Michael Meredith

I've been very fortunate. After a misspent attempt at college after HS graduation (I basically majored in fraternity), I tried a few different careers options ranging from restaurant management, marketing, and sales, before beginning a 32 year stint as a wage slave for Southwestern Bell Telephone/SBC Corporation/AT&T. During that time I somehow developed the fortitude to achieve my BA and MA degrees from Webster University. By the time I retired, I was enjoying a semi-respectable status as a Senior Project Manager with a portfolio of IT projects supporting fleet operations, real estate operations, marketing information systems, Voice over IP, and new product development.

I retired from AT&T at the end of 2013 and embarked on a career as a volunteer. I did a three month stint in Chicago, as a Digital Fellow with Organizing for Action. That was a blast and gave me a number of new tools that I have applied in various political campaigns (though never as the candidate). I'm proud to have assisted my lovely wife Sue in achieving one of her life's goals, that being to serve as a State Representative for three terms in the Missouri General Assembly (retiring from that post voluntarily).

Post-retirement, I also spent 5 seasons at the St. Louis Zoo as a railroad engineer, where one of my colleagues was Gene Rauscher, McCluer '70.

In 2007, I became a certified Missouri Master Naturalist and discovered what has become a major passion in my life as a conservation volunteer and citizen scientist. In that capacity, I've worked a number of projects with the St. Louis Audubon Society, Forest Park Forever, St. Louis County Parks, Kirkwood Parks, and many more. I like getting my hands dirty, and enjoy working for free far more than I ever did working for a salary.

In addition to all that, I've become something of a travel addict. I can proudly say that I've visited all seven continents, with two trips (Kenya Safari and Antarctic Cruise) meeting my personal criteria for a "trip of a lifetime", with a few more yet to come.

I was a band geek long before that was every a term. Marching Band was my favorite activity. While it's been years since I banged on a drum, I still maintain my love of music.