“Have you ever been in an emergency? Have you ever been in a situation where you lost everything?”
Michael Johnson never dreamed he’d ask a 200-person audience those questions.
But one hazardous tree – then a decaying one – changed everything.
“Terry saw me working next door,” Johnson said of meeting Terry Truitt in 2022 while removing an unstable tulip poplar tree. “We had a conversation about his background and mine, what he does for a living. That was my introduction to what Flagship does.”
What Dr. Terry Truitt does is serve as the CEO & President of Flagship Enterprise Center, headquartered in Anderson, Indiana, about 45 minutes northeast of Indianapolis. And what Flagship does is support small-business owners with coaching, marketing, branding support, capital options and more.
“Flagship exists to walk alongside entrepreneurs at every stage: from idea to growth to thriving,” said Truitt. “With Flagship’s coaching and business support alongside access to capital through Bankable, our small business lending arm, we are not just helping people start businesses; we are helping them build something sustainable that can impact their families and the broader community.”
The grant was presented during the Flagship Pitch where Johnson posed those two questions to begin his funding presentation as the owner of Modern Tree Solutions.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Before the Bucket Truck
Rewinding to 2022, Truitt was so impressed watching Johnson’s skillful work, he asked him to handle a decaying oak on his own property. Johnson returned for other trees, and their conversations continued.
“That was before I even owned a bucket truck,” Johnson said.
Johnson had worked his way up at another tree company, all while envisioning something bigger: his own business.
He built a network of connections to support his business goals. He worked nights and weekends. And his extra efforts helped him secure equipment and enough clients to branch out on his own. He launched Modern Tree Solutions, which offers a variety of tree services, including 24-hour emergency support.
As he continued to serve clients like Truitt while knocking on doors for new business, Johnson’s peers in a networking group encouraged him to participate in Flagship’s Pitch contest.
“All the people in the Chamber group said, ‘Michael, you better freaking enroll in this,’” Johnson recalled.
So, he did.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Thanks to Flagship’s coaches who prepared him and six fellow entrepreneurs all vying for $25,000 in cash and in-kind support for their businesses, Johnson developed and rehearsed his pitch.
Again. And again. And again.
“I’m a real numbers kind of guy,” Johnson said. “Sometimes, I’m just info, info, info, info. What I didn’t understand at first is you really want people to feel where you’re coming from rather than just saying, ‘The numbers look good.’ The coaches encouraged us to bring some emotion to it.”
Johnson incorporated that feedback. And when pitch night arrived?
“I just decided I’m going to shoot my shot with what I’ve got,” he said. “This is who we are, this is what we do, and this is what we’re working toward.”
In those five minutes, Johnson gave it everything he had.
“After I went up there and did my pitch, it was like ‘Boom!’ I got hit with a freight train,” he said. “It was like everything was drained from me.”
Johnson’s numbers – plus his interactive approach – resonated with judges, who crowned him this year’s Flagship Pitch winner.
Did he expect to win?
“Absolutely not,” Johnson said, smiling.
Dr. Terry Truitt was also smiling on pitch night.
“Michael’s win was a special moment – not just because of the strength of his business, but because of the journey behind it,” said Truitt. “You could see the discipline, the sacrifice, and the belief he has carried over time. That came through in a powerful way on stage.”
And while it was called a pitch contest, the tightknit Flagship entrepreneur cohort saw it differently.
“The Pitch event itself is an awesome opportunity to explain your vision, something you believe in, to hundreds of people,” Johnson explained. “It was less of a competitive thing among us; we were all working together to be better. The way we looked at it, we’ve already won, we’re already here.”
It was less of a competitive thing among us; we were all working together to be better. The way we looked at it, we’ve already won, we’re already here.
Michael Johnson
Branching Out – Again
Johnson is putting his prize money toward a mulch storefront space he plans to build. It’s the next step now that he’s grown the team to nine full-time employees.
Business is booming – and Johnson is grateful to the company’s loyal supporters.
“I love the interaction with our customers,” he said. “I love delivering on the execution of the services and products that are exactly what the clients desired. It’s all about how you make your clients feel. We want them to feel like they’re part of the Modern Tree family when we come out and serve them.”
Johnson especially appreciates Truitt’s belief in him.
“Terry saw me working next door and took a chance on me; I’m so thankful for him,” Johnson said. “He gives praise where it’s due and shakes your hand with a smile. Those are inspiring leadership qualities I admire and try to bring into our workplace.”
Judge’s Ruling
Mary Wallace Hannon, Operations and Strategic Communications manager with the Regions Foundation, served as a Flagship Pitch contest judge. It wasn’t an easy task.
“Each entrepreneur delivered a persuasive pitch with a compelling personal story behind it,” said Hannon. “What set Modern Tree Solutions apart was Michael’s clear command of his business, his strong commitment to treating his team well and a model going far beyond tree cutting through a variety of services. It was evident the company is serving a real need in the Anderson community.”
“Our community partnership with the Regions Foundation is a gamechanger,” added Truitt. “It allows us to extend our impact in meaningful ways and helps businesses launch, grow and create a lasting impact.”
It allows us to extend our impact in meaningful ways and helps businesses launch, grow and create a lasting impact.
Dr. Terry Truitt
About Regions Foundation
The Alabama-based Region Foundation supports community investments that positively impact communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank. To learn more about the Regions Foundation visit www.regions.com/foundation.