Mark joined Downtown Portland Clean & Safe as executive director in November 2021, where he supports the work necessary for maintaining an attractive, clean, safe, and inviting physical environment Downtown Portland. In his previous role, Mark served as director of operations for Downtown Portland Clean & Safe.
Mark spent the first half of his career working in a wide variety of law enforcement and investigative roles. He began working in federal law enforcement in San Diego, then Mark took a transfer to Portland where he met his now wife of 16 years on the first day he arrived. A good move, for sure!
He transitioned to municipal police work for the City of Sherwood and later ran the Oregon Humane Agent program, a small law enforcement unit enforcing animal cruelty laws based on the Oregon Humane Society. These positions and his great variety of experiences contributed well to his becoming a Crime Prevention Program Coordinator for the City of Portland. There, he devoted his efforts to challenges related to chronic crime and public safety issues in at-risk locations. Mark worked for a little more than decade in almost every neighborhood and business district in the City. He partnered with many city, county, and nonprofit organizations in facilitating community programs such as livability teams, neighborhood and business crime prevention programs, and a host of public safety resource training for diverse community groups. Mark believes passionately in the power of building community, along with long-lasting, genuine relationships, and partnerships.