Raised in the rural agricultural community of Malin in south-central Oregon, Michael graduated from Lost River High School and moved to Medford in 1994 after earning a B.S. in Civil Engineering from McNeese State University. As a civil engineer in the Rogue Valley, he has designed a wide variety of roadway, utility, and structural projects in the community. He has also earned a Masters's Degree in Bridge Engineering.
Michael's career in public service began in 2012, with an appointment to the Medford Planning Commission and then election to the Medford City Council in 2014. He served two terms on the Medford City Council, which included additional service as a Director for the Medford Urban Renewal Agency (MURA) and membership on both the City of Medford and MURA Budget Committees.
In addition to elected roles, he has held several ex-officio positions, including liaison to the Medford Water Commission, member of the Regional Rate Committee (responsible for wastewater treatment services oversight), involvement with the Medford Youth Baseball Society, Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Oregon Metropolitan Planning Organization Consortium.
Beyond elected office, his current community service involvement includes membership on the Medford Vision Committee and as a Board Director for ACCESS and the Howard Memorial Sports Park.
Michael has been married to Amy Zarosinski since 1997. Amy is a certified public accountant and also serves the community as a Board Director with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and the Maslow Project, as well as a member on the City of Medford Audit Committee. Their daughter, Morgan, was born and raised in Medford and is also a certified public accountant working at an international accounting firm in Portland.