Kurt Michielssen, 2010 Man of the Year
In the almost three decades Kurt Michielssen has worked as
banker and community leader in Gilroy, he’s been zapped with a
Taser and turned into a Gilroy Police Department dog’s
”
chew toy.
”
All for the betterment of Gilroy, Michielssen said.
Kurt Michielssen, 2010 Man of the Year
What he does: Kurt Michielssen, a shy-by-nature senior vice president of South Valley National Bank, hasn’t taken a bullet for Gilroy. But that’s just because someone hasn’t asked him to yet.
In the almost three decades Michielssen has worked as banker and community leader in Gilroy, he’s been zapped with a Taser and turned into a Gilroy Police Department dog’s “chew toy.” All for the betterment of Gilroy, Michielssen said.
Michielssen grew up in Watsonville, and has worked in Salinas, Morgan Hill and Santa Cruz. No place he’s lived or worked, however, can match Gilroy.
“Gilroy has a sense of community that most of those other cities don’t have,” he said, pointing to the Gilroy Garlic Festival as one of the great events that never fails to bring Gilroy residents closer than ever.
Michielssen normally arrives at South Valley National Bank between 6 and 6:30 a.m. Before checking a slew of e-mails and planning his day, he walks around the building’s exterior and parking lot, sweeping up any dirt or garbage before customers arrive. He’s already working at his desk by 7 a.m., he said.
But Michielssen is no dull boy.
In 2004, Michielssen volunteered to be jolted by a Taser during a police demonstration at a Rotary Club meeting. His reasoning: Why not?
“I’m generally kind of a shy person. And, if I’m shy, why did I get Tased?” Michielssen said. “It’s just one of those things.”
A couple years later, during a GPD K-9 unit presentation, Michielssen donned jeans, a sweater and a huge protective sleeve on his left arm, allowing the dog to fling his arm about wildly in its jaws.
“Why did I do that too?” he asked. “After getting Tased, I figured, ‘Hey!’ ”
Why he won the award: Michielssen called the award, “A pretty good surprise.”
What made the selection all the more surprising was the fact Michielssen doesn’t live in Gilroy. He lives in Hollister.
Chamber President/CEO Susan Valenta, however, couldn’t overlook Michielssen’s heart for Gilroy. “People like Kurt have shown a great commitment and great leadership for the City of Gilroy,” Valenta said.
Michielssen has served as chairman for the Gilroy Economic Development Corporation and headed the organization’s recruitment of a new director. He is a member of the Legacy Board and is a past president for the Gilroy Foundation, the Gavilan College Educational Foundation and the Gilroy Rotary Club.
In his own words: “As a banker, one of the things that’s important for us to do is give back to the community.”
