ABout michael w. simmons, sr.

Operations Lead | Co-Founder, Hikari Gateway

I spent over 40 years working for a local utility company. Rain. Snow. Holidays. It didn’t matter — I showed up.

When I retired, I expected rest. What I didn’t expect was how tight life could feel on a fixed income. The bills were paid, but freedom — the ability to say yes to life — felt limited.

That’s when my wife looked at me and said,
“Either you’re getting a job… or we’re building something.”

That moment changed everything.

Not long after, I started noticing medical courier vans moving through our community. Independent. Focused. On the move. No office politics — just responsibility, routes, and precision.

At first, I assumed courier work was just a job. What I didn’t realize was that it could become a business — and eventually, a platform to help others do the same.

With a clean driving record and background, I qualified easily. But instead of applying to work for someone else, my wife and I asked a better question:

“Why work for someone else when we can build our own?”

We prayed. We researched. We learned as we went. No mentor. No playbook. Just grit, Google, and faith.

Out of my 40 years in utilities, more than 12 were spent as a Maintenance Inspector — managing routes, overseeing safety checks, and coordinating equipment and logistics across the city. That experience became the foundation for what we were building.

What started as a practical income solution turned into a mission.

Together, we launched Hikari Gateway, LLC, a family-owned company built on structure, integrity, and excellence.

At Hikari Gateway, I serve as the Operations Lead, overseeing daily routes, field execution, compliance, and on-the-ground logistics. I am responsible for operational decisions, quality control, and ensuring every delivery reflects the standards we stand for.

My wife, Dr. Terri A. Simmons, serves as Founder, Creative Director, and Strategic Lead. She oversees the vision, systems, education, branding, and long-term direction of the company and its related initiatives.

I lead the field.  

She leads the framework.
Together, we move with clarity and purpose.

“Hikari” means light or enlightenment in Japanese — and that’s exactly what this journey represents. Not just income, but legacy. Not just work, but opportunity.

Through Hikari Gateway and Pathways Collective, our work has expanded to include:

• Courier Ca$h® — a practical training system for building a medical courier business
   
• Boss Your Book® — guided authorship tools for writers ready to publish with intention
   
• A growing Digital Library & Shop — offering templates, workbooks, and short-form learning resources designed to meet people where they are and move them forward
   

Today, at 64, I work on my own terms, set my own schedule, and help build a future for our children and grandchildren. The work is simple — not always easy — but it works.

Together, we combine logistics experience with education, strategy, and creative leadership to offer clear, actionable pathways for those ready to take control of their time, income, and future.

We light the way to excellence.

— Michael Simmons, Sr.
Operations Lead & Co-Founder, Hikari Gateway