Michael Dwayne Long is the husband of the beautiful Gia Monet Todd Long and the father of three aspiring children Satura, Shelbi, and Michael II. He is a dedicated member of Mount Zion AME Church in Wilmington, NC. Michael is currently employed with Duke Energy as a Control Room Supervisor at the Brunswick Nuclear Plant. He received his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from North Carolina State University. As a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, Michael served his country as a submariner on nuclear powered submarines in the United States Navy. As a man of the community, he serves as Board Chair for the Boys and Girls Clubs of SENC (Southeastern NC); serves as Board Vice Chair of Leland Parks and Recreation; and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Just to make sure all of his time is occupied, he is also a co-owner of Wine and Design Art Studio in Leland, NC with his wife. When it’s time to finally relax, life is simply about cooking, traveling, and spending time with his family. Michael has played a pivotal role as a prominent advocate and champion for the vision of the Optimism Oasis.