Prior to becoming an engineer, Mike served his country in the Oregon National Guard. He then founded Fitzgerald, Hagan & Hackathorn, Inc. (later rebranded to Norwest Engineering, Inc.) in 1975, and led the firm's success for 41 years. Mike was passionate about engineering and always put his people first, believing that it was the strong relationships within the company that contributed to our success.

In 2016, Mike retired and left the business in the capable hands of the current leadership team. As a man of integrity who cared for his employees like family, Mike exemplified the very best of what it means to be a leader. His creativity, intelligence, and leadership skills were invaluable, and we are forever grateful for the guidance and support he provided to all of us. As he would often say, "It's our people that make us the best."