Mike plays a leadership role in the Eastern Shore’s startup/entrepreneur ecosystem. He is the Executive Director of the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC). ESEC’s programs and activities serve the needs of high-growth, innovative, and scalable startups and entrepreneurs. ESEC’s two primary initiatives include hotDesks, a network of coworking spaces, and F³ Tech, an accelerator program focused on agriculture/aquaculture technologies.
Originating in Chicago, Thielke started his first business at 23 which led to a career in international transportation, distribution, and logistics with a focus in DOD and foreign military contracts. He received a B.A. from Knox College in Galesburg, IL.
Thielke relocated to the Eastern Shore in 1995 after which he played a lead role in Schooner Sultana Project, the construction of a factually-documented vessel from 1768 which now serves as the Schoolship of the Chesapeake and teaches students colonial history and environmental science.