About

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Delaware, and a Master of Business Administration from Widener University in Pennsylvania.

Associations

Fort Lauderdale Rotary Club –Former President and current member
Fort Lauderdale Executive Association -Former President
Broward County Boys and Girls Club- Former board member
Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce- Former board member
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association –Broward Branch-Former board member
Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association – Former member
Regent Bank –Former Advisory Board member
Graduate of Leadership Broward
Served on the City of Fort Lauderdale Beach Redevelopment Advisory Board, Budget Advisory
Board, and Aviation Advisory Board

Awards

Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year
South Florida Business Journal Small Business of the Year
Sun Sentinel Excalibur award winner
Junior Achievement of South Florida –Business Hall of Fame

History

Mr. Grimme moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1996 after a career in the international crude oil trading
industry, based primarily in Europe and worked for Sunoco and then Phibro Energy, one of the largest and most successful trading companies in the world. After an initial two year period in Greenwich as a crude oil trader, he transferred to Zug, Switzerland and eventually moved the office to London, England as the central headquarters for all trading activities in Europe, Africa, the CIS, and the Middle East. His last position held was Vice Chairman.

His holding company (Grimme’ Holdings) has previously owned several Fort Lauderdale based
hotels, a web development business, and a furniture recycling business which sold furniture to 60+ countries. In connection with his furniture recycling business, he appeared multiple times on the internationally broadcast Travel Channel reality show Hotel Impossible.

Family/Interests

Mike has a wife, Pamela, and four children. He has a professional pilot’s license, jet ratings, instructor ratings, and considers flying, competitive rowing, boating, skiing, and occasional mountain climbing his main hobbies.

Mike frequently mentors and lectures at local Universities including Nova and Lynn University on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur and why a personal life /business life requires frequent balancing.

Since the loss of his son in 2006, the Grimme family has awarded over 25 college scholarships in the local community in their son’s name. In addition, they have funded and established a business ethics program in perpetuity at Broward College currently focused on the aviation, automotive and marine technician programs.