Mike Willhite has spent his life working on the land and sea. Born and raised in San Luis Obispo County, California, he is profoundly connected to the ocean and the California landscape.

“When I need to recharge and re-center myself I walk along the beaches,” says Mike. “I could not live away from the sea.”  

As founder and owner of Willhite Grading & Excavation, Mike’s career began at an early age working at his dad’s roofing business. The one thing that Mike will tell you he learned while on those roofs was that he didn’t want to be a roofer.

“I wanted to be on the ground working in the machines.” And he got his chance in high school when a local family asked him work on their farm. He learned the fundamentals of machine operations and how to maneuver in various landscapes, but the culture and working environment the family created taught him much more.

Check out other videos in the Willhite series:

Part 1: Earth Work is Art

Part 2: Create Your Own Path

Part 3. Start the Conversation

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