Michael Siegel comes to SCORE with over 35 years’ experience in healthcare and healthcare IT.  Michael grew up on Long Island, NY and after earning a BS in Biology from Moravian College and an MA in Developmental Biology from Temple University, Michael started his healthcare career at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Michael’s early work with the National Cancer Institute at NIH led to his selection as Executive Director of the new Comprehensive Cancer Center for the State of Florida under the auspices of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. Following the successful launch of the statewide Cancer Center, Michael joined IBM as a Medical Industry Account Executive, selling and implementing computer systems in healthcare organizations throughout South Florida. Michael then became minority owner of a Medical Personnel Pool homecare franchise (now Interim Services) where, combining his sales, systems and operations knowledge, he tripled the company’s sales and achieved profitability in only thirteen months. Michael then joined Interim’s Corporate Management Team to establish the company’s first professional IT Department where he served as CIO for the next 8 years. During Michael’s tenure at Interim, the company expanded rapidly and increased annual revenues from $250 million to $650 million. Over the next twenty years, Michael served as CIO for several other large, successful homecare organizations, including Maxim Healthcare Services, Addus Healthcare Services, and Memorial Health’s home health division, CareOne.  After a thirteen year absence to pursue his work at Maxim Healthcare Services in Maryland, Michael and his wife, Gail, returned to Savannah in 2010. Happy to be “back home” in Savannah, Michael now works part time as a successful homecare IT consultant, is honing his skills as a nature photographer, enjoys using his marine biology background as a volunteer at the UGA Marine Extension Service on Skidaway Island, and is looking forward to working with the SCORE team helping aspiring Savannah-area entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams.

I have experience in all aspects of starting operating and exiting a successful small business.

I founded a business in 1989 where we serviced medical electronics equipment. We began with an initial investment of $1,000 and grew the business to over 5 million dollars annually. We have done this without debt.

I developed and implemented an exit strategy that allowed me to retire in 2011.

Prior to starting the business I was COO of a company that sold capital equipment to hospitals and doctors offices.

Publicly-traded company CEO and senior executive responsibilities in diverse enterprises. Engaged in numerous start-ups, M&A, business expansions and operations including partnerships, not-for-profit and investor-owned companies.   Experienced as first-level manager progressing to corporate positions in human resources, operations, marketing, labor relations, emergency preparedness, and business development culminating job as corporate CEO and board director of national company. Managed organizations from Newco to as large as 24,000 employees and more than $3 billion annual net revenues throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Started successful family-owned small business and had very successful personal consulting practice. International experience as consultant in Dubai and England.  Business/cultural team to Finland.  Wall Street experience includes multiple investor banking presentations, investor relations, and 'road shows' for new equity.  Experienced in Washington and state-level governmental relations including working with established lobbying firms and doing lobbying.  Available for disaster relief.  Developed numerous and diverse business plans and engaged.

An expert in business process design and continuous improvement with a strong background in operations. Skilled in helping small business owners develop organizational structures which ensure change is managed so risks can be optimized as they experience growth and react to variations in their business situations. Between my business consulting experience and 10+ years in the food manufacturing and chemical processing industries and have helped save millions of dollars through projects focused on eliminating waste (practical application of lean management principles). My approach is to work with people who want to genuinely and effectively lead their organizations successfully and with conviction and help them develop their "plans for excellence". Through the practical organizational leadership model I developed, I teach individuals and teams how to set the conditions for success and create a continuous improvement culture by fulfilling leadership principles as they apply to each business' unique business needs and processes. I have a Master's Degree in Business Administration and a Master Certificate in Executive Coaching (both earned in 2012 from Bellevue University). I served in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer (officer) and in the Military Police (enlisted). It was during my time in the military that I recognized the concept of "practical leadership" which I have developed over the course of my business career and teach others to apply to create high-performance teams and organizations of excellence.