Mike Valdes is a resident of Forsyth County and the father of 3 amazing Forsyth County Schools students in the Denmark cluster. In 2012, Mike and his wife of 17 years, Florencia, relocated to Georgia from their native Miami, FL and ultimately put down roots in beautiful South Forsyth because of our premiere school system, vibrant diversity, robust economy, and excellent Sheriff’s Office.

Mike and Florencia met almost 20 years ago at Alpha and Omega Church in Miami, FL where they attended Bible college and served as leaders and deacons in Youth Ministry, with a specific emphasis on troubled youth, substance abuse, and gang outreach ministries. For more than a decade, Mike had the humbling and rewarding opportunity to serve some of the neediest families and young people in the city. This experience changed his life forever and affirmed his commitment to the next generation.

Mike has always been a strong proponent of Public Education, himself a product of public schools, including as the first college graduate in his family. Over the years, Mike has served on numerous PTO, local school councils, volunteer task forces, and volunteered as a coach for recreational leagues. Mike is passionate about the Fine Arts, being a lifelong musician and having performed in Orchestras and Marching Bands. He is also passionate about STEM and Business Leadership. In Forsyth County, Mike participated as part of the community task forces, developing our current strategic plan and has been very involved in community groups advocating for education.

Mike is a 22-year veteran of the Heavy Civil Engineering and Construction Management field where he specializes in the design and construction of major civil infrastructure projects. He has managed publicly funded projects of all sizes, including large, complex, multi-discipline teams of engineers and construction specialists, with individual budgets of around $500 million. He holds degrees from Miami Dade College and Florida International University in Civil Engineering and Construction Management and has dedicated his entire career to the design and construction of public works projects. Mike is credentialed by the Design-Build Institute of America as a Designated Design-Build Professional and has held licenses as a General Building Contractor and General Engineering Contractor.