Mark is a native Arkansan who was born and raised in the small town of Morrilton, located in the Arkansas River Valley between Ouachita and Ozark Mountain ranges. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and a successful athlete, quarterbacking his high school football team to a State Runner-Up title and earning All Conference honours in his senior year. His interests and talents include singing and playing guitar.

Mark earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and embarked upon a career as a structural engineer. He worked in the metal building industry before forming his own consulting firm, Structural Engineering, in 1996. Mark has successfully run the firm since that time, and is currently licensed to practice in eighteen States.

Mark is married to the former Marguerite Rivoire, and they live in Monroe, Louisiana. However, their dream is to buy land in Arkansas, Alabama or Tennessee and start a small family farm. Mark and Marguerite have three sons and two granddaughters.