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Mark is President of DesignMind, a custom software, database, and Business Intelligence firm serving California businesses. He’s a well known member of the San Francisco Bay Area software community. As the leader of the San Francisco and Silicon Valley SQL Server User Groups, and as President of SofTECH, Mark plays a pivotal role in providing learning and networking opportunities to technology and business professionals throughout the Bay Area.

Under Mark’s leadership, DesignMind has become a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner with demonstrated skills in .NET, SQL Server, and SharePoint. He has managed the firm’s relationship with Microsoft and other partners since 1995.

Mark is actively involved in DesignMind’s initiative to become a go-to provider of software services to early and mid-stage biotech companies.

Bio
Prior to these roles in the software arena, Mark worked for 12 years in the satellite telecommunications industry for Hughes Aircraft and Space Systems/Loral. He earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Pepperdine. Mark grew up in a small town in Michigan where his dad was the town doctor. His dad was also the president of the school board, so there was no skipping school for Mark.

What Mark Has Done
If you’re wondering why you’re bothering to read anything Mark writes, here are a few bullet points of things that he’s done in his past that might be relevant:

• Served as President of the Bay Area Association of Database Developers for six years.
• Served as an advisor to several software start-ups.
• Was the lead mechanical engineer on a billion dollar satellite project (back when that was a lot of money).
• Worked in Moscow to help establish Russia’s first mutual fund.
• Was a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
• Completed the Detroit and Los Angeles marathons.
• Rode the Marin Century 100 mile bike ride in about seven hours.
• Been a fan of University of Michigan football since he was 15 years old, until the dreaded 2008 season, that is.
• Follows Formula 1 auto racing and professional cycling.
• Was a paper boy for the Grand Rapids Press.

Affiliations

• Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) Chapter Leader
• Leader, San Francisco SQL Server User Group
• Leader, Silicon Valley SQL Server User Group
• Bay Area Association of Database Developers (BAADD) Board of Directors
• SofTech President
• Golden Gate Consultants Network (GGCN)
• Bay Area Consultants Network (BACN)