About Mark

There’s something about growing up on a farm that uniquely prepares you for life. When I was five years old, my family moved from Burien (a suburb of Seattle) to the family farm in Ferndale (near the Canadian border). That’s where my adventure began. On a farm, if something breaks, you have to figure out how to fix it – kind of like life. We grew a lot of our own food, raised our own beef, and cut wood to heat our home. It was a wonderful way to grow up.

I have spent the past 30+ years as a broadcast journalist—finishing my career in 2022 as an evening television news anchor in Seattle. 

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Upbringing & Personal Life

Getting Personal

You might know me from my television reporter and anchor work, but my family is what’s most important to me.

In 1970, my parents, brothers, and I moved from Burien (a Seattle suburb) to the family farm north of Ferndale in Whatcom County. My great-grandparents settled the property in 1903. My two brothers and I went from being city kids to country kids overnight. Ironically, we didn’t have a TV for most of our childhood, so my brothers and I spent our days climbing trees and playing in the woods.

My childhood looked a lot like “Little House on the Prairie.” We cut firewood to heat our home, raised beef, and worked the fields on our uncles’ organic vegetable farm. Not only that, we even had a pet donkey named Jezebel. We tried (unsuccessfully) to bridle-train her, but she would always head for the nearest low tree branch to knock us off her back!

I’m a husband to my college sweetheart Jamie. We met at WSU and have been married since 1990. We raised our two sons, Brandon and Austin, in Mukilteo (about 18 miles north of Seattle). We are a dedicated soccer family – my wife was the registrar for Mukilteo Youth Soccer for years, the boys both played soccer (Brandon also played at Gonzaga), and we love cheering on our Sounders FC!

My wife and I became empty-nesters in the fall of 2022 when our youngest went to college. It’s been an adjustment after 26 years of continuously caring for other humans, but we’re loving our time together now. We’ll always consider them our little boys, no matter how old they get. At the same time, we are so proud of the young men they’ve become.

PURELY ProFessional

My broadcasting career began at Washington State University in Pullman, and I worked for a Public Radio station as a reporter and fell in love with storytelling. My career took me to Boise, Spokane, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. I’m so grateful to the professors like Glenn Johnson, who mentored and guided me. My story came full circle in 2021 when I was inducted into the Murrow College Hall of Achievement.

One of the things I loved about being a journalist is I learned something new every day. It was a front-row seat to history for more than three decades. People sometimes ask about the most important story I covered. To me, the little stories were the ones that mattered most. I think striving to get those stories right day in and day out is what being a journalist is all about.

Near the end of my career, in 2021, I had the opportunity to produce a story for NBC Nightly News when Lester Holt took the show on the road. It was a wonderful experience to work with network producers and crews and to be on set with Lester during the show. Lester and his staff couldn’t have been nicer.

Over the years, as an anchor, it’s been rewarding to use that skill to help non-profit organizations. I donated my time as an event emcee to help dozens of non-profits raise millions of dollars. In 2017, I hosted the global live stream of World Polio Day from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. I also hosted the global conference for Rotary International twice.

My Interests

When my family moved back to the family farm in 1970, that became their home base from then until now. There’s something magical about the land that my great-grandparents settled in 1903. My brothers and I worked for our uncles growing organic vegetables. I learned that if you can work in the fields every day in the summer as a kid, you can do just about anything. My uncles instilled a work ethic that led us to success in our careers.

My brothers and I formed Wright Brothers Farm, LLC in 2016 to honor the tradition my uncles started. Additionally, my brother Craig (CPA/lawyer) is now the full-time farm manager. He sells produce at the Bellingham Farmers Market and through a CSA (subscription delivery) from Ferndale to Seattle. My brother Chris (an aerospace lean manufacturing expert) is the production manager. You can learn more about our farm, and how to experience the fantastic food we grow here.

I’m also passionate about drumming. I started playing the drums in the 8th grade, in the marching band for Mel Hansen at Ferndale High School, and I have not stopped playing the drums to this day.

There’s a special bond among drummers. I was fortunate enough to know Alan White, the drummer for YES, before he passed away. He allowed me to sit in with his band one night at the Hard Rock Cafe in Seattle and let me play the drums he used to record “Imagine” with John Lennon. That’s the kind of guy Alan was. I’ll remember that night for the rest of my life!

Growing up in Ferndale, our home was very close to the railroad tracks —so close that when we first moved in, we were jolted awake at night when the whole house shook! It didn’t take long to get used to the noise, and it became part of the soundtrack of our lives. My brothers and I used to walk the rails to get to our friend’s homes. Hearing the blast of a train horn and the rumble takes me back to that beautiful time in my life.

When I was a young reporter in Spokane, a man I interviewed for a story asked me if I had ever considered joining the Rotary Club. I had no idea what Rotary was, but I went and have never stopped going. Rotary is a service organization that helps people in need at home and worldwide. Rotary is the reason polio is nearly eradicated. I’ve been a Rotary Club of Seattle member for almost 20 years and absolutely love it. It’s like a big family of friends and mentors. I served as the club’s President from 2017-2018. If you feel drawn to help others, join the Rotary club in your town. You’ll love it!