BEAT

TWEETING POSITIVITY

Entrepreneur Michael Zalle’s sunny outlook on life allows him to help others on and off the clock

Some people in this world bring extra light into it. Whether it’s their positive mindset, infectious vibes, humanitarian heart, or a combination of all three, these individuals are the ones you want in your corner. California-born Michael Zalle, a new North Scottsdale resident, is one of them. Zalle achieves his mission to have a positive effect on the world in his professional and personal life. Regarding the latter, Zalle, who was born with one hand, has been a lifelong member of the Amputee Coalition of America. He has worked with many scared parents and youth amputees over the years, providing them hope, support, and the realization that they are enough. “I teach the power of ‘you may not do it like everyone else, but you can do almost anything,’ including hanging on the monkey bars, which was a big moment for me,” Zalle says. He is also involved in the Scottsdale-based charity Neighbors Helping Neighbors and his company, YellowBird, has a volunteer program that actively gives back to the community. “It just feels good to help others,” the entreprenuer says. Professionally, Zalle is doing very similar work. He has been creating new concepts and disrupting industries through innovative technologies for 25 years. His discoveries have built companies from the ground up that focus on positively impacting others, especially those in the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) sector – which is where his latest venture YellowBird comes into play. Founded in 2019, YellowBird (www.goyellowbird. com) is an online gig economy platform that quickly matches EHS professionals with businesses nationwide for short-term projects. Without staffing fees or long hiring processes, EHS professionals arrive on-site and ready to work as fast as the next business day. YellowBird also allows experienced and credentialed EHS workers, many of whom are approaching retirement, to work on-demand jobs beyond retirement age and provides a soft landing for those who have been laid off or are changing careers. Like its CEO and founder, YellowBird’s mission is to help others thrive. “I wake up every morning and can’t help but feel grateful for what I have and the people around me,” Zalle says. “My family, my team at YellowBird, and my friends are the best part of my life.”

BY ELIZABETH LIBERATORE / PHOTO BY CLAUDIA JOHNSTONE