Mark Farmer Email & Phone Number

• Entrepreneur Center – Developed, launched, and direct a County-sponsored incubator and small business education center.
• Property Redevelopment – Conduct outreach and disseminate key information to developer community to spur redevelopment, research targeted investment sites for developers, and work projects utilizing tax allocation.
• Research – Prepare briefing papers on topics relevant to County governance as requested by County leadership.
• Outreach – Act as liaison with outside entities, including Community Improvement Districts, economic development partner organizations, and private companies.
• Professional Development – Completed County’s management training program, LEAD Academy

• Directed award-winning entrepreneur support program for economic development initiative.
• Managed logistics for Gwinnett Angels, a chapter of Atlanta Technology Angels.
• Assembled and managed the Gwinnett Entrepreneur Council, a group of business owners, economic development practitioners, and representatives of regional support services, to establish networks that strengthened the.
• Created and directed The Amazing Entrepreneur annual business plan competition.
• Engaged and consulted with 200+ small businesses.
• Developed and maintained small business resource website and companion printed guide.

Clients for writing and photography business include Emory University Public Health magazine, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, The Showcase School (photography instructor), and the Atlanta Regional Commission (Interviewed regional planning and development professionals and research and write material analyzing link.

• Public Relations Specialist (6/01 – 11/02) – Wrote and edited marketing copy, articles and press releases; conducted media relations; and managed communications and development projects
• Photographer (4/96 – 6/00) – Managed photography department (supervising five-person staff); shot location images and studio photos for publications, marketing materials and website; scanned and manipulated images.

Coordinated photography department supplying imagery for all MARTA departments, shot MARTA system locations, public relations events and studio assignments for publications, website and international media

Analyzed, negotiated, and drafted contracts (including confidentiality, engineering, vendor and patent license agreements); maintained database of nearly 2000 contracts; coordinated services provided by in-house legal department and outside counsel; and briefed company president on contracts prior to execution

Coordinated market research project for high-tech practice group, assisted attorneys with corporate acquisitions, mergers and loans, assigned and reviewed work completed by paralegal assistants, and coordinated national business license program for Fortune 500 client

Designed, edited, and managed production of news and business sections at two city newspapers, The Montgomery Advertiser and Greenville Piedmont

Master'S, Economic Development Policy

Activities and Societies: Enterprise Innovation Institute • Researched creative economic development in Savannah, Georgia, using industry.

Ba, Journalism

Entrepreneurship Center Management Certificate