His career settled in the commercial construction industry first with Masonite R&D, the Commercial Division of Masonite and Integrated Ceilings Inc. In 1984 Mike launched Graphic Insights and began consulting on product design for manufacturers like Marlite, Ready Metal, Chicago Metallic and Formglas. His consulting work also took him to the world of retail chains. He designed merchandising solutions as well as store layouts for companies like Sears, Jack-in-the-Box, Montgomery Wards, Gap, and Black Star and Frost and many others.
This wealth of experience in problem solving and product design is manifest in the development of Averve’s Trimset Collection and the patented Railset System. Projects in healthcare, education, retail, and hospitality provide the essential understanding of product function. As an artist at heart, Mike is always acutely aware of good design which is the basis of the Averve’s product style.