CEO
With nearly 20 years of real estate and community development experience, Mark serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the nonprofit, Inland Valleys Association of REALTORS® or “IVAR”. With more than 4,000 members, IVAR is one of the largest REALTOR® associations in California, and ranked 75 largest nationally. At its core, IVAR provides a variety of support services that help its members be more competitive in the real estate marketplace. Key services include: REALTOR® education and training, government affairs advocacy, multiple listing services, and professional standards oversight and mediation.
Prior to his position with IVAR, Mark served as the Economic Development Agency Administrator for the County of San Bernardino where he had the responsibility of overseeing four departments: Housing and Community Development, Workforce Development, Economic Development and the Redevelopment Agency. With more than 220 employees and combined department budgets in excess of $190 million, the Economic Development Agency (EDA) was tasked with facilitating economic growth and improving quality of life for the largest geographic County in the United States.
A licensed real estate broker for more than 13 years, Mark was previously Vice President and Partner with De Oro Properties, LLC, a full service real estate development company focused on infill housing. His primary responsibilities included the development of single family home subdivisions, as well as the acquisition, rehabilitation and resale of approximately 200 single family homes.
Mark also served more than six years on the County of San Bernardino Planning Commission, twice serving as Chairman; and in 2010 he was the American Planning Association, Inland Empire chapter, “Citizen Leader Award” winner. Moreover, Mark was a board member for the Baldy View Chapter of the Building Industry Association, as well as a past Southern California District Representative for the California County Planning Commissioners Association.
Mark earned his undergraduate and Master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton. Additionally, in 2009 he served as an adjunct professor at Cal State University, San Bernardino where he taught a graduate level course in land use planning.