2025 Men of the Year: Michael Cho

Michael Cho calls himself a proud adopted son of Springfield.

“I was 24 when I relocated to Springfield, and every good thing in my life has been a direct result of my move to this place I now call home,” he says.

Cho is the co-founder of Craft Sushi with his wife, Jenny.

“We founded Craft Sushi to feed our neighbors wholesome food grown in our community,” he says. “Establishing a business that offers an honest product at an honest price is an accomplishment of which I am very proud. It is something objectively good and real.”

He is also the general manager of Hickory Hills Country Club, having risen through the ranks to that position. He notes he doesn’t shy away from any part of the job, not even physical tasks.

“Blasting ’90s hip-hop with my banquet teams during late-night clean-up and resets at Hickory Hills remains one of my favorite times as hospitality director,” he says. “The banter and laughter stays with me and reminds me how important it is to show your team that you are never above any job.”

Cho says his greatest professional satisfaction is seeing a member of his team move on to bigger opportunities and make leaps in their career. In recent years, he says, team leaders from the Hickory Hills hospitality department have been recruited for director roles at other country clubs around the city and state.

“I take great pride in that, as it tells me that the culture we’ve developed at Hickory Hills is allowing the team to grow on an upward trajectory,” he says.

Cho says involvement in local nonprofits helps him foster a sense of connection to the community. He has served on the event and campaign committees for Lost & Found Grief Center, Mercy Foundation and Harmony House, and he is a member of the board of directors for both Rescue One and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“The positive impact these organizations have on our community is immeasurable, and I feel incredibly fortunate to play a small role in what they do,” he says.

He notes one of Craft Sushi’s tenets is to support the work of charitable causes, and every year during its anniversary week, it is a tradition to donate net proceeds to one of them.

“Every day of that week, we highlight a local nonprofit and raise funds for their mission,” he says, noting in the past six years, those donated proceeds, plus charity auction dinners and gift certificates, top $55,000.

“Founding a successful business with my wife and partner – that feeds our community healthful, wholesome food while taking care of our team and contributing to the good work of our neighbors – is my proudest accomplishment,” he says.

Family: I am husband to my wonderful wife of nearly 20 years, Jenny, and father to two beautiful kids, Ethan and Lillian. My two puppies, Moses and Mona, and kitten, Lucy, also call me dad in their respective languages.

Words to live by: If you see your glass as half empty, pour it into a smaller glass and stop complaining.

Dream dinner party guest: Benjamin Franklin. I always considered him the wisest of our Founding Fathers and I believe he lived the fullest life as well.