From the

Desk of Michael Maller

Mike Miller, Administrative Assistant to the Chief Bottle Washer (lol).

I’ve assisted Mark for more than 30 years — from Fort Lauderdale to our roots in Minneapolis. Mark got his start at 17, buying his first house. He’s stuck with this business through thick and thin. I’ve carried his water for a long time. Together, we created this program to help others avoid the fix-and-flip trap that’s no longer profitable.

With construction costs rising over 30%, the future is in buying land and holding it. Pay it off. Use it later as equity for financing your home. Lots that cost $20,000–$30,000 today could easily reach $90,000 in time. We don’t have a crystal ball — but we do have a plan built on decades of experience.

Dedication:

Baby, the Support Dog

They say behind every great project is a team of people… but in my case, there’s also a four-legged companion who never left my side. His name is Baby—my support dog, my late-night shadow, and my source of unconditional love during some of the most painstaking hours of building this school. While I was up at 4 a.m., typing, reviewing notes, or reworking PDFs for the tenth time, Baby was right there beside me. Not saying a word, just being present—and sometimes snoring. Now, I’ll be honest. I never liked male dogs. I’ve always chosen females. I don’t know why—maybe because I didn’t like the whole business of them lifting their legs everywhere. But Baby changed all of that. I still catch myself calling him 'her' out of habit, and yes, he still lifts his leg like every other dog. But you know what? I’ve learned to forget about it. Because the love Baby gives me? It’s real. It’s grounding. It reminds me why I do what I do. This school wasn’t built overnight. It was built during those long stretches of quiet, with Baby watching over me as if he knew something important was happening. To the left of Baby's picture is Darcy, who sadly passed away in 2024. She was part of the journey too—and her memory stays with us. So, to my late-night partner… thank you, Baby. This wouldn't be what it is without you.