Meet Michael

Carn (holding the left side of the banner) joins Ministers and community activists in marching against crime and violence in Delray Beach, FL (photo courtesy of the Palm Beach Post)

Michael E. Carn was born June 1, 1958 in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, Florida -- birthed by the late Dr. James Sistrunk.  His father, Richard, was a long time Longshoreman at Port Everglades and his mother a domestic housekeeper.  At the age of 3 years old, Michael's mother passed away leaving the care of 4 young children to his father who reared them to adulthood.

Michael received his education in the public schools of Broward County Florida (Rock Island Elementary, William Dandy Middle and Boyd Anderson High School). He is the second eldest sibling and was the first to attend and complete college, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee State University (Nashville) on a full academic scholarship.  

Michael graduated from Tennessee State University with honors.  Some of his noteworthy achievements at TSU included winner of the Alma Dunn Essay Contest for freshmen, President of Eta Kappa Nu, the Honor Society for Electrical Engineers and the recipient of the Outstanding Electrical Engineering Student Faculty Award.

Michael worked as an Aerospace Engineer for 10 years at Hughes Aircraft Company in Los Angeles, California before returning home to realize his entrepreneurial dream of starting a computer engineering services firm.  He serves as the President and CEO of the firm today. 

Michael's father was his role model -- a man of integrity who extended his parental compassion to less fortunate children (who called him daddy) and freely shared his goods and his children with the community. Michael embraced this legacy and began a career of community service shortly after returning to Ft. Lauderdale in 1991.

Michael serves on the governing boards of several organizations to which he has contributed innovative initiatives and served as an advocate for a number of legislative issues.  These organizations are county and regional representatives of key community sectors that include economic development, workforce development, education, child care and children's advocacy, juvenile justice, minority and small business development, community redevelopment, disease research and social services.

Michael's decision to become a Florida State Senator is a natural progression in his growing commitment to building better communities. His experiences in life and service have molded him into a champion leader, a consensus builder and an innovator.

As a member of the Florida Consortium of Black Business Investment Corporations, Michael developed the marketing tool that the team used in a bipartisan strategy to successfully convince the State of Florida to significantly increase funding for black business support in 2007.   

While serving as Chair of the Workforce Development Board of Broward County, Michael traveled to Washington DC and Tallahassee to convince legislators of the vital need to sustain adequate funding for workforce education -- a career pathway for adults and youth seeking specialized training without pursuing college degrees.

Michael is passionate about providing all children an equal opportunity to succeed.  His service on the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, the Board of Family Central, the Broward Juvenile Justice Board, the Boys and Girls Club and the United Way Nurturing Children and Families Committee of the Community Impact Vision Council is a testament to his commitment of ensuring that our children are well prepared to lead healthy and productive adult lives.