Age: 38
Job title: Chief financial officer, Buzz Franchise Brands
At work: I am responsible for the financial oversight of our company, including day-to-day accounting duties as well as forward-looking business modeling and budgeting. My team and I are also responsible for business analytics, supporting all departments and our franchisees with the tools and reporting to drive business forward.
Home and family: I live in Norfolk, where I was born and raised. My beautiful wife and I have an exciting household of five children, three dogs and some tropical fish.
Volunteer activities: I am a member of the Norfolk Wetlands Board, and the boards the Hermitage Museum and Gardens and the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club.
Motivating factor: Building systems — at work, at home and in my community — and creating growth, stability and meaningful experiences for my family and those around me.
Advice to young people: Take the extra moment to truly understand how things work in order to be more self-sufficient and give yourself the tools to continuously improve. This is something critical to both personal and professional development.
Professional goal in five years: I want to see my team and our company grow to provide new opportunities for development and new challenges for us to tackle. For me personally, I’d like to see an entrepreneurial side venture develop for our family.
The one thing I’d change about Hampton Roads: For how much water we have that surrounds our communities, the public does not have much access to it (apart from the beaches). I would create more waterfront amenities and access points for leisure and recreation on the inland waterways.
Region’s biggest asset: Carrying from the above, I believe it’s the coastal environment. I just think so much of it is vastly underutilized and underappreciated.
Downtime: At home, I’m an avid gardener, continuously attempting to improve and enhance our landscape. I also love boating, fishing and simply enjoying the view.
What really gets under my skin: Littering.
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/10/27/top-forty-under-40-2025-michael-hull/
