CANDIDATE: Running for Congress in Oregon's 5th District
PARTY: Republican
AGE: 43
HOME: Lives in Clackamas County, Oregon.
PUBLIC OFFICE: None.
 
EDUCATION: Earned Bachelor of Science in Business and Marketing, Portland State University.
 
OCCUPATION: Founder, CEO and owner, AFMS LLC in Tigard. AFMS negotiates and audits shipping/logistics contracts for companies with large amounts of freight business all over Oregon and the U.S.
 
FAMILY BACKGROUND: Growing up, the son of a police officer, Mike learned the value of community service, dedication and hard work. Mike relied on the solid foundation his family provided to excel in public schools, both academically and on the playing field. Mike worked two jobs to pay his way through college, because he understood the life long value of a good education. Mike believes in giving back to the community and the education system that has been good to him. Mike's early childhood values also instilled a strong sense of faith, he is active in his local community church and supports numerous charities in Oregon.
 
PREVIOUS WORK: District Manager for Airborne Express, working there for almost four years after graduating from college, founded his company AFMS Inc. at age 28. He started the company out of the basement of his home, had a good idea, a good concept and worked hard to shape the company into the success it is today.
 
CAREER PATH: Mike Erickson is a graduate of the Portland State University School of Business. While at PSU he served as the student body president and was a member of PSU�s nationally ranked football team from 1985 to 1987. As PSU�s starting kicker he ranks among the top ten scorers in PSU history.
 
In 1992 Mike founded AFMS with the idea "Knowledge is Power." Since then AFMS has become one of the fastest growing private companies in America as listed by Inc. Magazine in 2004 and 2005. AFMS has also become one of the most admired and well respected contract negotiation firms in the transportation industry.
 
Mike is one of the industry's most sought after speakers. He presents at approximately 20 trade shows a year and has received the top speaker award at many of them. Some of the conferences Mike has recently presented at include; CSCMP, MAILCOM, NCOF, Parcel Shipping & Distribution, AIMED, WERC, D/C Expo, and many others. In addition, Mike is a frequent guest lecturer at Portland State University's School of Business and the University of Oregon.
 
In addition to speaking, Mike has authored over 30 articles for many of the industry's top magazines and periodicals. Mike and his colleagues are often quoted and interviewed in publications and in the media such as NBC News with Tom Brokaw, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Traffic World, American Shipper Magazine, MAIL Magazine, Journal of Commerce and many others.
 
On a daily basis Mike oversees the contract negotiation process for many of his firm's larger clients, saving them millions in transportation costs. Many of AFMS' clients are Fortune 1000 companies.