Michael Burchett

Four facilities, and a long way to go

Michael runs operations for the Seattle Golf Fitness group: hiring, finance, client growth, and the day-to-day work of keeping four facilities running to the same standard.

He got into the industry early, working at a local gym where he grew up, in East Wenatchee. Afterwards, Michael joined the United States Army Infantry, stationed with the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

After separating honorably in 2019 he came home to the University of Washington, working as operations manager for a local fitness facility while he studied. He graduated with honors from the Foster School of Business in 2022 with a BBA in Finance and Marketing, then spent time in Seattle as an analyst at one of the nations largest independent investment banks, working with businesses across a wide range of industries.

Each step added something this role requires. The Army taught him to lead people under pressure. Foster and investment banking taught him how businesses are financed, valued, and grown, and gave him a close look at dozens of them. Seattle Golf Fitness is where those come together, on a company he intends to build into a national one.

Michael took up golf after leaving the Army, mostly as somewhere to put the competitiveness. He fell in love with being awful at it and wanting to be better, which is the same feeling that drives many clients through the door.