Entrepreneurial Award

MICHAEL J. FLOYD, JR., ARTS '87

Whitefish Bay, Wis.

Some say life is like a revolving door. For Mike Floyd, life revolves around doors in the literal and figurative sense.

Professionally, Mike explains how Marquette “directly and indirectly opened many doors,” helping nurture knowledge and skills that led him to become a specialty contractor — a leader at a company that produces fine woodwork, including doors. As CEO of Glenn Rieder Inc. in Milwaukee, Mike runs a multimillion-dollar architectural millwork manufacturing firm.

He and business partner Jim Caragher purchased Glenn Rieder in January 2000. They steadily expanded the business, growing from 40 to more than 140 employees and adding a facility in Las Vegas. The company worked on the renovation of Lambeau Field and construction of the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wis. The company also has manufactured and installed interiors for resort hotels and casinos nationwide, including the Venetian in Las Vegas, the Ritz Carlton Hotel in San Francisco and Paula Deen’s restaurant in North Carolina. Closer to home, Glenn Rieder produced the classic woodwork in Marquette’s Eckstein and Zilber halls.

Mike enjoys his work for many reasons. The ability to build something tangible tops the list, but he finds something else equally as gratifying.

“It is very satisfying to watch an employee, through hard work and commitment, turn a job into a career by becoming a valuable contributor to one of our projects and, consequently, our company,” he says.

Speaking of valuable contributions, in 2007, he and Jim established the Endowment Fund to Support Jesuit Community Service at Marquette, helping students participate in annual service trips through the Marquette Action Program. By opening this opportunity to students, Mike makes it possible for them to serve the underserved, opening perhaps the most important door of all — the door to hope.   

“I try to always maintain a strong sense of discipline and commitment to whatever I’m doing, regardless of whether it’s personal or business,” he says.

Fun facts about Mike:
Hometown: Fond du Lac, Wis.
Favorite quote: “We do not quit playing because we grow old. We grow old because we quit playing.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes
Someone alive or dead he’d like to have dinner with: Bruce Springsteen
The Marquette faculty member who had an impact on Mike: Rev. Bill Leahy, S.J. Favorite Marquette memory: “The Block Parties were pretty fun!”
Mike is still trying to figure out what he wants to be when he “grows up.”
Most influential person in Mike’s life: His dad