Member Spotlight: Blue Shield Investigations

When you hire a private investigator, you’re rarely dealing with a simple problem.

You may be facing a legal dispute, trying to locate someone, concerned about fraud, looking for hidden assets during a divorce, investigating a problem within your business, or navigating a situation you never expected to find yourself in.

You need someone who understands the law, knows how to investigate, can talk to people, respects the sensitive nature of the information you’re sharing, and is willing to tell you what is—and isn’t—realistically possible.

That’s exactly the kind of work Mike and Jennie Ciesliga are doing through Blue Shield Investigations.

Mike and Jennie are a husband-and-wife investigative team and members of the Troy business community through Office Evolution Troy. Mike brings more than 20 years of law-enforcement and private-investigation experience to Blue Shield. Jennie is a nurse who currently conducts investigative work under Mike’s license while working toward obtaining her own independent private investigator license and insurance.

Together, they bring two very different professional backgrounds, perspectives and skill sets to their clients.

And after getting to know them, Blue Shield Investigations is exactly the kind of local business we’re excited to introduce to the rest of our community.

More Than 20 Years of Investigative Experience

Blue Shield Investigations grew naturally out of Mike’s career in law enforcement.

After more than two decades in the field, Mike expanded his experience into private investigations, initially working with a larger investigative firm before establishing Blue Shield Investigations.

That background matters.

Private investigation is a field where experience, judgment and an understanding of legal boundaries are critical. An investigator needs to know not only how to pursue information, but how that information can legally be obtained and what limitations apply to a particular case.

Mike specializes particularly in law-enforcement and criminal matters, but Blue Shield’s investigative work extends well beyond that.

The company can assist with fraud investigations, surveillance, locating individuals, hidden-asset investigations, suspected employee theft, insurance matters, legal disputes and difficult divorce situations.

Mike is especially skilled at locating people and assets—two areas where clients may know something isn’t adding up but need professional help determining what information is actually available.

Blue Shield primarily serves clients throughout Michigan, with work sometimes extending into adjoining states depending on the circumstances of the case and applicable licensing requirements.

Mike Gets People Talking

Technology has changed investigative work tremendously. Professional investigators have access to databases, research tools and resources that can help connect pieces of information. But some of the most valuable investigative tools aren’t software, they’re people skills.

And this is where Mike particularly shines. Mike is exceptionally good at reading people, asking open-ended questions and allowing conversations to develop naturally. Rather than approaching every interaction as a forceful interrogation, he understands how to make someone comfortable enough to talk.

Mike gets people talking. That sounds simple until you consider how valuable it can be during an investigation. People volunteer details. They provide context. They remember something they didn’t initially think was important. One answer creates the next question. A casual comment can provide another direction to investigate.

Knowing how to create that conversation—and knowing what to listen for while it’s happening—is a skill developed through experience. It’s also something you notice quickly when you meet Mike personally. He’s approachable and easy to speak with.

I’ve had numerous conversations with Mike about Blue Shield, business development, online visibility, Google profiles, networking and ways to continue expanding the company’s presence throughout Metro Detroit. He’s a great listener, genuinely interested in other people’s perspectives, and the kind of person you quickly feel comfortable talking to.

For a private investigator, that’s a pretty valuable combination.

Jennie Brings an Entirely Different Perspective

Blue Shield is also very much a husband-and-wife team.

Jennie continues to work professionally as a nurse while expanding her role as an investigator. She can currently perform investigative work under Mike’s license and is actively pursuing her own independent PI license and insurance.

Jennie’s goal is to be independently credentialed so Blue Shield clients can have confidence in either investigator handling their case.

But Jennie isn’t simply a second version of Mike—and that’s precisely the advantage.

Her medical background gives her knowledge and professional experience that Mike doesn’t have. Her personality and perspective are different. There will also inevitably be people who are more comfortable speaking openly with a woman than with a man.

In investigative work, those differences can become practical assets.

Surveillance is a perfect example. Having two investigators who look different and can rotate responsibilities can help prevent patterns from becoming noticeable. There may be places or situations where Jennie can naturally go without attracting attention that Mike cannot, and vice versa.

Two investigators also mean two sets of eyes, two perspectives and two professional judgments.

The first time Mike brought Jennie into Office Evolution to introduce her, their dynamic was immediately apparent. They have the natural chemistry you’d expect from a married couple, but there’s also genuine professional respect between them.

Mike knows what Jennie brings to Blue Shield that he doesn’t.

Jennie knows what Mike does exceptionally well.

Together, they’re a stronger investigative team because they aren’t identical.

Real Investigations Have Real Limitations

One of the things I particularly appreciate about Blue Shield is Mike’s willingness to be realistic with clients. Popular culture has created some interesting expectations about private investigators.

A PI cannot simply tap someone’s phone. They cannot illegally access protected information. They cannot ignore Michigan or federal law because a client really wants an answer. And sometimes “just find this person” isn’t enough information to begin an investigation.

Professional investigators have tools, databases, experience and investigative methods at their disposal, but those resources have limits. The information a client can provide at the beginning of a case can also have an enormous impact on what an investigator is able to uncover.

Geography and licensing matter too. Private investigation licensing is governed at the state level. Mike is licensed in Michigan, and while Blue Shield can travel when appropriate, every case has to be evaluated based on where the work needs to occur and what applicable laws allow.

