Its well after dark, the rain is falling outside and we are young. I am 32 years old, Groundworks is 6 and the struggle to survive is a daily reality. I am tired but determined looking ahead to tomorrow and wondering how we will cover the book when I hear the dog barking outside and see headlights fall across the windowsill. A man hops out of a truck; my watch reads 9:05. He sees me looking at him and a smile comes to his strong face. His step is confident and his gait powerful but easy. He is dirty but tucked in and as he comes into the office what does this guy getting back after nine at night say; “The job is done, the customer is happy and I got the check”. Holy smokes; what kind of guy is this? Even today so many years later these memories bring tears of fierce pride to my eyes. Yes, that day we faced into a stiff wind and the struggle would continue. The challenges were never ending and the cold chill of failure always looming nearby but with brothers like Mike Cote to stand next to me, I felt our tomorrows out there waiting to be joined to today and was ever more determined to find my way through the mine field that a fledgling businessman must navigate.
 

Mike joined me at Groundworks in 1988 and asked just one thing of me. Mike told me to keep him busy. He doesn’t like standing around and hasn’t done much of that during his 20 years leading our installation teams. Mike is a Foundation Man. He stands at the center of our success an essential element in the foundation from which we launch each day. Heading out into the world to perform installations, maintenance, deliveries, and whatever odd field operation I could come up with to feed the wolf, Mike is right there in the thick of things. Leading his people and then bringing them home safely, always determined to get the job done, leave the customer happy and come home with the check. Teaching the new guys, mentoring the other team leaders, working out the issues on site and soothing the customer, Mike stands as a shining example of who we are as a team.

After so many years, so many sites and so much mud, what kind of a guy is this? He is honor and reliability, he is loyalty and professionalism, he is dedication and he is truly a Champion. I know that if not for those many nights when dirty, tired and wet Mike came home with a smile and a check, we would not have reached this day intact. I am in his debt; all of us here are and it is our greatest good fortune that Mike chooses to stand amongst us.

If one day you are onsite and come across a big guy wearing a Groundworks uniform and who at a glance is the picture of relaxed intuitive professionalism, you’re probably looking at Mike. You will watch his operations, see his competence and attention to detail and sooner or later, as I have so many times, you are going to ask yourself, what kind of a guy is this?