“We all hope to leave a positive mark”– Michael Sobel

By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer

The majority of Michael Sobel’s life has taken place on either the east or west coast—primarily Los Angeles and New York. He attended the University of Southern California which transitioned into a business career in broadcast and cable television. As an intern, he worked on popular shows with performers such Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, and Judy Garland among several.

Michael’s career soon evolved along with an emerging cable network TV industry. He became vice president of national sales for MTV and also represented CNN. He shares the story of having a challenging time selling advertising for MTV as it began; advertising agencies and accounts were skeptical about a “24 hour music-video” channel. But, Michael’s perseverance paid off and soon advertisers were calling him to place commercials on the popular channel.

In 1999, Michael and a business friend traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia to explore opportunities in the newly emerging post-Soviet television market. He lived in Russia for seven years until he met another business person from Kalamazoo at a BBQ event in St. Petersburg. The two hit it off and Michael was offered a position to help build a new product line for the entrepreneur’s manufacturing company based in Kalamazoo.

That is how someone so strongly rooted in a coastal lifestyle settled in Kalamazoo twenty-three years ago and has remained ever since.

As someone who has always enjoyed singing, Michael met a member of Kalamazoo’s famous Mall City

Harmonizers—a male cappella chorus we all know as “Barbershop.” Mall City Harmonizers formed in 1941 and has entertained throughout the region ever since. He is currently the organization’s president and marketing manager.

Michael says for anyone who loves to sing in the shower or the car— whether they think they can carry a tune or not, just might find a marvelous opportunity to sing and develop their skills with the chorus. For more information, go to www.barbershopharmony.org or call (269) 350-4085. Barbershop isn’t Michael’s only community service. Several years ago he volunteered in the call center for Loaves & Fishes. For the past year as an RSVP volunteer through AmeriCorps Seniors, Michael delivers Meal on Wheels for Milestone Senior Services twice a week primarily at two high-rise senior living facilities in Kalamazoo.

Michael says he wants to always stay active and busy and do what he can to help other people. His gregarious personality has contributed to his ease and enjoyment of meeting people. But, he adds, whether someone is outgoing, shy, or somewhere in-be- tween—and whatever skills they may have – there’s a perfect fit with a local organization’s aspirations to serve people of our community.

Michael says, “We all want to leave a positive mark along our path in life.” He says it can begin by simply calling Milestone to see what needs exist and find that perfect harmony.

Milestone Senior Services (previously known as Senior Services of Southwest Michigan) is an AmeriCorps Seniors grantee. AmeriCorps Seniors empowers people age 55 and older to serve their communities. Milestone’s AmeriCorps Seniors programs help people find a volunteer opportunity that fits their passion. There are currently opportunities in Kalamazoo County and Calhoun County. Volunteers are needed with Meals on Wheels, Companionship Calls or Visits, Transportation, Home Repair and Ramp Builds and more with area nonprofits. Regular, flexible schedules available. Contact Milestone’s Volunteer Services at 269-382-0515 or apply to volunteer at HYPERLINK “http://www.milestoneseniorservices.org”www.milestoneseniorservices.org.