in Times Square
Drove across the United States (twice)
Lived in Montreal
Sat on a water buffalo in Thailand
Rode a scooter in Vietnam
Had a close call with an alligator
Snowboarded up and down Pacific Northwest
Witnessed my dad pull a man from a burning house
Went to college while still in high school
Island hopped the Cyclades
Worked at a fine art gallery (handled a real Picasso)
Got married
Take a helicopter ride (2024 resolution #1)
Fly a glider (2024 resolution #2)
Learn to sail (2024 resolution #3)

VOLUNTEERING

I consider myself a giver, usually seeking ways to serve. This is important to me. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with and meeting many amazing people through my volunteer work at senior centers, shelters, public schools, youth services, hospitals, food banks and meal programs, farms, community parks, and many other non-profit organizations.

Retail Sporting Goods (best job at the mall)
Shoney’s Restaurant (aka Denny’s)
Wendy’s
Pizza Hut
Lincoln Mercury Car Dealership (delivered cars)
Classified ad sales (hustler)
Florist (flower delivery)
Car wash (worked here in the morning)
Handyman at the Holiday Inn (worked here in the afternoon)
Janitor
Pre-school teacher
Easter bunny at the mall
DJ/Events promoter
Security alarms sales
Hickory Farms Meats (sales)
Movie theater (popcorn, tickets)
Airport shuttle driver
Film editor
Corporate mailroom
Valet
Telemarketer (what a horrible job!)
File clerk
Medical office receptionist
Food-runner / Waiter
Tour guide

AN ARTIST FROM THE BEGINNING

FAST FORWARD

SOME THINGS I’VE DONE

VOLUNTEERING

INTERESTING JOBS I’VE HAD

Business in the front

REACH OUT