‘Never Give Up Hope – Keep Dreaming’
Managing Director & CEO Michael Boehm grew up in a housing commission area and with no father in his life; he knew that if he wanted anything in life he would have to work hard to get it. Starting at age 10 doing paper rounds morning and afternoon and various part time jobs, dreaming that one day he would own his own successful multimillion dollar empire. At 15 years of age, Mick Boehm started working as an apprentice for a Victorian company, only leaving when the business went into receivership 6 years later.
With $2000 in his pocket and a windsurfer on the roof racks of his 1969 Holden, he drove to the Gold Coast on a surfing holiday. After a short holiday, Mick purchased a small run-down orange juice run, and with no sales experience, turned “Mr Juicy” into a household name on the Gold Coast. Marriage followed soon after, and 5 years of hard work he decided to sell the business and set off on a well-deserved holiday to Europe with his new wife Tanya. Tragedy struck whilst holidaying in Europe with Mick contracting a rare virus [similar to arthritis sufferers] that affected all the joints in his body. With Mick being unable to work and huge medical bills piling up, the illness cost him to lose almost everything he worked so hard for.
Luckily, with a strong mental attitude and excellent help from caring doctors and specialists, Mick managed to overcome the virus over the next few years to establish several other distribution businesses on the Gold Coast and Brisbane. With a strong determination for success and only one part-time employee, Mick opened Aussie Emergency Glass in 1997 in Southport, The Gold Coast Head Office is located today across the road at Ashmore.
Early days in the new business saw Mick glazing windows in the morning, followed by invoicing and paperwork late afternoon, then — if lucky, was able to go home for dinner with his wife and new family. Work didn’t stop then for Mick, who then had to go out at night to secure and board up premises that were broken into overnight. After a year of this hectic schedule and surviving little sleep, all the hard work culminated in the opening of the new Brisbane Office in 1998, followed by the Sunshine Coast in 1999.
With the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast Offices operating successfully, Mick started to dream BIG – to have an Australian wide — Australian Owned Glass Replacement Company. Next was Melbourne — in the year 2001 he proudly opened for business in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton {ironically, five minutes from where he originally began working almost 25 years ago as an apprentice].
Following the success of the other branches and after many requests from Insurance Companies and Corporate Clients who are already using Aussie Emergency Glass as their chosen replacement service, Mick opened an office and factory in Sydney in 2003. With an Australian wide network of 160 glaziers reaching across Australia – servicing all localities — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — Mick feels he has established his empire and has finally
“made his dream into a reality” Mick’s inspiring advice to anyone who has ever had a dream or desire is to never give up hope – dreams do become a reality with hard work, desire and a very strong will to succeed. Just remember to enjoy every day because every day that you are alive is a gift.
Sadly in 2009 Mick underwent life threatening emergency open heart surgery that resulted in a double bypass and mechanical valve being placed in his heart. Michael has since recovered and is stronger than ever and now with the help of his oldest son Jake who is now the General Manager they have established many new company’s together.