Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Flora.
Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My Career Journey & the Story Behind Local Social
My career began in sales after graduating from Southern Methodist University. In 2005, I moved to the Philadelphia area to be closer to my parents, who lived in Bucks County, and soon found myself running a payroll and staffing company focused heavily on teamwork, relationships, and business development.
Not long after making that move, my life took an unexpected turn. I was diagnosed with a severe spinal tumor that required emergency surgery and left me paralyzed from the waist down. I spent six months at Magee Rehabilitation in Center City, Philadelphia, learning how to walk again. After nearly two years of rehabilitation, I was finally able to return to the workforce.
That experience gave me a completely different perspective on life and work. I was determined to make the most of my second chance, and I set my sights on building a career in the medical device industry. Over the next 15 years, I had the opportunity to work with some incredible organizations, including Philips Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare, and Johnson & Johnson.
Those years were incredibly meaningful. I had a new career, a new beginning, and, most importantly, I met the woman who would become the mother of my children. I went on to build a family while developing a career that taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, sales, relationships, and working with people.
Then came COVID, followed by a challenging period in my professional life. Over the next six years, I was laid off three times. While those experiences were difficult, they also forced me to take a hard look at what I really wanted for the next chapter of my career.
At the same time, I had been working part-time with a national catering company, helping run operations. The more time I spent in the industry, the more I saw its potential. I could see what was working, where things could be done differently, and, most importantly, I realized how much I genuinely enjoyed the business.
My passion for food goes back much further than that.
I grew up in an Italian family where the kitchen was always the center of our world. Food meant family, conversation, celebration, and connection. Even while I was in college and throughout the early years of my career, I would spend my free time catering small events for friends and family simply because I loved doing it.
Eventually, I realized that what had always been a passion could become a career.
I had completed my MBA at Delaware Valley University several years earlier, and I wanted to bring everything together: my background in sales and business, my experience leading teams and operations, my desire to build something of my own, and, of course, my lifelong passion for food and bringing people together.
So, in the fall of 2025, Local Social Catering and Events was born.
Starting Local Social was more than simply starting a business. It was the beginning of another chapter in a career and life that has taken some unexpected turns. I’ve learned that sometimes the biggest changes in your life come from circumstances you never planned for. What matters is how you respond to them.
Today, Local Social is my opportunity to combine everything I’ve learned throughout my career with something I truly love. My goal is simple: to create great food, bring people together, and build a company that reflects the relationships, experiences, and lessons that have shaped my life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There was never a clear or perfect path to starting a business. The reality was that there was never going to be a “good” time to take the leap.
After being laid off three times in the aftermath of COVID, I found myself needing a fresh start. Starting over came at a significant financial cost, taking a major hit to my savings. So, needless to say, launching a new business on a shoestring budget was far from ideal.
I still remember the irony of preparing and serving incredible amounts of food for my new customers, only to go home and make myself dinner out of eggs or ramen. It wasn’t always glamorous, but it was real—and it was part of the journey.
While I have recovered from my spinal surgery, the effects of what happened continue to be something I manage every day. There are still ongoing challenges that can make it difficult to put in the 12–15 hour days that building a business from the ground up often demands.
What has made the difference is the people around me. I have been incredibly blessed with amazing friends, family, and staff who have stood beside me, stepped in when I needed help, and helped carry me through the days when moving forward felt nearly impossible.
Starting Local Social has not been the easiest journey, but it has taught me that perseverance isn’t always about doing everything yourself. Sometimes, it’s about having the courage to keep going—and being grateful for the people willing to help you along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Local Social Catering and Events is a corporate catering and events company built around a simple belief: food has the power to bring people together.
We specialize in creating customized food and event experiences for companies, universities, nonprofits, weddings, and private organizations. That can mean anything from a small drop-and-go corporate lunch to a full-service event, alumni reception, board meeting, philanthropy event, wedding, or large-scale celebration. We provide everything from the food and bar service to staffing, rentals, delivery, setup, and cleanup, depending on what the client needs.
What I think we’re becoming known for is our ability to take an idea, a budget, or even a very loose vision and turn it into something that feels thoughtful and personal. We don’t believe catering should be one-size-fits-all. Our menus are customized, our service is flexible, and we work hard to find creative ways to deliver a great experience at different price points.
What sets Local Social apart is that we’re not simply focused on putting food on a table. We think about the entire experience and, more importantly, why people are gathering in the first place. Whether it’s a company trying to show appreciation for its employees, a university bringing alumni together, or a family celebrating an important milestone, food is often at the center of those moments. We want to help create an environment where people connect, collaborate, celebrate, and feel valued.
I’m especially proud of how far Local Social has come and of the relationships we’ve built along the way. Starting a business was never something I had a perfect roadmap for, and there were certainly some difficult moments along the way. But seeing clients come back, trust us with increasingly important events, and recommend us to others has been incredibly rewarding.
Ultimately, I’m most proud that Local Social reflects what I personally believe about hospitality: take care of people, make the food great, be flexible, and find a way to say yes whenever you can. If we can leave people with full bellies, great memories, and the feeling that someone genuinely cared about their experience, then we’ve done our job.
What matters most to you?
The customer experience all starts with great food. It’s that simple. When we develop an event plan or a menu for a customer, the first thing we do is understand what people want to see on a plate, and we put 100% of our effort into making that special!
It is easy to set up tables, and find great entertainment. Food is different. Food is what brings an event together, its what brings people tougher and keeps them talking for days or weeks after the party. Great food from great local chefs is the foundation of who we are!
Pricing:
- We have corporate lunch options from $20 and up.
- Private functions are customized by our chefs and can meet any budget or expectation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.localsocialevents.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/local_social_events/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Local-Social-Catering-and-Events-61585673368664/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/local-social-harleysville-2
- Other: https://g.page/r/CcAo8kZKkZpMEBM/review