There are also situations where another investigative firm may have specialized technology or resources better suited to a particular assignment.

Mike has referred people elsewhere when that’s the case.

That’s something worth knowing when you’re deciding who to trust with a sensitive problem.

Blue Shield isn’t interested in promising something that can’t legally or realistically be delivered. Mike and Jennie evaluate the situation, the information available and what they can actually do for the client.

If they believe they can help, they’re ready to work.

If they aren’t the appropriate resource, they’re willing to say that too.

Privacy Isn’t Optional in Private Investigation

There is another element of Blue Shield’s work that can be easy to overlook until you actually need an investigator: privacy.

Think about why someone hires a PI in the first place.

Maybe you’re dealing with a contentious divorce and believe assets are being hidden. Maybe you’re concerned about fraud. Maybe an employee is suspected of stealing company property. Perhaps you’re involved in a criminal or civil matter, an insurance investigation or a deeply personal family situation.

These aren’t conversations most people want to have at a coffee shop.

You may not even want someone to see you meeting with a private investigator, much less sit a few feet away while you explain the details of your situation.

Blue Shield takes that discretion seriously.

When clients need to meet Mike or Jennie away from their home, business or attorney’s office, they can meet privately at Blue Shield’s professional Troy location at Office Evolution. Clients have access to a clean, quiet office behind a closed door where sensitive information can be discussed appropriately.

If a case involves a larger family or multiple participants, larger private meeting spaces are available as well.

It’s a professional environment designed for conversations that shouldn’t be happening in public.

Serving Individuals, Families and Metro Detroit Businesses

Blue Shield’s expertise can serve individual clients, but Mike and Jennie are also a valuable resource for other professionals throughout Metro Detroit.

They’re particularly interested in building relationships with attorneys, accountants, insurance professionals, property management companies, financial professionals and other businesses that may encounter situations requiring investigative assistance.

Consider how frequently these professions intersect with situations where additional information matters.

An attorney may need investigative support connected to litigation. An accountant or financial professional may encounter concerns about concealed assets or fraud. An insurance professional may need additional information surrounding a claim. A business owner may suspect an employee of theft. A property management company may encounter a situation requiring information beyond what its own staff can reasonably obtain.

Having a professional investigator in your network before you need one can be incredibly valuable.

That’s one of the reasons we’re excited to have Blue Shield as part of the Office Evolution Troy community.

Our community includes entrepreneurs, attorneys, financial professionals, consultants and businesses across a wide range of industries. We also maintain relationships throughout Troy’s broader business community and with local chambers and networking organizations.

Mike and Jennie aren’t simply working in Metro Detroit.

They’re becoming part of the professional network that helps Metro Detroit businesses serve one another.

A Husband-and-Wife Team Building Something Together

There is also something genuinely enjoyable about watching Mike and Jennie operate as business partners.

They both have established professional careers and bring substantial real-world experience into Blue Shield. At the same time, they’re excited about where the company can go.

Their long-term vision includes expanding Blue Shield’s reach throughout Metro Detroit, developing stronger referral relationships, potentially adding investigators or administrative employees, and ultimately having the business become their full-time focus.

The infrastructure is already there to support that growth.

For now, investigative work naturally keeps Mike and Jennie in the field. They may be conducting surveillance, meeting at a client’s location, working remotely or traveling throughout Michigan for a case. When a client needs to meet privately, they have a professional Troy office available. Their business has a consistent professional address, and they have access to larger meeting spaces when a case requires them.

If Blue Shield eventually needs dedicated offices for investigators or administrative staff, that option is available too.

It allows the company to operate professionally today while maintaining the flexibility inherent to investigative work.

Blue Shield Investigations: A Troy Business Worth Knowing

The more I’ve gotten to know Mike and Jennie, the happier I am to have Blue Shield Investigations as part of our business community.

Mike brings more than two decades of law-enforcement and investigative experience, strong instincts and an exceptional ability to communicate with people.

Jennie brings a medical background, another investigative perspective and capabilities that complement Mike’s.

Together, they offer professional investigative services with an understanding that their clients are often coming to them during complicated, stressful or deeply personal situations.

They also understand their responsibilities as investigators.

They’re going to work within the law. They’re going to evaluate what information is actually available. They’re going to tell you when something isn’t realistic. And when they believe they can help, they’re going to use their experience, resources and investigative skills to work the case.

For attorneys, accountants, insurance professionals, property managers, financial professionals, business owners and individuals throughout Metro Detroit, Blue Shield Investigations is a local resource worth adding to your professional network.

We’re proud to have Mike and Jennie as members of the Office Evolution Troy community, and we’re looking forward to seeing Blue Shield continue to strengthen its relationships throughout Troy and Metro Detroit.

And for other established or growing businesses looking for the same kind of professional flexibility, Office Evolution Troy offers professional business and mailing addresses, a staffed reception area, private hourly offices, larger conference rooms, easy online booking and the ability to add dedicated workspace as your needs change. Whether your business spends most of its time in the field like Blue Shield or simply doesn’t require a traditional office every day, you can maintain a professional Troy presence, keep your home address private, meet clients in an appropriate environment and become part of the local business community without paying for space you don’t need.