Originally from Minnesota, Mark is married to Tammie, high school sweetheart and prom date :), with 4 young adult children (Jeremy, Josh, Jordan, & Jenna) & 7 grandchildren as of 2018!

With a desire to experience multiple careers and share a passion for life's adventures with others, Mark has realized a life long dream of working for the National Park Service. Starting as a Backcountry Wilderness Ranger (based out of the Longs Peak Ranger Station) and part of the Search & Rescue Team at Rocky Mountain National Park CO, and followed by duty stations at Canyonlands National Park UT, Yellowstone National Park WY, and most recently as a Lead Ranger at Mt. Rainier National Park WA.

Mark is also a writer and avid photographer of our National Parks. As part of his job as a ranger, many of his social media posts have been published on official National Park sites.

Mark previously worked in full time ministry, as an Associate Pastor (Worship & Connections) at Delta Christian Church & Summit Church (Estes Park) in Colorado, Worship Pastor & Music School Director for 10 years at Grace Fellowship in Minneapolis (Brooklyn Park) Minnesota, and Young Adult & Worship Arts Pastor at Coastal Community Vineyard Church in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Mark has also served as a conference speaker, worship leader, songwriter (I DELIGHT IN YOU, SOVEREIGN and producer (IF YOU SAY GO) for Vineyard Music Global (international record label distributed by EMI), and has written for Vineyard Music’s INSIDE WORSHIP magazine.

Prior to entering full time ministry & related music career, Mark enjoyed a successful corporate sales career for 14 years in the forest products and corrugated container packaging industry in Minnesota & Wisconsin (Kell Container & others). Major accounts included 3M, Imation, & Ecolab.

Mark graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Business from the Carlson School of Management and Bachelor of Music degree.