As a senior public executive with a 27-year career in government, Mark spent the last 22 years advancing Ohio’s energy economy to propel job growth. Mark has an unrivaled understanding and robust track record of working with the Midwest’s strong fossil fuel heritage while simultaneously investing in the technologies of an advanced energy economy.
Governor Strickland provided the capstone to Mark’s public service by naming him Ohio’s first Energy Czar. In this position, he played a key role in designing, negotiating and implementing Ted’s Jobs and Progress proposal passed as SB 221. This legislation created Ohio’s first advanced energy portfolio standard as well as an energy efficiency standard, both of which protected ratepayers while creating a clear path for investor owned utilities to receive rate recovery from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. He also oversaw implementation of the state’s Advanced Energy stimulus loan program, managed Ohio’s clean coal technology program and helped coordinate energy policy across state agencies.
During his tenure as Executive Director - serving four Governors - the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority issued $5.8 billion in bonds, supporting investments in air pollution control and prevention, energy efficiency and clean energy technologies. Mark’s work at the Air Quality Development Authority also earned him the 2009 Public Official of the Year award from Clean Fuels Ohio and the 2010 Public Official of the Year from Green Energy Ohio.
After getting his undergraduate degree from Boston College, Mark received his Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania and PhD from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Mark live in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife, Pari Sabety.
