Listening

C. Michael Franke was a successful businessman and learned to always listen to his clients, even if they were not paying clients!
In this picture (at left), Mike is listening to Godfrey Kobets, the Executive Director of DeLaSalle. Mike had attended the Catholic De La Salle Military Academy, and Godfrey Kobets had been his teacher and coach. It appears as if Mike is still in class with Mr. Kobets, who seems to be enumerating some concept with his hands, while Mike attentively absorbs the "lesson"!
By the time of this picture, around 1980, Mike was President of the DeLaSalle Board of Directors. Consequently, Mike spent a lot of time working with Godfrey Kobets and the DeLaSalle organization.
I got to know Mike quite well at this time, as he worked closely with me and the other DeLaSalle administrative staff in helping Mr. Kobets develop management systems for the Center.
Mike was a charismatic and brilliant entrepreneur, and had a great sense of humor. Several years after this picture was taken, Mike died suddenly at a fairly young age. He did a lot for DeLaSalle, and is missed.