This month, AnaVation is proud to spotlight Mick, a dedicated Cyber Security Architect/Engineer. Over the past 4 years, Mick’s journey at AnaVation has been dynamic and impactful. He has made significant contributions and has continuously grown his leadership skills.
Mick started by contributing to various business development efforts and played a pivotal role as a project owner for AnaVation’s summer internship program. His expertise led him to the DHS group, where he conducted critical Risk and Vulnerability Assessments for the customer. Today, Mick leads a team on the FBI program, responsible for developing, deploying, and maintaining an enterprise-level mobile application used by special agents. His role exemplifies his ability to combine technical expertise with leadership, delivering solutions that have a real-world impact. As Mick explains, “I love doing meaningful work on a fantastic team,” which is a sentiment that drives him to excel every day.
Mick credits AnaVation’s innovative tools and resources for supporting his work. In particular, he highlights the Bravos platform, developed by the Rapid Prototyping Group. This platform has been instrumental in managing personas and resources, essential for funding test devices critical to his team’s application development.
When asked what has kept him with AnaVation, Mick’s response is clear and heartfelt: “I just love the company. AnaVation is very supportive—great benefits, fair compensation, and awesome management that puts the customer and the work first.” Mick also appreciates our company culture. He describes it as “very well thought out, well-executed, and generous,” which resonates with his values of leadership and teamwork. His supervisors and fellow AnaVators have played a significant role in supporting his work, giving him the autonomy to lead without interference while maintaining consistent involvement and communication. Although he no longer has a formal mentor, Mick reflects on the impact of his first boss from the mid-80s, who helped him understand the importance of guidance for new hires.
Mick has an array of personal interests that keep him busy and fulfilled. He’s an avid woodworker, with a particular love for transforming projects in his workshop. His weekends are often spent crafting beautiful bowls and boxes from unique pieces of wood. But his creative streak doesn’t stop there. Mick is also musically inclined, primarily playing the saxophone but also dabbling with the keyboard and other woodwind instruments. He also enjoys the outdoors particularly cycling, hiking, and boating. He makes sure he balances creativity, music, and adventure in his personal life.
Mick’s journey at AnaVation is a testament to the company’s commitment to fostering growth, providing support, and offering meaningful work. His skills, leadership, and passion for both his career and personal interests make him an exemplary AnaVator.
