A short professional history in reverse order:
- TheWrap News, Inc., Santa Monica, CA (Chief Operating Officer)
Operations, revenue, and business development for TheWrap.com, a unique primary news source focused on the business of entertainment and media.
- Striking 36, advising start-up and early stage companies, San Diego, CA (Principal)
- LidWorks: interactive marketing company – launch team; strategy and business development
- Stealth digital media company: founding team; strategy, financial model, business plan
- CONNECT – Entrepreneur in Residence mentoring Springboard companies- GOTRIbal: social media company – strategy, marketing, finance
- Fourth Estate Mobile: mobile news platform – strategy, business model
- San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, CA (Vice President, Strategy and Interactive Media)
Responsible for the operations and business results of SignOnSanDiego, the dominant Web site in its market with the second highest local penetration among newspapers in the top 25 DMAs; preserved audience and transformed infrastructure in the face of massive company-wide revenue declines, absolute spending and hiring freezes, the loss of key personnel, and organizational turmoil; developed the company’s first structured new product development process. And finally, a key member of the team that got the company sold. Supported innovation in San Diego as a member of the board of CONNECT and supporting rowing in San Diego as a member of the Crew Classic Competition Committee and a member of the San Diego Rowing Club.
- CSS Industries, Philadelphia, PA (Director of Planning)
Developed strategy for businesses that made ribbons, bows, gift wrap, Halloween costumes, and greeting cards; learned to love Hong Kong and saw what globalization really looks like in China- Economy.com, West Chester, PA (Vice President, Business Development)
Built the Web business by negotiating content, traffic, and e-commerce deals, and buying one important url; front row seat to the bursting of the Internet bubble; also learned the art of the cold call while doing some pure selling- Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., Philadelphia, PA (Director, New Business Development)
Bought companies, started up new businesses, and learned about the news business- TVSM, Inc., Horsham, PA (Director, New Media)
Started in finance, ended up managing the Web site; learned how to negotiate from a position of weakness with large cable operators; first company to offer TV listings online- Scott Paper Company, Philadelphia, PA (Manager of Financial Analysis)
Finance roles here, but Scott is also where he learned that you shouldn’t eat pizza in the observation room when you plan to bring out rolls of toilet paper for a focus group on scented tissue, because the smell kind of transfers…- University of Rochester, Rochester, NY – (MBA)
Majored in finance because he had this silly idea that he should attack his weaknesses; turned it into a strength, but really should’ve gone straight to marketing; doesn’t much matter anymore since he’s done finance, operations, sales, marketing, and much more that can’t be pigeonholed.- United States Marine Corps, VA, CA, Okinawa, Philippines (Infantry Officer)
Mark was an infantry officer because why would you join the Marine Corps to be anything else? Spent his time in the fleet with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines.- University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN – (BA)
Knew little about the school before he got there, now a typical alumnus who loves the place (but still doesn’t own the green corduroys with leprechauns); majored in government and Soviet studies (it was germane at the time) and rowed – a lot. - CSS Industries, Philadelphia, PA (Director of Planning)