Get to Know Mike

Well, how much time you got…?

I’ll spare you the unnecessary details of the early days and jump straight to when I got a camera in my hands for the first time. I was six years old.

Okay, okay—that was a joke. I won’t take you that far back.

For me, the storytelling journey really began in 2016, when I got the chance to work as a Media Director for a church. I had little skill, little knowledge—but what I lacked in those areas, I made up for with curiosity and an eagerness to learn, and to learn quickly.

I was tasked with a lot of small production pieces during that time, but what hit home the most was the chance to tell people’s stories—stories of their journey with God and the road they’d travelled so far. I was constantly inspired, challenged, and made more curious about how I could do more of this.

I had caught the storyteller bug.

Now, for many people who start in this creative field, the focus is often on creating the most cinematic, slow-motion videos possible. And while I found that interesting, what I cared most about were stories that were worth sharing. Stories that inspire action. Stories that provide hope. Stories that empower change.

I had no idea where this journey would take me or how long it would last—but I was willing to walk this road and see where it led.

Just before COVID hit, my wife and I moved to Vienna to take on roles as Youth Pastors. At the same time, I launched my own business, helping other businesses tell their stories.

Well, as you can imagine, COVID threw a nice bump in the road. But with a passion that wouldn’t quit—and an ever-gracious wife who supported me through the tears and anxiety-induced stomach pains—we inched our way through some of the most challenging years of starting a business.

Now, years into this journey, I’ve had some of the most random and spectacular opportunities to tell stories. From stories of people brought out of forced prostitution, to international organizations inspiring the next generation, all the way to producing stories for clients like UEFA and FIFA.

I still pinch myself when I think about how far this road has taken me—and where we are today.

Now, many years down the road, we turn the next page of this story and begin the chapter of Project Vérité. It’s an idea that started a long time ago, when Jordan and I went on a trip to Angola. Over the years, it stayed in the back of my mind.

And then, not too long ago, Jordan visited me and the family in Vienna. We got to talking about it. We realized the passion was still there—the same shared drive and focus on helping tell stories of real people making a real difference in the world. And most the time these people don’t have the time or the means to be able to share their stories in the first place. And we knew that was something that needed to change.

So we teamed up. And after a thorough process behind closed doors, we brought everything together and officially formed Project Vérité.

This next chapter is gonna be a good one. It’ll be filled with challenges, excitement, new locations—and most importantly, fantastic stories.

It’s something I’m really looking forward to, even with the nerves and worries that come with starting something like this. The unique situations of having a little human to care for at home and what family life looks like, as well as all the unique challenges that come with running an organization while still also working with other clients to help pay the bills until we can fully fund Project Vérité, it feels like there’s a lot of moving pieces to account for.

But after all these years of doing this kind of work, I know this right here—this is the right road to be on.

I hope you’ll come on this journey with us—and that you’re inspired, in your own way, to take up your tools—whatever they may be—and help fill this world with more hope, truth, and love.