I Am Wilshire: Mike Korson.
Hometown: West Salem, Wisconsin;
Education: Bachelor of Electrical Engineering;
Profession: Retired Engineering Manager
Present city: Plano
Tell us about your family.
My wife, Teri, and I met and married in Dallas in the Catholic Church. We both grew up in Wisconsin and have been married almost 36 years. We have three grown children. Tressa teaches in a private Montessori school in Boston, Mike teaches and plays saxophone in the Dallas area, and Tori is a physical therapist in Mystic, Connecticut, and is married to Luke Wingfield.
How about your work or volunteer life?
After working as an engineering manager at Texas Instruments for 38 years, I retired and immersed myself in multiple organizations, including the Samaritan Inn, City House Plano, Bedstart.org, CASA of Collin County, e-NABLE and Prison Entrepreneurship Program. I’m the Dallas-area leader for LasagnaLove.org.
What are your favorite hobbies?
Cooking, music, woodworking, 3D printing, restoring tube radios, hiking and fishing.
What are your favorite places to travel?
Anywhere there are mountains, bodies of water, hiking trails and fish to catch. Maui, Germany, Austria, Italy and Nice, France, are favorites.
What brought you to Wilshire and when?
We came in 2017. We had been seeking a much more inclusive community for a few years and tested some other churches before landing at Wilshire.
Where are you engaged at Wilshire?
I sing in Sanctuary Choir, attend and teach in Epiphany class, served on the Missions and Building and Grounds Committees and performed in a play for Faith in 3D.
What has surprised you most about Wilshire?
The efforts done to get everyone engaged and contributing in decisions. The humble and courageous leadership that embraces the spirit of challenge, growth and love of all humanity.
What do you think God is up to in your life right now?
Right now, I feel called to a servant lifestyle and making a difference in individual lives in the community wherever I can. I especially want to connect with the less fortunate and homeless.
Tell us about your faith journey.
I was raised Catholic and participated in music ministry groups from age 13. Music has always anchored me and drawn me closer to church. Teri and I met in a Catholic singles group, and having connections to a church community has always been important for us. Learning and recognizing our deep connection to all human beings and other faith traditions is important to me.
What’s something interesting most people wouldn’t know about you?
I used to sing and compete in a barbershop quartet and chorus.