The son of UCLA and NFL football great Chuck Fenenbock, Michael was
born and raised in Southern California. After a stint in the Air Force,
Michael earned a BA and MA in American history from San Francisco State
University.
Following two years at the University of Colorado, Boulder (Phd/abd
in American history) Michael moved to Montana where he headed public
relations for a six state experimental education program.
In 1978 he helped Pat Williams win a longshot Montana Congressional
race. In short order, Michael was invited to join Montana governor Tom
Judge’s staff where he served as senior advisor and press secretary.
During Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s 1980 presidential campaign, Michael
was tabbed as Deputy Western States Coordinator, before moving to Washington,
DC where he joined Senator Kennedy’s national campaign staff and helped
coordinate efforts at the 1980 Democratic national convention in New
York City.
In 1981-82 Michael served as U.S. Senator John Melcher’s press secretary
and senior political aide in Washington, DC.
Michael left Senator Melcher’s staff in 1982 in order to accept a position
as Senator Edward Kennedy’s political director. In that capacity he headed
the Senator’s political operation at the 1982 Democratic mini-Convention
in Philadelphia.
Acclaimed as one of the nation's top campaign strategists, over the
next two years Michael directed three highly visible governor’s races
– Evelyn Gandy in Mississippi, Wayne Townsend in Indiana, and Anthony
Solomon in Rhode Island.
Returning to Washington, DC, where he established his own media consulting
firm, he turned his talents to producing political television advertising.
Over the next several years Michael produced advertising for campaigns
ranging from President to US Senate and Congressional campaigns.
In 1988 he met and married Daphne Weisbart. Together they formed a personal
and professional partnership and created Max Films.
Daphne and Michael live today with a houseful of bird dogs (Vizslas to
be precise) in New York's Hudson Valley.
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