Who is Mark
Rochester Native
I was born in Rochester and raised on the south side of the city in the Southport neighborhood. I attended Pinewood Elementary and Willow Creek Junior High School (before it was changed to a middle school), and I graduated from Mayo High School in 1988.
Starting at the age of 16, I worked my way through high school by working in restaurants. Unlike most kids, I didn’t immediately go off to college after high school. Instead, I began working at Mayo Clinic in the architecture department, specifically in the Environmental Design unit, where I drew architecture reference standards. Before Mayo Clinic and while I was in high school, my background included three years of architectural drafting, a year of mechanical drafting, and a construction class in high school, which prepared me for the job. I spent 2 years at Mayo Clinic before deciding it was time to serve my country, so I left Mayo Clinic and joined the Army.
On January 2nd, 1991, I started my training as an Armor Crewman on the M1 Tank. I’ll share more about my military experience below.
After 2 1/2 years of active duty in the Army stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, I ETS’ed to begin college. I attended the University of Louisville part-time while my (ex) wife finished her college education. After moving a couple of times, I completed my final two years of education at Winona State University.
After graduating I started my first job as a Software Engineer at IBM in my hometown of Rochester. I worked at IBM from 1998 until 2010 before I moved my career to Mayo Clinic. While at IBM I held a number of different engineering jobs mostly in the same area. I worked on writing software for a major application as well as some Project Management responsibilities, an on-site resource for critical customer situations and a technical Lab Advocate for ATT.
Today, I am a Lead Analyst / Programmer at Mayo Clinic in the Image Management Systems Unit. I lead a team of software engineers and we are responsible for general clinical medical image viewer used for patient care. I started at Mayo Clinic in 2010 and have been on the same team since I started.
Served Our Country
Military Career
I proudly served our country for 8 year between the Army (active duty), the Kentucky National Guard and the Minnesota National Guard. I was trained to be an M1 Tank Crewmember as well as a Fire Direction Specialist (now known as a Fire Control Specialist) in field artillery. I served during the Persian Gulf War (from the United States), trained with an international NATO Group in Norway and was experienced with a number of vehicles and weapons.
Oct/1990, 19K, Enlisted, Inactive Reserve (pre-training), --
Jan/1991, 19K, Training, OSUT (One Stop Unit Training), Fort Knox
May/1991, 19K, Amor Crewman, Troop A, 1/16th Cavalry, Fort Knox
-- Honorable discharged from active duty
--Transferred to the Kentucky National Guard
May/1993, 19K Amor Crewman, Company D, 3/123 Armor, Louisville, KY
-- Transferred to the Minnesota National Guard
-- Retrained as a Fire Direction Specialist for Field Artillery
Oct/1995, 13E, Fire Direction Specialist, Battery A, 1/125 Field Artillery, Luverne, MN
May/1998, 19K, Armor Crewman, Company B, 1/94 Armor, Pine City, MN
Aug/1998, Honorable discharged from Minnesota National Guard
Serves Our community
Purpose for serving
One of the things I have always done is observe where an organization needs assistance. Over time, it has become clear that most people prefer to be out front, directly working with the mission. Few individuals are willing to take on behind-the-scenes roles, such as serving on the board of directors. However, all roles are crucial within an organization. Personally, I have often found myself willing to do what others may not want to do, including serving on the board of directors.
For me, this role is a natural fit. As someone who leads people in my job, I am accustomed to tackling complex problems and understanding how to facilitate growth and progress in projects. I also enjoy reading and, in some cases, writing policy. Additionally, I engage in discussions related to governance, budgets, mission statements, and strategic direction for the organization.
However, I recognize that moving an organization in the desired direction requires collaboration. I work closely with other decision-makers to achieve agreement and mutual understanding. A single voice, no matter how loud or strong, becomes ineffective without trust, respect, and collective agreement.
Ready to serve Rochester
And to help shape the future
I am prepared to collaborate with the residents of Ward 6, the local businesses, and the municipal authorities in Rochester. Together, we will construct a city that is primed for intelligent growth while remaining mindful of how tax dollars are allocated. I firmly believe that government should operate transparently, actively seek input, and carefully consider our vision for Rochester’s future while also preserving its historical heritage.
Our city boasts a vibrant community of passionate individuals with diverse viewpoints. We must address the needs of our homeless and low-income population, ensuring that housing solutions are accessible to all. As we approach a pivotal moment of urban expansion, I am enthusiastic and fully committed to representing the interests of every citizen.
Education
Winona State University, Winona MN, 1998
- Bachelor of Science Major in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Arts Minor in Mathematics
Minnesota High Tech Association, Minneapolis MN, 2016
- ACE Leadership Program
Minnesota School Board Association, Minnesota, 2017
- Leadership Workshop Series, Phase I, II, III, IV