Mark is the founder of Advanced Viticulture, a high-end farming and vineyard management company and Advanced Viticulture Consulting, a vineyard advisory and technology services company. His companies promote farming practices that make efficient and minimal use of fertilizer and water inputs for the purpose of sustainability as well as for optimal wine quality. Mark’s companies serve vineyards in the north and central coast regions of California. Mark has been in business since 2005, after eight years leading viticulture research efforts at a major Sonoma County vineyard and winery operation.

Mark’s academic background includes a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, an M.S. in Viticulture and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, all from the University of California, Davis. He is one of very few private practitioners who have been elected as an honorary member of Gamma Sigma Delta, the agricultural honor society and is also a member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. He holds CCA (Certified Crop Advisor) and CPAg (Certified Professional Agronomist) certifications from the American Society of Agronomy. He holds a Pest Control Advisor (PCA) license with the state of California. He is a regular contributor to wine industry publications and has penned viticulture articles for Wine Business Monthly since 2005. He served as President of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) from 2015 to 2016.