Meet Mike

I was raised in White Bear Lake, the youngest of six children, three boys and three girls. Not only was I the youngest, but my closest sibling was eight years older. My mother, Esther, was from Chicago, and my father, Tom, from St. Paul. Both were deeply involved in Minnesota politics and other charitable organizations for many years.

My mother was passionate about civic engagement and spent years working on local, national, and gubernatorial campaigns, helping to shape the direction of Minnesota politics from behind the scenes. My father served as a captain in the infantry during World War II, and he often told me that experience served him well when he was later elected to the Minnesota Legislature, where he served from 1965 to 1974.

My dad used to say that no matter what issues came up on the floor, everyone on both sides of the aisle would eventually end up at a local restaurant for a night cap to hash out the day’s events. He was also instrumental and an early advocate for the creation of Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota, a lasting legacy of his dedication to preserving our state’s natural beauty and heritage. His commitment to public service ran deep, he was the mayor of White Bear Lake, the city attorney, and a schoolboard member in Mahtomedi during the 1950s. Public service and perseverance weren’t just ideas in our home, they were a way of life. I still remember running around the state with my mother on a campaign bus with then-candidate Dave Durenberger, and I learned the art of “compromise” when I served as a delegate to the state convention.

I graduated from White Bear Lake High School, though three-quarters of my high school years were spent at Hill-Murray, where I built many lifelong friendships and learned the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and faith. After high school, I attended The University of St. Thomas, where I earned my degree in political science. During that time, I had my first real exposure to the political system when I served as a page ( a page assists lawmakers by delivering messages and preparing documents) in the Minnesota Senate. At the time, I thought public service would be something I pursued early in life, however, now seems like the right moment to serve my state.

My first job after college was at West Publishing as an inside sales associate, but I quickly realized my passions leaned more toward building and growing things than selling from behind a desk. That realization led me to a startup focused on energy-efficient lighting for commercial buildings. What began as a new opportunity soon became a thriving career. I sold over a million dollars in product each of my first three years and was promoted to sales manager, general manager, then national sales manager. From 1993 to 2001, I helped lead teams that grew rapidly, and when California deregulated its energy market, I led that effort from zero to nearly $100 million in portfolio value.

The founders of that company eventually launched a private equity fund and invited me to join them. It was an invaluable experience, I learned first hand how businesses are built, scaled, and sold. Those lessons stayed with me, and in 2007 — the same year we started our family — I decided to start something of my own. That venture became Details Home Services, which over the next decade grew into the largest home-cleaning company in the Twin Cities, employing over 80 full-time Team Members and generating millions in revenue. It’s fun to look back and think that I started that business with one van, a mop bucket, and a vacuum. My company motto was: I went from the boardroom to the bathroom— and it smells a lot better in here.

I have been married for 22 years to my wife, Marie, together, we’re still raising our two sons, Max and Mitch — Max came to us in 2007, and Mitch joined our family in 2010. Max is now in his first year at NYU, pursuing a degree that blends business and technology, while Mitch is a freshman at Mahtomedi High School, enjoying all the fun and discovery that high school should bring. Rounding out our family is Major, our loyal and endlessly energetic Aussiedoodle. I should also mention our 19-year-old “adopted” son, Yulian, a Ukrainian war refugee who lives with us — a story that deserves to be told all on its own.

After ten years of growth and long hours, Marie and I decided to simplify life and focus on what mattered most, family. Following the sale of my company, I turned my attention to raising our sons and to being a more present husband and father. I didn’t have to learn how to clean our house, I always took care of that. What was new to me was grocery shopping for the family and figuring out how to get healthy meals prepared within a budget. Needless to say, I’ve become the grill master, and my Taco Tuesdays can’t be beat. 🌮🔥

These days, I continue to do what I love most, helping small business owners in Minnesota pursue their own dreams. I’ve found great fulfillment in advising entrepreneurs, often without pay, simply for the energy it brings me to see others succeed. On most mornings, you can find me at LifeTime, sweating out the toxins in a GTX class.

This past summer, our family had a life-changing experience when we hosted two remarkable 16-year-old young women from Ukraine as part of a five-week leadership program. Every evening, after picking them up, we’d sit together at the dinner table and talk about the war, their families, and their hopes for the future. Despite the unimaginable challenges they face, they spoke with courage and optimism, unafraid to dream big and determined to be agents of change. Hearing them talk about embracing failure as part of making a difference was deeply inspiring, it reminded me that real leadership starts with the willingness to try. Their example played a role in my decision to enter this race, with the hope of being a positive agent of change right here in Minnesota.

Education

High School Graduate: 1987--White Bear Lake

College Graduate: 1992--University of St. Thomas

Professional Career

Custom Energy/Strategic Energy
Private Equity--Denali Partners
Business Ownership--Details Home Services
Stay-at-Home Dad / Business Advisory.....