About

I trained as a musician (conductor and composer) and earned three college degrees. Along the way, I ran a hardware store, worked at General Motors, played a lot of gigs, taught school, became a college professor, chair, director, dean, and president and have served as CEO and Managing Partner of two arts businesses. I cherish my role as executive coach to presidents, vice-presidents, CEOs, doctors, surgeons, deans, and other leaders across the country.
Now let me tell you about what is important in my life.

Lisa and I have been together for over 30 years. She is an accomplished actress, musician and scuba diver and a national-board-certified public school teacher. One of our life's miracles is having triplet daughters who put life in perspective for us.

(From a great family trip to London 2023.)

(from the top)

Sammie is thinking lawyer.

Maddie is thinking surgeon or engineer.

Rose is an aspiring actress, poet, author and musician. Collectively they are the joy of our life.

(Their senior pictures, 2024.)

Composing and conducting have always been two of the great joys of my life and I am open to all styles and genres. I have written musicals and operas, chamber works and symphonies, and have been blessed to perform around the globe including Carnegie Hall, the White House, and the Montreux Jazz Festival.
(I believe this was taken at a concert is in Austria in 2009.)

Flyfishing is my solace. My grandfather taught me and time moves forward and back when my feet are in the stream. The time in nature grounds me in deep and meaningful ways.
(This is a prime haunt for me--the beautiful Youghiogheny river.)

I share my family with you because they help me understand--and are a big part of--my "why."(So is making music, education, time in nature and helping leaders like you.) My family keeps my life in perspective. Because of them I understand the myth of work/life balance, the importance of a "to-don't" list, and that we show what is important by how we spend our time.

I was often blessed to share my family with guests and friends during my time as dean or president. Clockwise above is Prime Minister David Cameron, Condi Rice, Yo-Yo Ma, and Leslie Odom, Jr. Dear people who, regardless their fame and position, shared graciously of themselves with all of us.

Great mentors and coaches shaped me throughout my career--too many to name here. But I share with you (in order above) David Deck, a former professional soccer player and retail executive who was a great executive coach to me in some of my hardest challenges; Vernon Jordan, who treated me like an adopted son and taught me patiently for years; Doug Smith, author and former CEO of several companies who is still an example and major influence on my thinking; and Judson Green, former Disney and NAVTEQ CEO who, with his wife Joyce, took me and my family under his wing and coached me with great patience and skill. My debt to these brilliant people is repaid in my work with others now.

Mark's approach of asking what is most important to you and how you want to be remembered is at the core of his methodology of building a better person to make them a better leader. He balances the challenges you are currently addressing with preparing you for the future. He helps celebrate your strengths while also challenging you (“Poking the Bear”) to think beyond what is right in front of you or what is easy. It is without a doubt that I am a better person and a leader because of Mark. My family will tell you that I am a better husband and father after working with him.

University AVP

About

I was often blessed to share my family with guests and friends during my time as dean or president. Clockwise above is Prime Minister David Cameron, Condi Rice, Yo-Yo Ma, and Leslie Odom, Jr. Dear people who, regardless their fame and position, shared graciously of themselves with all of us.

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