Taking Care Of Business

Longtime entrepreneur Howard Michael shares his path to success.

As a local entrepreneur for the last 45 years, Howard Ray “Mike” Michael, 75, is a business institution in and of himself. To him, he says, entrepreneurship not only creates business opportunities but also a rewarding lifestyle.

“So embrace it,” he says. And that he did.

Originally from Burlington, N.C., Michael moved with his family to Cheraw in the early 1960s, when Burlington Industries opened a plant in town. A member of Michael’s family founded Burlington Industries in 1923 at Burlington, North Carolina. After graduating from high school, Michael started working at Sacony Manufacturing Company in Cheraw as manager of the shipping department before moving on to work at the Cheraw Post Office, while at the same time working part-time in the insurance industry and going to school at night.

“The insurance industry was an ever-changing field and I realized that this was where I belonged,” he says. “All of my life I had a yearning desire to learn more and since insurance seemed to change almost daily it was, and has been, a very satisfying career for me and, thankfully, for most of my family.”

After an exit from a local Allstate insurance agency, Michael started up Michael & Associates Inc., an insurance and real estate firm, in 1984. Today, the firm is under third-generation family leadership, his grandson, who took over in 2018.

“When one of my grandsons was asked how he knew so much regarding the insurance and real estate industry at such a young age, he replied that he had graduated from the ‘Howard R Michael School of Insurance and Hard Knocks,’” he laughs.

The entrepreneur is known for mentoring and training many young people throughout the Pee Dee area at his firm.

“They, along with my family, are my pride and joy,” he says.

Michael has also given back to his community by serving on the Board for Independent Insurance Agents for the state of South Carolina, as vice president of the former Optimist Club in Cheraw, and on the board of the Boy Scouts of America at First Presbyterian Church in Cheraw. A true advocate of his career and service to the community, he lobbied for changes in the auto insurance industry when the late Jean Harris was a member of the House of Representatives.

Always leading the way and staying ahead of the curve, Michael also owned a food truck with a friend before food trucks were a trend and flipped houses with his family before it was all the rage. And Michael is still active in the real estate industry as co-founder and broker-in-charge at Property Empire Real Estate and broker-in-charge at Treely Land LLC.

Outside the office, Michael is known as “Pops” to his two sons, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He’s known as husband to his wife, Mildred, whom he met in high school; they’ve been married for 56 years.

“Never, never quit”

“My advice to young entrepreneurs is to stay focused, follow the rules, keep your eyes on the goal, work hard and never, never quit,” says Michael. “It will always pay off and in the lives of others. Don’t let your flops define you; the flops add to your experience.

“And always accept advice from those who have more experience and knowledge than you,” he adds. “If you blend their knowledge with yours, you have double the strength.”

This article is proudly sponsored by Property Empire Real Estate / Treely / HAB Insurance Agency / Michael & Associates ALLSTATE / Cameron Michael Real Estate

*photo credit – Kristy Zearfoss Photography