Michael West

Michael West, a native of East Tennessee, has amassed a wealth of down-home wisdom from his travels and professional career as a Chief Executive Officer for several companies. His varied life has taught him the joy of trying new things and the comfort that comes from time with a good book. His writing reflects his easygoing storytelling style and diversity of thought; he seeks to entertain and inspire readers with stories that are sure to make the reader wonder, laugh, and think.

Michael’s debut novel, Lost in the Holler, promises to engage readers with secrets that are revealed like a nesting doll. Michael is also the author of Mom’s Diary, a memoir about his mom’s struggle with cancer. Each week, Michael writes a column “I Was Just Thinking” on Substack.  

Today, Michael is Executive Chairman of Lirio, an agentic AI company focusing on patient engagement and behavior in healthcare. Despite his travels and wide-ranging career, Michael is never far from his grandkids. An unabashed fan of his grandkids, he now lives in Bristol, Tennessee, with his wife of 37 years, Tiffiny. They have two children. Ashley and her husband, Gautum, live in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Thomas and his wife, Alexa, and their son Emmett and daughter Adelina, live in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Michael lives a full life, believing in good friends, contributing to society, and enjoying life. An avid fly fisher, he is always ready to chase big trout. 

Get to Know Michael

  • Fly Fishing

  • Writing

  • Thinking I knew everything.

  • Peaceful

  • Peaceful, Simple, Comfortable

  • My Wife

  • Blue

  • It is what it is

  • Ask lots of questions

  • Scotland

  • Mom’s biscuits (I finally learned how to make them)

  • George Strait

    Willie Nelson

    Mark Chestnut

    Rob Thomas

    Allison Krauss

    Freddie Mercury

  • Doris Kearns Goodwin

    Paul Theroux

    Erik Larson

    Winston Churchill

    Malcolm Gladwell

“The Secret to Life is Enjoying
the Passage of Time”

James Taylor