Business Experience
Mark has a long track record of bringing diverse groups of people together to achieve innovative goals. Mark has worked in the high tech industry for most of his career. He has had the privilege of serving on several senior management teams while building and leading high-growth, trendsetting teams both locally and internationally that created new markets and shaped the future of their industries. Mark worked in the semiconductor industry for Intel Corporation, in the software industry for Object Design, which won the Inc. 500 award for fastest growing private company over 5 years, and in the aviation industry for Avidyne, which introduced the first integrated flight displays for general aviation aircraft.
Mark is founder and president of a Lexington based solar energy business, now in its tenth year. His work experience includes general management, product management, sales and marketing, developing strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and complex contract negotiations.
Community Action
Mark was one of the founders of the Interfaith Garden, now in its eleventh year, which is supported by hundreds of volunteers from 12 to 14 faith communities working together to deliver over 16,000 pounds of healthy produce to the Lexington food pantry. Mark was also one of the founding members of LexFarm. He has volunteered in our schools; teaching middle school science classes and judging high school science fair projects. He is also an active member of LexGWAC and Hancock Church.
Local Leadership
Mark was previously chair of the Sustainable Lexington Committee, which recently won the Commonwealth’s Leading by Example award for outstanding clean energy and sustainability achievements. Mark was chair of Lexington’s Stretch Energy Code campaign, co-chair of Lexington’s Getting to Net Zero Emissions task force, chair of the Better Buildings and Community Choice Aggregation task forces and a member of the Solar Energy task force.
Lexington completed a 1.1 MW solar project on Lexington’s school and municipal rooftops in 2014 and a 2.2 MW project on Lexington’s landfill during the spring of 2017. These solar energy projects provide 45% of Lexington’s municipal electricity demand and generate approximately $600,000 a year in revenue for the Town and will provide $8 million in health benefits over the expected life of the systems.
Lexington was the first community in the state to implement a highly successful Community Choice aggregation program which provides over 10,000 customers with 100% renewable electricity for less money than the utility’s Basic Service offering. Lexington’s Community Choice program saved Lexington customers about $3 million since the program began in July 2017.
Lexington’s Getting to Net Zero Emissions task force developed a 25-year plan to eliminate all emissions from residential, commercial, and municipal buildings. The Town has approved plans for two net zero, 100% renewable schools using heat pumps and solar + storage systems capable of supplying all energy needs. These will be the first fossil fuel free schools in Lexington and will save Lexington over $200K a year in energy costs.
Mark was chair of the Building a Better Future campaign that resulted in Lexington adopting the Stretch Energy Code and becoming one of the first five Green Communities in 2010. Lexington has received $745,000 in energy efficiency grants from the Green Communities program, resulting in $460,000 in energy savings a year.
Regional Action
Mark is also the co-founder and president of MassSolar, a nonprofit organization working to develop Massachusetts’ renewable energy economy, and ensure fair and equitable access to solar for everyone in the Commonwealth.
Mark is a member of the Alliance for Clean Energy Solutions, 350 Mass, Gas Leaks Allies, a member of the 100% renewable advisory council, the US Green Building Council net zero energy coalition, and works with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) on regional energy and sustainability issues. He also volunteered in Lawrence to help that community recover from the devastating natural gas explosions that left 8,600 families without heat or hot water.
Mark is a frequent speaker on renewable energy, sustainability, building design, and energy efficiency, advising other local towns and communities how to achieve their objectives. He regularly testifies during clean energy hearings before the State House, the Department of Energy Resources, and the Department of Public Utilities.