Biography
Dr Michael L Schwartz, DBA, PE, PMP, is a native of Brooklyn, New York. He spent his early years in the East New York section of Brooklyn and his teen years living in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn.
Left: Dumont Ave in 1965 East New York section of Brooklyn, NY, where Michael spent his early years.
His formal education includes attendance and graduation from Brooklyn Technical High School, a specialized technical high school, with admission based on competitive examination, Bachelor of Science-Mechanical Engineering Technology from New York Institute of Technology, Master of Business Administration from Indiana University – South Bend, and Doctor of Business Administration from Lawrence Technological University. He continues his education with Seminars, Workshops, and independent learning.
Left: Michael came to Southeast Michigan by way of South Bend, Indiana.
Michael’s professional experience spans multiple industries, most focused on ground vehicles and equipment for both on-road and off-road use. He has held a variety of positions in companies, including draftsman, R&D lab technician, and engineering and management roles.
Michael was a “Resident Engineer” at AM General’s Mishawaka, IN assembly plant during the production launch of the Army’s “High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle” aka: hmmwv or Humvee.
This was one of Michael’s two favorite programs.
The other of two Michael’s favorite programs was the Dodge Viper. For which he supplied the clutch controls.
Shortly after leaving engineering, Michael began his training and teaching endeavors. First, as an instructor/trainer in courses/workshops to prepare applicants for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification examination. The exam is conducted by, and the certification awarded by by the Project Management Institute (PMI). That was followed with being an Adjunct Faculty at several colleges and universities teaching both undergraduate and graduate level business courses.
He then went on to start Positive Concepts.
He founded Positive Concepts to offer consulting and training services, hoping to share some of the “hard-learned lessons” he has picked up over the years. Over time, he shifted his focus to training and education, focusing on “Life Skills” aka: “Soft Skills.” He believes that by offering education to help people understand themselves and others better, the result will be improved, more collaborative, productive, and profitable relationships in both professional and personal settings.
Michael also “gives back” in various ways. He has served as a judge at high school academic/professional events, spoken to professional groups, and given workshops to senior groups. He also donates time to worthy causes.
Michael and Dr. Mary Walsh (aka: Dr. Mary) at Suzy Q’s for Kids with some additional volunteers assembling “Comfort Bags” for children.
Susie Q’s Kids “provides comfort bags to kids in need”. As Smile Makers, it provides comfort bags, panda bears, blankets, socks, and other essential items like hygiene, sensory, and grief kits to kids in hospitals, hospices, shelters, foster care, advocacy centers, grief centers, autism centers, schools, camps, sheriff departments, wherever there is a need.”
Michael is a member of the Academy of Management, Project Management Institute, Society of Automotive Engineers, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has earned a Professional Engineer (PE) License and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Michael has authored and contributed to several technical and scholarly works before turning to writing fiction. Currently, he has several works of fiction and non-fiction in development.
Michael’s professional accomplishments include:
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Published in The Journal of Values-Based Leadership (JVBL)
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Increasing account profit margins.
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Increasing account units sold.
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Increasing attendance at professional society meetings.
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Direction of Value Analysis/Value Engineering (Cost Reductions) Programs.
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Leadership of new product development efforts.
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New product production launches.
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Co-author of SAE publication AE-17: “Manual Transmission Clutch Systems”.
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Patented solutions for noise and vibration problems.