# Michael J. McFall

> Michael J. McFall is the co-founder and CEO of BIGGBY COFFEE, an author, speaker, and entrepreneurship educator based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hired as a barista at the first café in 1996, he became an equal partner with Bob Fish in 1997. His books Grind and Grow address starting a business and developing the team needed to sustain it. His public work emphasizes trust, supportive workplaces, and community; Kalamazoo College announced his election as a trustee in August 2026.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at BIGGBY COFFEE
- **Organizations:** BIGGBY COFFEE, Global Orange Development, LLC, Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees, University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship, Forbes Business Council, BIGGBY Bombers
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in economics, Kalamazoo College
- **Known for:** Helped build BIGGBY COFFEE from its early café stage into a national franchise business., Published the entrepreneurial books Grind (2019) and Grow (2023)., Developed GRIND Score to encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to evaluate their own strengths and limitations.

## Career timeline

- **1992** — Studied in Sierra Leone during college; his 2026 essay dates his original stay to 1992.
- **1993** — Graduated from Kalamazoo College with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
- **1996** — Joined the original BIGGBY café as a barista, hired by Mary Roszel.
- **1997** — Agreed to an equal business partnership with Bob Fish after a walk around East Lansing; left his Michigan State University research position.
- **1998** — Fish, Roszel, and McFall established Global Orange Development, LLC, the franchising company.
- **2016** — The official 2023 biography dates his co-CEO title to May 2016.
- **2019** — Published Grind: A No-Bullsh*t Approach to Take Your Business from Concept to Cash Flow.
- **2022** — Launched GRIND Score, an entrepreneurial self-assessment resource.
- **2023** — Published Grow: Take Your Business from Chaos to Calm on June 6.
- **2025** — Returned to Sierra Leone in May with Bob and Michelle Fish through One BIGG Island in Space; discussed BIGGBY’s purpose revision in an October interview.
- **2026** — Kalamazoo College announced his election to its board of trustees in August.

## Achievements

- Helped build BIGGBY COFFEE from its early café stage into a national franchise business.
- Published the entrepreneurial books Grind (2019) and Grow (2023).
- Developed GRIND Score to encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to evaluate their own strengths and limitations.
- Taught Finding Your Venture with Brian Hayden at the University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship.
- Elected to the Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees, announced August 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Kalamazoo College announced his election as one of four new trustees on August 5.
- **2026-03** — His website highlighted Going Back to Sierra Leone on March 9; the original essay was published February 22, 2026.
- **2026-02** — Published a first-person account of his May 2025 Sierra Leone return and visit to a coffee-farm project with One BIGG Island in Space.
- **2026-01** — His website featured the Fortitude Forum conversation Moonshots, Coffee, & Superpowers on January 15.
- **2025-10** — Discussed accepting revisions to BIGGBY’s purpose and values on The Bosshole Chronicles, October 21.

## Links

- Website: https://www.michaeljmcfall.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejmcfall/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mikejmcfall
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikejmcfall
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikejmcfall/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeMcFallOfficial
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikejmcfall

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-j-mcfall
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-15