Tyese Gillespie
Tyese T. Gillespie is a business operations and project management leader with more than 15 years of experience in utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and government contracting. She is the President and Managing Director of On The Mark Locators, LLC, a private underground utility locating firm she co-founded in 2016. In her role, Tyese oversees project management, proposal development, budgeting, and strategic growth across private, state, and government contracts, with a clear mission of preventing utility damage, protecting public safety, and supporting safe construction practices.
Tyese’s career began in customer service and billing within the utility sector, where she developed a deep understanding of regulatory processes, compliance, and operational efficiency. Over time, she advanced into damage-claim billing, Miss Utility 811 training, rate analysis, and senior project management roles with major utility organizations, including Exelon and Atlantic City Electric. This progression equipped her with a strong analytical foundation and practical field knowledge, which she now applies to building sustainable operations, high-performing teams, and long-term client partnerships.
In addition to leading her company, Tyese is deeply committed to workforce development and public education. She serves on the Job Corps Wilmington Workforce Advisory Council and holds advisory roles related to utility safety and 811 practices, advocating for training, awareness, and industry standards. Known for her thoughtful leadership and community focus, Tyese continues to bridge operational excellence with public service, helping shape safer infrastructure and stronger career pathways within the utility industry.
• ACE Certified
• Life & Health Licenses
• University of Phoenix Online- M.B.A.
• University of Phoenix Online- B.S.
• Job Corps of Wilmington
• Maryland 811
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, a commitment to continuous learning, and the willingness to trust myself through trial and error. Just as important has been surrounding myself with strong professional support—mentors, advisors, and partners—who help sharpen my decisions as I continue to grow the business.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to seek out mentors and advisors who challenge you, guide you, and help you navigate transitions—advice that was invaluable when I moved from corporate utility work into business ownership.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this industry to trust themselves, embrace mistakes as learning opportunities, keep growing, and build a strong support team so they can scale their business without sacrificing their well-being.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Tyese views workforce shortages, rigorous safety training, and complex public-sector contracting as the biggest challenges in her field, while infrastructure investment, federal project growth, and developing skilled training pipelines present the greatest opportunities.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are safety, integrity, accountability, and community, along with creating sustainable opportunities for my team through education and career development, all while maintaining a strong focus on family and work-life balance.