Michael Monnich Email & Phone Number

‘A baker, a biologist and an accountant walk into bar…’ sounds like the set-up for a bad joke – except that all three are one person... me. All three were careers of mine at one time in my life. All three contribute distinct attributes to my success in Project Management. Where most people raise an eyebrow trying to see any connection to biology, cooking and accounting. And from my perspective it was all very logical… well maybe not a straight line but given the skill sets I was working with – it makes sense. A marine biologist studies ecosystems, migration patterns, the effects of water diversion projects on salinity and tidal flows, etc. In cooking always something new to explore, taste, attempt. Best cookbook ever – Julia Childs “Mastering The Art of French Cooking”. It dispenses fundamental techniques that provides the tools to create anything you can imagine. The customer will know if you cheated – maybe not all of them – but some will. My softball friend has a saying, “perform the fundamentals well and the spectacular will happen”. It applies to sports, cooking, business, and life in general. Know your craft, regardless of what it is, from the ground up. If you do, you’ll know how and why things happen.Cooking was a wonderful career- it gave me the opportunity to travel, work, learn and eventually teach in other countries. Project Management – it’s just like doing a big catering. Scope it, staff it, execute, then clean up. PM is all about managing talents. Know your staff and what their strengths are, then put them in the best position to be successful.A Henry Ford quote has always resonated with me, “If you think you can; if you think you can’t, you’re right.” I remember it partially because I didn’t understand what it the first time. I had to slow down and read it with the punctuation. The accomplishment any task happens in your head first. The subject doesn’t matter. Success will be what you make it. And you make your own success.