05/06/2026
After 15 years of knowing and working alongside a great man, it’s time to say congratulations on a well-earned retirement to my friend, Mike Foran.
I first met Mike when he came to work in the paint department at Kia, back when the plant was just getting started. Anyone who knows that department understands how demanding it is to maintain precision, cleanliness, and high standards every single day. And that’s exactly who Mike was. Fair, respectful, and always willing to work with you, but he expected excellence and made everyone around him better.
Working in a place like that, you also realize how much knowledge a person carries with them over the years. Mike has forgotten more about that job than most people will ever learn, and his experience, instincts, and attention to detail can’t really be replaced. There’s a lot of wisdom walking out the door with him, and it will definitely be missed.
What makes Mike’s career even more remarkable is everything he’s pushed through along the way. Multiple battles with cancer and even a heart attack, and yet he never quit. That kind of toughness and determination says everything about the man he is.
Over the years, some of my favorite moments weren’t just on the job, but the conversations we shared, talking about our fathers, our upbringing, and life in general. Being about the same age, we had a lot in common, and those talks meant a lot to me.
Now at 65, Mike is heading to South Carolina to be closer to his sons, and I can’t think of a better next chapter.
His last day was Friday, May 1, and like his shirt says, “The Legend Has Retired.”
Congratulations, Mike. You’ve earned every bit of this. Wishing you nothing but the best in this next season of life.
Ronny Pierce Adam Post Keith White Paul Street Christy Byous Pierce
