Mark Forker was 49 years old and had just been downsized after 27-years with the same company.  He should have been shocked, angry, or at least a little depressed.  Instead, he felt an odd sense of calm.  It was as if someone had finally given him permission to do whatever he wanted - and what he wanted was to do something with purpose and meaning.    Career risk – also known as corporate downsizing, economic slowdowns, market changes, and outsourcing – is a fact of life.  But, can you mitigate career risk?   Community service is quickly becoming one of the most valuable character-building and career-building activities made by professionals.  As they develop new talents, interests and contacts while serving their community, they also broaden their skill set and career options.   Mark will share how community service helped prepare him for an unexpected career change, and why you should reach out to the community in a way that is meaningful to you. .

Mark Forker is a marketing management professional with 27-years of experience in the utility industry characterized by successful sales campaigns, motivating teams and growing market share.  Mark offers a diverse skill set that includes creative marketing and operations management, coupled with a polished presentation style that has served him well in both the for-profit and non-profit business sectors.  As Manager of Consumer Services at NW Natural, Mark was responsible for achieving profitable customer growth for Oregon’s largest natural gas distributor. 

Mark and his 25-member team achieved annual customer growth rates that were double the national average for natural gas distributors.   Mark left NW Natural in December 2006, and joined Willamette West Habitat for Humanity as their Executive Director.  He became interested in the issues of homelessness and affordable housing after seeing the problem first hand in Portland’s Old Town, where NW Natural’s headquarters is located.  Since 1998, he has served on the board of directors at Transition Projects, Portland’s largest provider of shelter and services to the homeless.  He is vice chair, serves on their development committee responsible for fundraising and makes numerous presentations to community groups.  

Mark is a native of Portland and grew up in Washington County.  He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Oregon, and his MBA from Portland State University.  He was active in Washington County’s Big Brother program for over 10 years, has traveled to Mexico with Medical Teams International and was a Rotary International group study exchange student alternate.  He has also volunteered at Morrison Child & Family Services and in his wife’s 3rd grade classroom at Ladd Acres Elementary School in Hillsboro.  Mark’s hobbies include downhill skiing, motocross and vintage automobiles.  Mark and Linda reside in Beaverton.