To some, the word “accounting” brings up memories of high school math classes, long lectures and a blur of numbers and equations. Mike Stave, Cherryland’s newest accountant, would disagree. To him, the word “accounting” means reaching his goals.

Stave was born and raised in Traverse City. He attended Grand Valley State University and completed his degree through Ferris State University’s extension program in Traverse City.

While finishing his degree, Stave worked for Bill Marsh Auto Group in Traverse City as an oil express technician and manager. “In those seven years with the dealership, I learned a lot of practical skills,” says Stave. “That’s knowledge I can take with me for the rest of my life.”

With the support of his dad, Stave felt confident in pursuing his goal of becoming an accountant. “I am lucky that my dad, a fellow accountant, is just a phone call away. He has been a great resource and mentor to me along the way.”

That goal became a reality in October 2016 when Stave joined the Cherryland accounting team.

The transition from the automotive world to the co-op world wasn’t too big of an adjustment for him. “Like Bill Marsh, Cherryland’s culture is centered around the people they serve and the people they employ,” says Stave. “It didn’t take me long to get acclimated.”

While others only see numbers and spreadsheets, Stave compares being a Cherryland accountant to being a detective. “The numbers tell a story,” he explains. “I like diving deep into the details and figuring out what makes the co-op work.”

One year after coming to Cherryland, he still finds the co-op’s accounting department to be a great fit. “A big prerequisite of mine was that Cherryland employees had to have a sense of humor. That checks out,” jokes Stave. “More importantly, I have great people around me to help me learn more about the cooperative model, the electric utility industry and my profession.”

When Stave isn’t crunching numbers, he is nurturing his true love: sports. He takes advantage of all the athletic opportunities northern Michigan has to offer, including skiing and disc-golfing. But his passion for sports doesn’t stop there. “I’m obsessed with University of Michigan football and basketball,” laughs Stave. “I also have a borderline addiction to Fantasy Football.”

While accounting may not be everyone’s calling, the co-op is lucky to have goal-oriented people like Stave who see numbers as an opportunity to tell a story.