Meet Michael Reihard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Reihard.

Hi Michael, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
So, I started as a bashful, quiet young man who just always kept to himself. I believe most of my classmates in High School would describe me as such. Like most, I went to college and adapted to the corporate world. Prior to working in Cleveland, I grew up in a small town 60 miles east of Cleveland in Leavittsburg, Ohio. My friends thought I was crazy for taking a job in Cleveland. I started working in downtown Cleveland, and eventually I was promoted to another department. On the nice days during lunch, my co-workers insisted I that I joined them in walking around a small block, that was probably a mile in total. When I started, the TV news crews would always be around the East 4th street district, as this was quite busy with foot traffic. I remember once being asked by WEWS-5 to do an interview, but I had too much stage freight I guess you would say. Then one day, as a TV crew claim closer, I said to myself what do I have to lose? The interview was with Brian Duffy at WOIO-19. I went on and on. My parents were surprised to say the least.

A few months later, walking with a co-working down Euclid Avenue, a separate station interviewed me on the length of the school year; me and the co-worker continued to walk around the corner and down east 4th, and there was Brian Duffy again, wanting to know my thoughts on the Browns game. Two interviews, separate stations all in one day. My co-worker was surprised. I would get interviewed 5-10 times more that year. Brian Duffy stated if he interviewed me anymore “he had to give me his job.” Other stations, such as Fox 8 interviewed me as well. I even had an appearance on the show “The List.” Over the course of the next two years, various celebrities were also appearing all over town. By the luck of the straw, I met almost two dozen celebrities and was fortunate to have discussions with them — Skip Bayless, Mark Jackson (NBA on ABC commentator), and Al Roker to name a few.

I am also very hard-working oriented and would always arrive well early for work, usually prior to dawn. On the eve of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series the Today Show was taping at the Winking Lizard. I didn’t know at the time, but I opened a door for one of the cameramen. He asked if I wanted to be on the Today Show, I of course said I was interested.

One afternoon in the summer of 2018, again walking with a co-worker on lunch, the luck of the “random” stardom really struck. As we were walking down East 4th, Brad Brown and another Fox 8 employee asked if I was interested in trying out for a promo commercial on why you should watch “Fox 8 News in the Morning.” My co-worker said it seemed like I was a complete natural. Two versions aired for the next 4.5 months and everyone knew. It was so polarizing. It was airing like crazy. It was interesting because this was Fox 8, and not the Brian Duffy station (WOIO-19), that I appeared on as a viewer on a regular basis.

In 2019 I participated in “The Best Part of Cleveland” a web series put on by Soul Pancake. This was during a time where I was losing a lot of weight from all the walking, and my wardrobe was changing because of it. I didn’t at the time know that Hollywood producers and directors (Rob Hatch-Miller/Ben Shelton) were doing the taping around various hot spots around Cleveland. Hatch-Miller I came to find had shot various music videos from some of my favorite artists. We taped “The Best Part of Cleveland” at Public Square, East 4th Street, Edgewater Beach, amongst others. I was a little intimidated — the one actor I was working with was a backup in NCIS, and a few others had quite the acting experience. I did not. I was your regular “Joe” just in awe of everything. I did a minor backup in the “Cleveland tapings”, barely can notice me in a role at all — but I had the utmost respect for everything. Moments I will never forget. Conversations that replay in my head. I love Cleveland, and it was my chance to share my love with others who did the same.

In January/February of 2020, WOIO-19 started airing viewer-related commercials on why they watch WOIO-19. Knowing that Brian Duffy was one of the nicest people I ever met, it was a no-brainer. I was able to work with Chris Stabile the producer at WOIO-19, met him at Playhouse Square and the commercial series were made. This was early February of 2020, pre-pandemic. I remember Chris being impressed that I had notes with me as he and his co-worker were setting up the cameras and lighting. Chris notoriously made stellar commercials for WOIO, very appealing and amazing graphical content that I had appreciated. I have also since made friendships on social media with a few of the WOIO employees.

The pandemic then came, and I remember working from home on an early March Day. Chris emailed me and said, “could you do another pandemic-related commercial from your home, on why you continue to watch Channel 19 during the pandemic?” I said sure. I was floored. I remember the whole world basically shut down, restaurants closed and the freeways bare. I was sitting at home in my apartment thinking of things to say, what to wear. I had my sister and niece come over, and record 5 or 6 bits on my cell phone and I emailed them to Chris at WOIO. It was a dark time in our lives, and for once I remember being untethered by the moment. No longer intimidated, no longer bashful.

Friends gave me the nickname “Mr. Cleveland” something I did not care for at first. I wasn’t a mover and shaker like David Gilbert (the real Mr. Cleveland) and Colette Jones of Destination Cleveland. I didn’t create great content like Brad Brown, Rob Hatch-Miller, or Chris Stabile. But I took the nickname with a grain of salt and said it’s just all in fun and games. With this did come moments of criticism. 95% of the people liked the commercial related content. Another percentage were like whatever, but I did talk to my parents about it. They agreed, who would pass up the opportunity and if it wasn’t good, it wouldn’t have aired on TV. At the end of the day, I’m still just a regular guy with great opportunities. I’m still the grown-up version of the bashful kid who would volunteer weekly at a local hospital pushing wheelchairs for my mother who was a beautician there. I’m still a guy who cares deeply about his family, and career. I’m still a regular guy with an extraordinary love for his city, Cleveland. In my day-to-day career I try to provide the best healthcare possible to all Ohioans and the company I work for, Medical Mutual of Ohio. But I am not the timid/bashful kid I once was, and I know who I am and what I stand for.

My mother ended up passing away January 8th, 2021 due to complications from pneumonia. My mother and father are everything to me. I will continue to do things in my mother’s memory, and with my healthy father in mind.

And I also could not have done it without my sister’s family, David Gilbert, Colette Jones, Brad Brown, Rob Hatch-Miller, Chris Stabile, and Brian Duffy. The real ones who are the movers and shakers, and make the magic happen.

During April of 2021 I continued volunteer activities for the city I love, as I volunteered for two days for the events at the NFL Draft.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It was not an easy road. For me getting over the difficulty of public speaking, and not being bashful was quite difficult.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an Operations Business Analyst for Medical Mutual of Ohio. I serve the needs of all Ohioans and I take great pride in my work. I handle the external audits that come in and I also run database query datasets. The TV items that I have done has helped immensely in public speaking and giving presentations. I enjoy the time between the shoots and the excitement of the result on TV.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see the healthcare industry adapting to all the COVID-related items, and any new variants that have come with it. I see Medical Mutual continuing to lead the health insurance industry in providing the best healthcare possible. I wouldn’t put my name on it otherwise.

For TV content, I’m not timid to chip in when appropriate, and if it is something that I believe in.

Contact Info:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mr___Cleveland?t=jNVVvF7v1So8CjxqbPLBqA&s=09
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/user/mreihard/videos