Evan Williams® Bourbon American-Made Hero: Mike Waggett
MSW Interactive Designs has some exciting news about one of the company’s co-owners. Mike Waggett was selected as one of the six Evan Williams® American-Made Heroes for 2019. Mike was chosen from 5,500 nation-wide nominees for the award based upon his 24 years of military service and his community service since retiring from the United States Air Force. Learn more about this fantastic American company, Evan William® Bourbon and the American-Made Hero award below.
After 11 years of active duty, Michael joined the Air National Guard full time, and refocused his career on leadership and education training. He earned three master's degrees in Education, Military Operations, and National Security Strategy, and spent the rest of his 24-year career training a new generation of pilots and officers to be successful and effective leaders. In 2009, he retired from the Air Force as the 8th Commander of The I.G. Brown Training and Education Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.
"When I left the military, I knew I wanted to continue to give back in whatever community we lived in," Michael says of him and his wife, Sandy. That turned out to be the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. There, he has served as President of the Kiwanis chapter and on several community boards; organized fundraisers for nearby Fort Leonard Wood, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the March of Dimes; and has been recognized with the Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder Veterans Service Award.
Michael's biggest contribution of all, though, is through he and his wife's company, MSW Interactive Designs. In addition to building over 30 websites for non-profits free-of-charge, they give their employees one hour of paid time off a week to volunteer. "There are a lot of people who aren't as lucky, or as successful, or as fortunate, or as blessed as I've been," Michael says. "I want to continue the tradition of teaching folks to give back."
Michael's charity is his local chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #5923. To learn more about their work in the Lake of the Ozarks region, visit www.lakevfw.org.
We're proud that our very own, Colonel (retired) Michael Waggett selection for this great honor. Mike has continued his giving nature in our business culture and helps instill the giving philosophy with all of the MSW Interactive Designs Rock Stars. He truly is an American-Made Hero!
About Evan Williams® and Heaven Hill Distilleries
Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.5 million barrels aging in 57 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, and previously held the titles of 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year and 2016 Rye Whiskey of the Year from “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.” For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.About the American-Made Hero Award
Evan Williams Bourbon, the second largest selling brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in the world, will present Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri veteran Mike Waggett with a $10,000 check and the first personalized bottle. Evan Williams Bourbon celebrates American-made heroes each year by honoring six outstanding veterans for their heroic acts of service both in the military and in their communities. Mike was chosen from over 5,500 nominees to receive this honor. Evan Williams is making a $10,000 donation to the charity of the veteran’s choice to help further their mission of service in their community. Each veteran’s inspiring story of service at home and abroad will also be featured on a custom bottle in stories around Memorial Day.
Mike Waggett's Story
Colonel (retired) Michael Waggett was raised in Rochester, NY, where his parents instilled in him a strong desire to always give back and help the less fortunate. He attended Syracuse University on a full ROTC scholarship with the U.S. Air Force, and at age 22, became a combat ready F-111 fighter pilot serving with NATO in the United Kingdom.
After 11 years of active duty, Michael joined the Air National Guard full time, and refocused his career on leadership and education training. He earned three master's degrees in Education, Military Operations, and National Security Strategy, and spent the rest of his 24-year career training a new generation of pilots and officers to be successful and effective leaders. In 2009, he retired from the Air Force as the 8th Commander of The I.G. Brown Training and Education Center in Knoxville, Tennessee."When I left the military, I knew I wanted to continue to give back in whatever community we lived in," Michael says of him and his wife, Sandy. That turned out to be the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. There, he has served as President of the Kiwanis chapter and on several community boards; organized fundraisers for nearby Fort Leonard Wood, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the March of Dimes; and has been recognized with the Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder Veterans Service Award.
Michael's biggest contribution of all, though, is through he and his wife's company, MSW Interactive Designs. In addition to building over 30 websites for non-profits free-of-charge, they give their employees one hour of paid time off a week to volunteer. "There are a lot of people who aren't as lucky, or as successful, or as fortunate, or as blessed as I've been," Michael says. "I want to continue the tradition of teaching folks to give back."
Michael's charity is his local chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #5923. To learn more about their work in the Lake of the Ozarks region, visit www.lakevfw.org.
Phone: 877-211-5492
Info@MSWInteractiveDesigns.com
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