Community involvement
Serving others prepares you to lead others.
In his 20’s, Mark joined the Northlake Mandeville Rotary Club and served as that club’s president. He also served on the St. Tammany Parish Drainage District #3 overseeing the Bayou Chinchuba drainage basin.
Mark served on the early Boards of the Tammany Tigers as its treasurer.
During the 1990’s, Mark served on the St. Tammany Parish Library Board of Control for several years, serving as chairperson for three years. He later served on the Library Building Committee in 2003.
Much of Mark’s community involvement has centered around Leadership St. Tammany. He was a founding Board member in 1993 and has been active in a leadership role since that time.
Mark and Leadership co-founder Diane Winston, ca 1995
Mark served as the Chairperson for five years and as the Program Director since 2002. The program takes existing and emerging leaders in the community and exposes them in an experiential manner to the different societal systems within our community. He teaches about the education, judiciary, non-profit social services, governmental entities, the state legislative process, transportation, drainage, economic development, the art, history and culture of St. Tammany Parish and its municipalities. The class itself is made up of people from different backgrounds and is multi-generational. Through the Program, Mark has helped infuse the community with over 700 leaders.
Visit with Senator Jack Donahue at the Governor’s Mansion.
Each year Mark helps the Leadership St. Tammany Alumni bring “Christmas” to the young detainees of the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center - - just so they know someone cares.
Leading a tour in Downtown Covington.
Mark and Karen, along with the Northlake Mandeville Rotary Club, started the first Designer Showcase on the Northshore in 1994. Proceeds benefited the St. Tammany Art Association and the St. Tammany Parish Humane Society.
For his service to community, Mark received the St. Tammany Chamber West Community Leadership Award in 1994. Presenting the award was Willie Paretti.
Covington Recreation Department Champions 2009.
Mark coached Little League baseball for almost 20 years. With the mantra of Praise in Public, Chastise in Private, Mark’s “Pirates” won numerous championships throughout western St. Tammany.
In support of Children’s Advocacy Center / Hope House, Mark has been a “Celebrity” for the CAC’s Men Who Cook cook-off.
Mark served on the Parade Committee for Carnival in Covington, helping with the resurgence of the Lions Club Parade on Mardi Gras Day.
Addressing the future of the old courthouse on Boston Street.
Sharing the family histories of Covington.
As the “unofficial storyteller of Covington”, Mark’s presentations on the family histories and tours of Covington help protect and preserve that which is important to the community.
Each year Mark assisted the Covington Police Department with their Children’s Summer Camp. Duck, Duck, Goose.
Quackafalaya: Mark is on the right.
Mark has been a leader in the public sector, the private sector and the non-profit service sector. Mark enjoys being involved in the community.
Keeping Covington beautiful with a river clean-up.
In addition to today serving as the Program Director for Leadership St. Tammany, Mark is currently active with the Covington Rotary Club, the Covington Business Association, Keep Covington Beautiful and was the director of the Veterans' Appreciation Reception on Memorial Day.