Walking across the Georgia Tech campus can be an obstacle course: avoid the scooters, dodge the bikes, and keep your eyes peeled. But if you happen to catch a ride on the Stinger’s green bus route, your driver might just be Michael Carson, Sr. And if you step inside the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE), the building coordinator keeping operations running smoothly is his son, Michael Carson. For this father-and-son duo, working at Tech isn’t just a job, it’s a family bond. 

Michael Carson’s roots at Georgia Tech run on both sides of his family tree. His father-in-law, Dean Sutter, and his mother-in-law, Karen Ann Sutter, worked on campus for decades before retiring. His brother-in-law, Dean C. Sutter, has logged more than 24 years on campus, helping manage equipment in the Institute for Matter and System’s cleanroom. 

“It was actually a suggestion from my father-in-law that prompted me to apply for a role at Georgia Tech in 2020. He was coming to the close of his GT career when he suggested what would be the beginning of mine,” said Carson. “Things were going great here at Tech, and since my dad had recently lost his father and was ready for a chance, we decided that it would be a good thing for my dad to come here.”   

At that point, Michael Carson recruited Michael Sr. to apply for a job driving buses for Georgia Tech Parking and Transportation. Before long, Michael Sr. was moving from Compton California to the Atlanta area to join his son on campus.   

Michael Carson basically has his workday down to a set process, making sure all the little and big things are taken care of across the ISyE Main building and the connecting Groseclose building. 

This process starts with what he calls “the morning rounds,” stocking faculty, Ph.D., and staff lounges; preparing conference rooms; and setting up the main atrium, especially for events such as Senior Design presentations or ISyE Advisory Board Meetings. 

He might also be preparing classrooms for students and setting up displays or other furniture for a range of lecture series hosted at ISyE. In 2024, his dedication won him the ISyE Buzz Award for exceptional service. 

Mike Sr. worked as a shuttle bus driver for the Los Angeles International Airport before moving to Georgia. Even after a year driving a Stinger bus, he said there is no such thing as a typical day at the office. 

“We don’t have those. Driving on campus, you must always keep your head on a swivel,” he said. “It took me a while to adjust to campus life, and I would say driving here keeps you more on your toes than driving in California.”  

No matter what their days bring, the Carsons make it a point to meet on campus for lunch when their schedules permit. 

Over a quick bite, they might reflect on the past—rabbit hunting at 4 a.m., fishing, playing one-on-one basketball in Michael Sr.’s father’s driveway, and going to high school basketball games—and talking about what the future may hold in Georgia. 

Long before he was managing the ISyE building, Michael Carson was tearing up basketball courts in Compton, winning three state championships at his father’s alma mater, Manuel Dominguez High School. Basketball was Michael’s ticket to college, but it required moving across the country to Alabama, a somewhat tough pill to swallow for his dad, Mike Sr. 

“Growing up in Compton wasn’t bad in our neighborhood. Mike played basketball from the age of seven until he graduated high school and we didn’t allow Mike to get involved with gangs or other negative influences that may have been around at that time,” Carson Sr., said. “Mike had to move to Alabama to continue playing. Originally, I didn’t like that idea. But it was the best thing for him. And now, we are here in the same place, so it all worked out.”

The younger Carson attributes his work ethic to his father and grandfather, Melvin Carson. 

“I remember watching my grandfather wake up at the crack of dawn, as early as 4 a.m., to go to work on construction sites and at warehouses to provide for his family,” Carson said. “Then my father carried that same work ethic and instilled it into me, so I guess you could say that became a Carson ritual.” 

Beyond their shared work ethic, the Carsons share another timeless bond: a deep love for art, animation, and comedy. It’s a creative thread that now connects three generations, all starting with Carson, Sr.’s sketch pad. 

“Many people don’t know that my father was a really good artist. I remember when I was younger, my dad would carry a bag of drawings with him and add to his collection whenever inspiration struck him along the way,” Carson said. “I’ll never forget growing up watching The Little Rascals, The Three Stooges, and Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner with my father. He grew up on those shows, and it intrigued me to watch those classics. Now, my two boys, Christopher and Corey, sometimes sit down to watch those same shows with me today.” 

Having those three generations together in Georgia has given new meaning to Father’s Day for Carson Sr. 

“It’s difficult at times celebrating Father’s Day since I lost my dad a few years ago. I didn’t celebrate it as much until I moved here,” the elder Carson said. “My son’s family is always putting something together for us, and for me that is a way to stay connected with my pops in my own way because it reminds me of the times of being at my father’s house after church, my sisters cooking dinner, watching games, and enjoying family.”   

So, what do the two Mikes do when they aren’t working on campus or helping their families? 

“We enjoy bowling, fishing or just watching sports. I’ll admit he is a better bowler than me, but I am the better fisherman,” Carson Sr. said. “I also enjoy watching my son coach his J.V. basketball team. He really has the patience for that sort of thing, although he did not get that from me.”