PLP 09: Mike Coker

Name: Michael J. Coker
Age: 44
Born:  Portsmouth
Current Digs:  Portsmouth
Occupation:  Police Trainer/Consultant/Motivational Speaker
Favorite part about the job?  Inspiring people to focus on creating a positive work environment starting with them.
Your first job ever?  Print Circulation Engineer (aka) paperboy.  I had a blast learning people in the neighborhood.
Favorite Book?  The Holy Bible, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, and Hope on a Tightrope by Dr. Cornel West
Favorite Movie?  Crimson Tide
Comfort Food?  Salmon, Chicken Wings (mild)
What’s in your car CD player right now (or favorites on your ipod)?  Gospel Mix, Beyonce, The Cathedrals, Yanni, Earth Wind and Fire, Michael Buble’
Next Journey?  Hawaii, San Francisco, Las Vegas
Favorite Virginia vacation spot? Ford’s Colony in Williamsburg, VA
First Political memory?  Dr. King’s Assassination
Whom do you admire and why?  Delores Coker my mother.  She taught me how to be a man, and how to love your children unconditionally.
Best advice you ever got?  A setback is a setup for a comeback (Willie Jolley)
If you could have dinner with any one currently living, whom would it be and why?  President Barack Obama.  I would love to ask him 3 questions:  Mr. President, What made you think that you could be President?  What prepared you?  What would you like for your legacy to be?
Describe a perfect day.  Listening to music, working on my presentation, or sitting in my office collecting my thoughts while my 7-year-old son is practicing his music lessons on his piano and drums.
One thing most people might be surprised to learn about you?  Probably that I love to read, especially poetry.
Ambition Political or otherwise?  My personal ambition is to speak before thousands; and become Chairman of the School Board in the City of Portsmouth. Perhaps most of all, attending my son’s first Concert in Carnegie Hall. You see, when Barack Obama won the Presidency, for the first time in many years, we can now dream again.