Strategic Partner, Future Workplace & President of North Star Communications Consulting
Mark brings three decades of diverse leadership experience to support the needs of clients. From his roots in network radio and television production and newspaper reporting to his work with global corporations, his insights and expertise have been cultivated in diverse industries, different companies and increasingly challenging, complex roles.
Mark works with global clients in the areas of talent development and social media training. Mark spent 17 years at PepsiCo most recently as SVP of Communications for PepsiCo, where he led the corporation’s global internal communications function for 300,000 associates in more than 200 countries. In this role, Mark created the team that launched PepsiCo’s employee social media engagement strategy and SmartU, the company’s, award-winning social media employee training. The acronym stands for Social Media and Responsibility Training University.
His years with PepsiCo began running media relations and employee communications with The Quaker Oats Company. After serving as director and then vice president for all Quaker Public Affairs, he assumed the role of Senior Vice President for Corporate Public Relations at PepsiCo’s worldwide headquarters.
Before moving into corporate communications, Mark worked for ABC News in Washington, D.C., on the Information and Direction Radio networks, and subsequently on news production for ABC’s Good Morning America, World News Tonight and Nightline. He also worked as a general assignment reporter for several daily newspapers in northeast Indiana, and has instructed news writing and public speaking at Indiana University and Purdue University, where he also served as student newspaper advisor.
A native of Washington, D.C., Mark earned a B.A. from The George Washington University in radio/television with a minor in journalism, and received his master’s degree in communications from Purdue University.
He serves on the communications committee of the Board of Visitors for the Manship School of Communications – Louisiana State University. He also sits on the National Advisory Council for The George Washington University’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences – School of Media and Public Affairs.
