Mike is the CEO and Owner of Sperling Interactive with over 15 years of website design, photography, marketing, and e-commerce experience. He built Sperling Interactive with his wife from the ground up, starting as a small office in his home with only a few employees and clients to one that has 20+ employees and more than 600 clients served all from our headquarters in Salem’s Historic District.
Mike grew up in Baltimore, Maryland where he went to a magnet school for the arts and began his study of photography. From there he went on to Rochester Institute of Technology in New York where he got his degree in Photojournalism and Communications. Before founding Sperling Interactive, Mike worked his way up from staff photographer at the Eagle Tribune Publishing Company to the lead operator and manager of multiple websites for daily and weekly publications.
Mike has a deep commitment to community involvement and civic engagements. In the past few years he and members of our team have become involved in programs that assist the youth, homeless, food insecure, and families at risk through programs at Lifebridge, Paddle for Plummer, LEAP for Education, Harborlight, Bridgewell, and the Enterprise Center at Salem State.
Ever the optimist, Mike believes that there is never a problem that can’t be solved with a bit of ingenuity and perseverance. It’s this positive, can-do attitude and know-how that allowed Mike to be recognized as Small Business of the Year 2019, by the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce.
As a small business owner, you have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. Your day is filled with meetings, calls, paperwork, emails, and a thousand other things that can’t always wait. And since there are only so many hours in a day, naturally some of these responsibilities bleed out into what should be your off-hours. However, that doesn’t mean...
No matter the size of your business, when your company has a job opening, it needs to be filled. Naturally, you want the most qualified candidate, but you need to ask yourself – do I look outside the company, or is the perfect candidate already in my employ? In case you didn’t know, internal hiring is when a company transfers...
A business is nothing without customers. This is true from startups to Fortune 500 companies. However, as a small business looking to grow, having a loyal customer base is vital. When building a brand, it’s not always enough to have a great product – you need to have great customer service, too. Customer service is one of those things that...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been all over the news. Some people have been raving about it while others have spoken out against it. There has especially been chatter about what AI means for small businesses. With so many different voices talking about it at once, it’s easy for misinformation to run wild. On May 9th, from 8:30am – 10am, we’ll...
One of your most vital responsibilities you have as a business owner is being the face of your business. This often means meeting potential clients in-person and making a good impression. During your first meeting, you want to win them over and make them feel like they’re making the right choice using your services. Here are a few simple tips...
Are you the owner of a small business looking to grow? Do you have an idea for a new business but don’t know how to get started? We at the Enterprise Center have resources that can help budding entrepreneurs like you hit the ground running. Located at Salem State University, we advocate for the North Shore small business community. We...
Social media isn’t just for scrolling through on your phone when you’re bored; it’s a vital resource from small businesses. After all, it’s an effective way to get your name out there and raise brand awareness, considering how nearly 4.8 billion people use social media. But it’s not as easy as just taking a picture and adding some hashtags. Here...
You’re a small business owner. Maybe you’ve just started out or perhaps you’ve been around for a few years already and feel your business is ready for the next step. Either way, you’re faced with the same daunting question; how do I grow my business? It’s a crucial answer for a successful entrepreneur but not always an easy one to...
One of the unfortunate double-edged swords of gaining an education in a particular skill is that employers are looking to hire people with experience. But how does a newly educated craftsperson gain experience without a job? This cycle could be endless, leaving workers wondering how to gain the experience needed to find a valuable position in the industry and business...
One of the unfortunate double-edged swords of gaining an education in a particular skill is that employers are looking to hire people with experience. But how does a newly educated craftsperson gain experience without a job? This cycle could be endless, leaving workers wondering how to gain the experience needed to find a valuable position in the industry and business...
