Business

In 2000, Michel founded Military.com, an early website providing news and practical information about the military for active service members, veterans, and their family members.^[5] It was acquired by Monster Worldwide in 2004.^[6]

In 2006, he founded Affinity Labs, a company building social networking and career-building sites for professional communities. It was acquired in 2008.^[7][8] In 2010, his work with these companies was profiled in The Intelligent Entrepreneur.^[9]

In 2008 he started an early stage investment firm, Nautilus Ventures.^[10][11]

Writing and photography

From 2005 to 2009 he wrote The Military Advantage, a guide to veterans benefits.^[12] Starting in 2009, publication was taken over by the Naval Institute Press.^[13]

He is a nature and portrait photographer,^[14] producing collections for the Navy^[15] and for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, where he advised on climate communication.^[16][17] In 2021 he became their first artist in residence,^[18] producing a portrait series of American scientists.^[17][19] He has taught photography at the Esalen Institute^[20] and Santa Fe Workshops,^[21] and was an ambassador for Leica Camera.^[22][23]