Mike, often known as MIKA, started out as a bobcat operator before expanding his business to include swimming pool excavation as Mika Bobcat Service. When the skid steers he used in excavation destroyed his clients' driveways in San Diego, California, he paid a high price. As a result, he devised MATs to protect delicate hardscape sections from the skidsteer's violent twisting motion. He had previously released this product, which was well-received, with numerous orders coming in from all across the United States until the real estate business was rocked by the recession in 2008, when things did not go as planned. Mikamat has returned to assist operators in resolving their issues.