Mark serves as President of UPC’s Nonprofit arm—Unlimited Provision.Org. In this role he directs efforts to provide community service and faith-based organizations and individual ministries access to UPC’s webpage development tool. This serves as a primary means for overcoming the technical and economic barriers to delivering upon their organization mission and individual purpose. A key venture dimension is helping to generate a sustainable funding stream of long-term financial support for their community development efforts.
Mark is President and CEO of the NW Networking Group, a Vancouver-based consulting firm specializing in networking community development efforts. His business emphasizes building public/private sector partnerships designed to institute community-based initiatives that are economically viable, socially equitable and ecologically sustainable. The firm currently focuses its Mission efforts in four arenas:
- Developing community-based education system improvements;
- Designing transformation of community service delivery institutions;
- Creating community-wide incentives for sustainable community development; and,
- Facilitating leadership development of faith-based organizations in helping them to fulfill on their spiritual missions and designed purposes.
Mark also serves as a Board member and Source Leader for The Performance Center—an education-based global community dedicated to facilitating transformational leadership and advancing the body of knowledge in transformational sciences. Mark is also a partner in MDC 1600, LLC—a firm involved in establishing international, global-based partnerships for integrating economic, natural resource and human resource development efforts within a market-based framework in the People's Republic of China.
A native Oregonian, Mark grew up throughout the Pacific Northwest, attending the University of Oregon to acquire an undergraduate degree in Ecology—and a Masters in Forest Management at the University of Washington, which he applied while working with the USDA Forest Service. Mark's career focused in natural resource protection and land management activities prior to moving from Central Oregon to Vancouver, Washington in December 1989.
Mark subsequently acquired a business degree in Organization Management from Concordia University, catalyzing a professional career shift into policy development and advisory roles. He directed external relations for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest; facilitated Northwest Forest Plan design and implementation with the SW Washington Province Advisory Committee; and served local community diversification efforts with the Rural Economic Development Initiative. Mark coached several years as cadre member in the Leadership and Management development programs—providing world-class, cutting-edge curriculum designed to support agency leaders in directing organizational transformation efforts that aligned with changing agency missions.
After 21 years with the federal government, Mark left in September 1996 to complete a Masters in Public Administration at Lewis & Clark College—applying his knowledge and skills in the private sector—assisting businesses, nonprofit organizations, churches and other community institutions to effectively partner with Government in accomplishing community needs.
Mark initiated his Civic involvement while living in Central Oregon—including service as EMS Chief for the Crescent Rural Fire Protection District where he led establishment of an Emergency Medical Services program; worked as a Disaster Relief Coordinator and First Aid/CPR Instructor for the American Red Cross; served as a member of the Klamath County Ambulance Advisory Board; and provided Adult Education as an Adjunct Instructor for Central Oregon Community College.
Mark continues community service in Central Oregon as member of the Mt. Bachelor National Ski Patrol—serving 25+ years as a Senior Patroller in roles as an Instructor, Training Coordinator, First Aid Chief and Hill Captain/Operations Chief.
His civic service investment continues to grow in Vancouver. He has served with:
Ø Community Choices 2010—Community Capacity Work Group Chair;
Ø Vancouver Urban Forestry Commission—Chair with two 4-year appointments;
Ø City Charter Review Committee—Two appointments, most recently as Vice-chair;
Ø Identity Clark County’s InterACT Board—Director & Program Moderator.
Ø Citizen's for the Arts—Director & Strategic Planning Advisor;
Ø Open House Ministries—Director & Development Committee Chair;
Ø Memorial Lutheran Church—Board Vice President & Worship Team Leader;
Ø Thriving Families of Clark County—Director & Treasurer;
Ø Sertoma International—a Civic Service organization with leadership roles as:
o Club President and Ambassador establishing a new service club;
o Governor for the Pacific Northwest District;
o Foundation Coordinator for the Pacific West Region.
Mark's community service investments match well with his business interests. He blends civic service advocacy work with his professional vocation to assist organizations in their exploration for new community-based frameworks that respond effectively to community growth challenges, incorporating social demands for equity and justice, and capitalizing on the market opportunities available within an ever expanding global economy.
Mark's diverse interests and talents are grounded in a strong academic and lifelong learning focus. He is currently exploring opportunities for doctoral studies around community-scale organizational development. Mark's Vision and work displays that creating new community-based coalitions are the leadership framework for our future.
"We can no longer depend upon, nor should we expect Government to serve us completely. We must explore old methods and pursue new models for responding to community needs that mobilize non-traditional resources. Interwoven networks of institutional alliances are the means for future community success!"
mark@unlimitedprovision.org
