Mark Harris

Background

About Mark Harris

My marketing experience represents a full range of communication roles, including strategic partner relationships, broker channel manager, brand champion, event planner, and writer. A high-energy leader and tenacious project manager with the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of an organization, I like to get my hands dirty and get things done. GREAT CAREER ADVICE “You won’t get what you want if you don’t ask for it.” That’s what I was told by a company president back in the day. In other words, if you want to grow with your company, say so. If you want to redefine your job responsibilities, say so. Similarly, if you hit it out of the park with a wildly successful product launch or a huge sale, spread the word. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE MARKETING AS A CAREER I started my career as a technical writer for a small business, banging out manuals about data instrumentation. One day our marketing manager left the company, and I was asked to figure out what projects were rolling and told not to break anything. It didn’t take me long to figure out that marketing was more fun and fulfilling than technical writing, so I’ve been a marketing communications guy ever since. BEST MENTOR EVER That’s an easy one. Early in my career (as in low man on the totem pole) I was fortunate enough to work for a company whose president believed in management by wandering around. Every afternoon he would poke his head into my office and ask if I needed anything. Amazing. I’ll never forget him because he took the time every day to help me succeed. A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE EXHIBIT HALL So I'm in Las Vegas for a trade show, lugging booth materials into the exhibit hall at Caesar's Palace when - pop- my knee buckles. Torn meniscus. On the wheelchair ride back to my hotel room, the gentleman pushing the wheelchair asks,"Sir, are you enjoying your visit with us so far?" Well, sure. Nothing like a great sense of humor when things go wrong. Keep smiling, everyone.