“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11
Thirty-two years. It’s a span of time almost as old as TRI itself, and for one employee, it represents more than half a lifetime spent with the company. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know him as Mike—the easygoing, happy-go-lucky graphic artist who, over the years, developed into one of the cornerstones of our company, and a beloved member of our TRI family.
Mike’s journey began not with a grand career plan, but with a part-time job during his senior year at Cal Poly Pomona. “My intent was to never stay that long,” he admits with a laugh, noting that all his family and friends were back home in San Diego. But as the months turned into years (and more and more years…), something unexpected happened. The people at TRI became his family. His home away from home. The company’s culture, including morning circle prayers, worship sessions and Bible study groups, helped him grow in his faith. “God had other plans for me,” he reflects, “for which I am so grateful.”
For three decades, Mike has been surrounded by first aid supplies, yet he has a confession: for years, he never carried a kit himself. “The irony is I have been around first aid 24/7, I forget to carry one,” he says. But that all changed with the birth of his six-year-old son. “Now, I never leave home without one.”
Despite the serious nature of our work, Mike’s career has been anything but boring. Once the Director of R&D and now our Product Design Engineer, he’s seen his share of wild ideas—but one stands out as a “ridiculous creative idea” that almost became a reality: a bandage case that dispensed bandages like a measuring tape (Can you imagine?!). The team even patented the design, hoping to get it into Home Depot for construction workers to wear on their belts. Unfortunately, it was a great idea that just couldn’t be manufactured properly—but it’s a testament to the creative, outside-the-box thinking Mike has always brought to the table.
The Art of Inspiration
For Mike, inspiration comes from three powerful sources that fuel his creative work and his personal life.
First and foremost is his son. “He gives me reason,” Mike says, explaining that his son drives him to get healthier, be a better role model, and “strive to be a kid again and enjoy the simple things in life.”
His second inspiration is a feeling he gets from his work. “Knowing that the things I design will one day help someone, inspire someone, or affect someone emotionally… when someone says ‘wow’ always gives me that adrenaline rush to keep on designing.”
Finally, he credits golf legend Tiger Woods for inspiring his work ethic. “His training and dedication to the game encouraged me to apply the same work ethic to my own work as a designer and even in playing the game of golf.” He points out that golf, like design, isn’t an easy pursuit—it requires time and dedication to be great.
Finding Balance and New Passions
Outside of work, Mike is always looking for a creative outlet. While his job is all about visual communication, he finds his best way to unwind is by getting away from a screen entirely. “Definitely finding time to spend outdoors,” he says, whether it’s hiking or just taking a walk with his son.
His hobbies might also surprise you. When he’s not designing first aid products, you might find him delving into the world of crypto currency trading. “It’s different from trading stocks and it’s the future of finance,” he says with a wink. “I hope to be a millionaire one day! Lol.” He also finds creative inspiration from new technology, like the AI-based program Midjourney, which allows him to create “out of this world images that you couldn’t do just two years ago.”
Leaving his Mark
For over Thirty-Two years, Mike has been a part of countless projects, but one stands out as his proudest moment: the first time TRI got into Sam’s Club with a massive first aid kit. He not only worked on the packaging but was integral in helping design the plastic casing itself, even traveling to China to work with the vendor. “It was truly a great experience where I learned the manufacturing process,” he recalls. “The kit and design of the case has since changed, but we have been with Sam’s Club ever since, and this was the kit that started it all.”
In a way, this proudest moment is a perfect reflection of his entire career. Just as Mike built and perfected the physical building blocks of that first groundbreaking kit—from the case design to the labels—he has also been an essential building block of the company itself. For 32 years, his dedication, creativity, and warm spirit have been fundamental components of the Total Resources family, helping to build the culture and success that we know of today.
Mike’s journey proves that the best creative work is often fueled by life. His dedication to his craft is now driven by his most powerful source of inspiration: his son. That desire to be a role model and to strive for a better, healthier future for his family is the same force that pushes him to keep creating and innovating. He has a simple but powerful message for new employees and for the creative team’s future: “Never stop being creative.” He believes that with new technology and AI, there will always be something new to discover. “You just need to be inspired to think outside the case (box).”
Finally, we asked Mike for the one thing he knows about first aid now that he wished he knew as a kid. His answer is a final dose of humor and heart. “Never pick your scab,” he says, confessing that he still has scars from his childhood “war wounds.” It’s a small but perfect detail that encapsulates a career built on helping people heal, all while never losing his sense of humor.
Thirty-two years is a long time, but for Mike, it’s not just a number—it’s a story of growth, family, and a creative legacy that has helped shape TRI into the company it is today. His journey reminds us that a career can be more than a job; it can be a part of a larger, more beautiful story about finding purpose, building a family, and leaving a lasting mark on the world.
When asked what advice he’d give his younger self on his first day, his answer is both simple and wise: “Be patient, because you might be here for a while.” And true enough, he has indeed been here for a while. And for that, we at TRI are blessed.
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