Mark Bitz is a successful entrepreneur, author, and community leader. He is a graduate of Purdue, Cornell, and Harvard Universities, and a lifelong student of evolution, science, history, culture, government, economics, business, investing, and leadership. Mark is well-read, educated, entrepreneurial, close to nature, thoughtful, and practical. He has traveled to all 50 states and over 50 countries and 200 cities. He was named among the “CNY 40 Under 40” and is the recipient of the Purdue University Alumni of Distinction Award. Working his way up to president, Mark owned and operated Plainville Turkey Farm, Inc. between 1991 and 2007. Under his leadership, the company pioneered an All-Natural-Ingredient deli line, Animal-Friendly Practices, and Turkeys Grown on a Vegetarian Diet and without Antibiotics. The business was the first turkey company to receive the American Humane Association’s “Free Farmed” Certification, and it also won the Onondaga County Conservation Farm of the Year Award, the American Culinary Institute Best Taste Award, and the New York State Agricultural Society Business of the Year. Mark founded a feed company in 1990 that he and one of his sons currently own, and he co-founded a crop company in 2005 that was the largest organic crop operation in the Northeast for several years.Mark has written 3 books: (1) Creating a Prosperous New York State: Making Elected Officials Accountable for New York State’s Performance Relative to Other States, (2) Toward Truth, Freedom, Fitness, and Decency, (3) Winning Practices of a Free, Fit, and Prosperous People. In the fall of 2023 Mark will publish Flourish: Perspectives and Practices that Elevate Life, a book that will be used in two courses he teaches at Florida Gulf Coast University. Mark coached youth soccer and basketball, was instrumental in building the Northwest YMCA in Baldwinsville, New York, and has served on numerous boards. He chaired the Empire State Young President’s Organization (YPO), Northwest YMCA in Baldwinsville, and New York State 4-H Foundation. He was a director of the Greater Syracuse YMCA, Syracuse Metropolitan Development Association, New York State Business Council, National Turkey Federation, and Chief Executives Organization (CEO). Mark served on the Cornell Agriculture and Life Science Advisory Board and the Cornell University Council. He was Education Chair of the Chief Executives Organization for 6 years and founded the CEO Stanford President’s Seminar.