Mark Henson
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About Mark
A Small Business Success Story
A decade ago, Mark developed one of the most unique new business concepts in America: sparkspace, the most exciting business retreat center on the planet.
His belief in the idea that creative spaces lead to creative solutions has been the foundation for a super-successful small business, which has posted double-digit growth each year -- without exception.
Mark's work has inspired large corporations, small businesses, and start-up companies to re-think, re-invent, and re-design they way they work as individuals and as teams.
He's also been a bit of a maverick in training & development circles. His highly entertaining, fun, and hands-on approach to workshops and seminars have made sparkspace a top destination for companies that want to spark new thinking about Customer Service and Teamwork.
Broadcasting, Branding, and Brainstorming
Mark's whole life has been about creating exceptional customer experiences.
After graduating from Oklahoma Christian University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications, Mark served as an on-air personality and marketing director for several radio stations in Oklahoma City, Lansing, MI, and Columbus, OH.
His work as an award-winning copywriter landed him a position with Fitch, one of the leading brand strategy, retail design, and new product development firms in the world.
At Fitch, Mark developed a world-class expertise in brainstorming facilitation, helping to develop new product and service ideas for clients like SC Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Johnston & Murphy and many more.
Speaking and Sharing
A frequent lecturer at both Ohio University and The Ohio State University, Mark also speaks at national and regional conferences, including the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), The Ohio Travel Association, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and the World Waterpark Association, where he has received the "Best Speaker" award.
Mark has also been featured in many national and local publications, including The New York Times and Inc. Magazine.
Family and More
Mark grew up in Chelsea Michigan (just outside of Ann Arbor) and attended Chelsea High School where he launched my first successful business during his junior year: Generic Sounds, a DJ service.
Mark now lives in Columbus, OH, with my wife, Eve (married 18+ years and still going strong!), two kids named Hunter and Marissa, and two golden retrievers named Clifford and Cosmo.
What Mark Does Best
Mark lives and breathes customer service. He loves to inspire people to create amazing and consistent customer experiences.
A decade ago, Mark developed one of the most unique new business concepts in America: sparkspace, the most exciting business retreat center on the planet.
His belief in the idea that creative spaces lead to creative solutions has been the foundation for a super-successful small business, which has posted double-digit growth each year -- without exception.
Mark's work has inspired large corporations, small businesses, and start-up companies to re-think, re-invent, and re-design they way they work as individuals and as teams.
He's also been a bit of a maverick in training & development circles. His highly entertaining, fun, and hands-on approach to workshops and seminars have made sparkspace a top destination for companies that want to spark new thinking about Customer Service and Teamwork.
Broadcasting, Branding, and Brainstorming
Mark's whole life has been about creating exceptional customer experiences.
After graduating from Oklahoma Christian University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications, Mark served as an on-air personality and marketing director for several radio stations in Oklahoma City, Lansing, MI, and Columbus, OH.
His work as an award-winning copywriter landed him a position with Fitch, one of the leading brand strategy, retail design, and new product development firms in the world.
At Fitch, Mark developed a world-class expertise in brainstorming facilitation, helping to develop new product and service ideas for clients like SC Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Johnston & Murphy and many more.
Speaking and Sharing
A frequent lecturer at both Ohio University and The Ohio State University, Mark also speaks at national and regional conferences, including the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), The Ohio Travel Association, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and the World Waterpark Association, where he has received the "Best Speaker" award.
Mark has also been featured in many national and local publications, including The New York Times and Inc. Magazine.
Family and More
Mark grew up in Chelsea Michigan (just outside of Ann Arbor) and attended Chelsea High School where he launched my first successful business during his junior year: Generic Sounds, a DJ service.
Mark now lives in Columbus, OH, with my wife, Eve (married 18+ years and still going strong!), two kids named Hunter and Marissa, and two golden retrievers named Clifford and Cosmo.
What Mark Does Best
Mark lives and breathes customer service. He loves to inspire people to create amazing and consistent customer experiences.
Mark's latest blog post:
http://www.sparknewthinking.com/
spark new thinking!
Jul 25, 2010 05:02AM
Walking with my kids on the beach last night, we saw some starfish washed up on the beach. My daughter delighted in scooping them up with her beach shovel and tossing them back into the ocean. I delighted in telling my kids the story of the little boy and the starfish.
A little boy was at the beach one day. He noticed up and down the beach there were hundreds, maybe thousands, of starfish washed up on the sand.
He gently lifted them one by one, ran to the edge of the surf, and returned them back to the ocean. As each starfish floated away the boy would smile for a moment, wishing the starfish a long, happy life.
An old man watched the boy for awhile until he couldn't resist sharing his experienced and worldly view with the happy youth.
"Boy, there are more starfish on this beach than you could ever save. Look around, what you're doing can't possibly make much of a difference on this gigantic beach."
The boy looked puzzled for a moment, then gently picked up another starfish and placed it in the water. Another smile. Another wish.
"It made a difference to that one," the boy said confidently.
Forget what the world says. Forget what your friends say. Forget what the negative voices in your own head say. You have gifts that make the world better one moment, one person at a time.
Maybe your gift is lifting others up. Maybe your gift is serving the hungry. Maybe your gift is project management or bookkeeping or making the floors of your building sparkle.
The thing to learn from the starfish story is that not everyone will recognize your gift or how you make a difference. That doesn't mean you don't make a difference. You do. Everything you do makes a difference. You choose what kind of difference you'll make.
Find a starfish today and gently toss it back into the ocean.