Michael Hingson

As was the case with many Americans, Michael Hingson's life changed dramatically on September 11th. He and his Guide Dog "Roselle" were the lucky ones, however, in that they escaped from the 78th floor of Tower One during the World Trade Center attack. As a WTC survivor and as a Guide Dog user, he was thrust into the international limelight. Michael and "Roselle" have since become well-known as representatives of the strength of the human/animal bond, and have been successful in communicating the power of that bond in many media interviews and public presentations. Michael has traveled with a Guide Dog for 38 years and embodies the lifelong partnerships created by Guide Dogs for the Blind and those they serve. Prior to becoming the National Public Affairs Representative for Guide Dogs for the Blind, Michael was district sales manager for Quantum Data Protection Division of Irvine, Calif., overseeing a sales force and field operations. He has a master's degree in physics from the University of California at Irvine. He is a former member of the California State Guide Dog Board, and is a member of the National Federation of the Blind. Michael has several avenues that he likes to explore with his audiences. Most requested, of course, is the story of his escape, but as Mike defines, "It is only the foundation on which I have built the rest of my life." Michael's topics include: "Team Building", "Establishing Real Trust", "Ethics-The Real Bottom Line", "Human-Canine Bonding", and many related subjects tailored for his audiences.