Kentico community interview: Mike Rahel

This is our third post in a series of interviews with members of the Kentico community. We're starting with Kentico Community Leaders and MVPs, but we plan to include Kentico employees, partners, and customers in the future.

This time we chat with another one of 2025's Kentico Community Leaders - Mike Rahel.

We prepared a series of questions for Mike to get to know him, his background in the DXP world, and how he was introduced to Kentico,

Where do you work and what's your current job title?

Currently, I run my own consulting company, Refined Element. We focus solely on Kentico implementation strategies. I work solo most of the time, but I am always seeking new help.

What's your background in the digital marketing, DX, DXP, CMS world?

I’ve been working in this space (and specifically with Kentico) since 2014. I started working at a couple dev agencies in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, before relocating to Florida in 2020.

Before that I was in software sales and worked for the Geek Squad way back in 2005. I’ve always been interested in computers and technology.

How were you introduced to Kentico?

A local agency was looking for a new hire and a recruiter reached out to me. At the time I was working as an office manager at a car detailing shop, so I was eager to get back into technology and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

I was told years later they almost hired someone else instead of me but that candidate chose not to complete the introduction project on time! 🙀

What's something valuable you can share that people might not know about Xperience by Kentico?

It you want to see it in action in the wild and experience how fast and responsive it is, check out the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau website done by Ntara (no affiliation). It was one of the first sites launched using Xperience by Kentico and is very well-executed.

What interests you most about Xperience by Kentico?

As I mentioned previously, I love technology, so the fact that Xperience by Kentico is using cutting-edge technology and is so snappy and responsive makes it a pleasure to work with. I also love the strategy and architecture side, so I love working with customers to fulfill their wildest dreams when it comes to their company’s critical business applications and marketing initiatives.

What would you like to see more of in the Kentico community?

I am excited for new developers to get involved and working on Xperience by Kentico projects. I’m focused on empowering beginners to “learn the ropes” and eventually become experts and eventually Kentico Community Leaders themselves!

When you're done with work how do you relax and spend your free time?

My wife recently started a business called Hello Mister Spider, where she sells jumping spiders and also makes custom-themed enclosures for them. She sells both online and at in-person markets and conventions, so I spend a lot of time helping with that (and I have a few pet spiders of my own too!)

In addition, I’m an avid reader; I generally read finance and technology-focused books, but also enjoy a good war story.

Finally, if I were to start all over again today, I would probably own a company doing something finance related and specifically Bitcoin—I believe it is a life-changing technology that will one day change the world much like the internet did for us in th 1990’s. (I say that with zero hyperbole, I truly believe this!)