Hired: September 1993
Background:
Grew up in a small North Dakota town. Born the first of four boys to a civil engineer father and Shakespearean professor/Broadway singer mother.
Education:
- Oregon State University: Two years as a Biology Major
- Colorado Institute of Art: Commercial Art degree
Childhood Stunt:
Once caught thirty gophers and let them go in Judge Burdick's garden next door. Luckily, the judge was amused when his petunias were sucked into the ground one-by-one-just like in the cartoons. The incident was even written up in Ann Landers.
Most Sincere Desire:
To fly.
Pursuits Of That Desire:
As a kid he built and launched a 20 ft. high hot air balloon over the town of Williston. He built a hang glider before the sport began and tried to fly off small hills in his hometown, then joined the full-fledged sport 25 years ago while he lived out West. He still flies today.
Second Most Sincere Desire:
To do great advertising. Has been in the biz since he finished art school-as a freelancer, big agency guy, small agency guy and start-your-own agency guy in Oregon, Denver and Minnesota (both in St. Cloud and Minneapolis). Notable previous employment at Evans & Bartholomew in Denver and Peterson-Morris MacLachlan in Minneapolis.
Self-Definition:
A dimensionalist. An avid sculptor, photographer, naturalist and free spirit, Mark's most sincere desire (above) springs from a yearning to see the world in yet another way.
Once-In-A-Lifetime Event:
Witnessed all three eruptions of Mount St. Helens.
Mark Quotes:
"The thing is to be a master and with older age acquire the courage to do what children did when they knew nothing." - Henry Miller