He taught himself theory and technique and continued to wait for opportunity to come. in 1999, after a 13 year stint as a goldsmith Mark decided to pursue a degree in Music Education.

Upon graduating from Seton Hill University in 2003, Mark accepted a position in Loudoun County Public Schools. He was appointed director of the guitar department at River Bend Middle School in Sterling, Virginia and within two years built the program to over two hundred and twenty five seventh and eighth grade guitar students. During that time, Mark also taught after-school strings directing students in violin, viola, and cello performance.

In 2005, Mark was recognized by then Virginia Governor, Mark Warner, for teaching excellence. In his seven years at River Bend Middle School Mark was awarded Teacher of the Year twice and was runner up another two times.

In 2010, Mark moved up to the high school level directing the guitar program at Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Virginia. Mark has more than doubled enrollment at Broad Run and is employed full-time there. In his eleventh year of teaching, Mark has found a home at Broad Run and describes it as his dream position.

On June 6, Mark received the Inaugural Seton Hill University Excellence in Teaching Award for the Fine Arts. The award was created to recognize those alumni working in the field of education who demonstrate outstanding achievement in their field and who are an inspiration to their students.

Mark also owns and operates his own performance school, StudioRock of Northern Virginia, located in Sterling, Virginia. StudioRock is an outgrowth of Mark's love of learning, teaching, and performing. Mark is also involved in multiple collaborations with musicians from around the world and is seeking an outlet for his own music and for studio work as a session guitarist.

Specialties:Music director, guitar director/instructor, guitar lecturer and advisor, event coordinator, studio musician/collaborator, music theory/history specialist, band solo performer coach, audio recording editor, and video editing and production.