I have known Michael Valentine for well over twenty-five years now, and of the many things I admire about Michael, it’s his passion and sincerity to help people he cares for. During the course of those many years, I’ve seen Michael drop everything to help others when they needed it, almost to a fault, without ever considering “what’s in it for me”; in those same years, I have heard so many people say he does not “have a filter”, but I can attest that having someone look you in the eye and NOT say the things you want to hear, but need to hear, is an absolute breath of fresh air in a lifetime of people that want to take the easy path when discussing uneasy things. Above all, Michael is a person I have come to trust that he will always do what he says he will do, without fail, and he is true to his word as there is in this world. I’m proud to call Michael a friend, and a better person for having been involved with him on working levels, hobbies, his passions, and almost always the most important, the laughter and light over the years.