Mike Whittle | Edelstein, IL
Director of Operations and Engineering | Micro Weld
A builder of people and businesses, Mike Whittle is the Director of Operations and Engineering for Micro Weld. He leads the operational strategy and engineering execution for the growing welding machine manufacturing company.
Mike also helps people escape. In 2018, he and his wife Kyli founded Escapetown which now has seven rooms in Peoria and five rooms in Bloomington. Mike’s vision is to create unique, high-quality experiences that bring people together.
But Escapetown is about more than just fun; it contributes to the growth of central Illinois. “When you meet Mike Whittle,” says Kris McClelland, Manager of Escapetown Peoria, “you encounter a man with a positive demeanor, a can-do attitude and a smile from ear to ear. He is encouraging, loving and cares about ‘his people.’” Mike’s people include about 40 employees, most of them teenagers. “Many teens have come and gone since the business started, each having the mentorship and guidance of Mike,” writes Kris.
The business also supports local nonprofits. Mike built a portable escape room to be used at the Ledgestone Disc Golf Tournament, donating all of the proceeds to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. “I aim to continue using our escape room business as a platform to support that mission by fundraising and donating escape room passes to help raise awareness and funding for ongoing research.”
“The lessons learned from trying—and sometimes failing—will compound over time and shape you into a better leader.”
Although Mike knew from a young age that he wanted to build something of his own, he counts founding his business as one of his biggest challenges. “Building something from scratch forced me to develop problem-solving skills, resilience and a willingness to learn areas I had no prior exposure to—from operations and marketing to hiring and leadership. Just as importantly, it taught me the value of surrounding myself with people who are smarter than me and trusting their expertise.”
Those smart people include Mike’s father-in-law, Russell Groeper, whom he describes as “one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met and our escape room business would not have been possible without his support and time.” Mike also values the influence of Kay Rogers, his former supervisor. “His example showed me that strong leadership and genuine care are not mutually exclusive.”
When talking about his family, Mike says, “I am the luckiest man in the world.” He gushes about his talented and creative wife, Kyli, and calls his three, young kids “my why and my everything.” Together, they enjoy life in central Illinois, a community Mike has helped build up through his leadership.