Michael Summers didn’t start in the trades — he started on stage. A former theater major at Baylor turned tour manager for bands like Switchfoot, Jars of Clay, and Robert Randolph, Michael’s early career was all about storytelling, logistics, and making people laugh. Today, he owns Alamo Glass, a residential and commercial glass business in Texas — and his path from the entertainment world to blue-collar ownership is anything but traditional.
In this episode, JC and Michael dive into:
- The systems mindset Michael brought from tour management and church leadership into the trades
- Scaling a family business from 21 to 45 employees in under a year — and choosing not to acquire it
- What it really took to buy and operate his own business a year later
- Why communication and emotional intelligence are underrated tools in business
- The value of boring businesses with real moats — and what makes glass so resilient
- Lessons in leadership, operating, and building a team that maximizes you time
Michael’s story is a reminder that every operator brings a unique backstory to the table — and that ownership, at its core, about listening, responding, and helping others thrive.
Real stories. Real ownership. Real lessons from the field.
This is American Operator.
Subscribe to AO's Newsletter 🗞️
Find BTS with more Owners on Youtube 🎥
Follow us on Instagram: @TheAmericanOperator 📸
Follow Joseph Cabrera on LinkedIn 🔗
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.