As Executive Director, Michael is responsible for the strategic direction of the organization and maintains strong relationships with CDEL's many supporters.  Immediately prior to becoming CDEL’s Executive Director, Michael served as the organization’s Legal Director.

In 2024, Michael was appointed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to the Multi-Sector Plan for Aging Community Advisory Council, a state-wide commission tasked with creating a 10-year blueprint to support healthy aging in Illinois communities and set clear, measurable objectives for evaluating public and private sector progress toward this goal. Michael is also a member of the Illinois Legal Aid Racial Justice Alliance, a state-wide commission supported by the Illinois Lawyers Trust Fund. 

Michael began his legal career at the law firm of Kirkland and Ellis as an associate attorney in the firm’s corporate department. He later served as General Counsel for the Cook County Assessor’s Office and Chief Deputy Assessor of the Cook County Assessor. He has also served as Chief of Staff to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Prior to joining CDEL, Michael was an attorney in private practice.

Michael has served as a Keystone Leader for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Preservation Compact, a MacArthur Foundation and Urban Land Institute led task force on preserving affordable housing. He was also a member of Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Task Force on Property Tax Reform.

Michael attended Harvard University as an undergraduate and earned a degree as a double major in Government and Economics with cum laude distinction. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School.