With a distinguished career dedicated to economic development and industry growth, Mark is currently lead the Michigan Defense Center, the State of Michigan’s premier office for aerospace and defense-based economic initiatives. In this role, He is responsible for developing and executing strategies to bolster Michigan’s defense industry and leveraging the state’s extensive defense assets, including key installations and missions. As a senior member of the Market Development Team within the Strategy & Economic Competitiveness Division, he is pivotal in forming and executing statewide strategies aimed at nurturing both established and emerging industry sectors across Michigan.

Mark's portfolio is diverse and robust, encompassing leadership roles in life sciences & medical device technology, defense, aerospace & space, as well as advanced manufacturing and technology. He heads the MEDC’s Lifesciences & Medical Device Technology Cross Functional Team and serve as the Defense Advisor, offering strategic guidance to enhance Michigan’s defense industry. Additionally, he leads our initiatives in the aerospace and space sectors, and contribute significantly to cross-functional teams focused on Advanced Manufacturing (emphasizing Industry 4.0) and Technology (with a focus on semiconductor initiatives). 

A key objective of his work is statewide ecosystem collaboration. Mark strives to identify long-term industry support and growth opportunities while fostering relationships at local, state, national, and international levels. His efforts include forming strategic collaborations to position Michigan and its industries for national and federal investment.

Previously, Mark served as Project Manager for the Defense Manufacturing Assistance Program (DMAP) at the University of Michigan's Institute for Research on Labor, Employment, and the Economy (IRLEE). In alignment with IRLEE's mission to transform research and economic insights into impactful programs, the DMAP program provided crucial support to companies and communities affected by defense supply-chain downsizing, aiming to stabilize and diversify these entities for a resilient and dynamic defense manufacturing supply chain.