Professional Integrity in a High-Risk World - Virtual Speaker

Mark currently serves as the President of the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA). ADFA is part of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. ADFA's enabling legislation (as a state agency) authorizes it to borrow money and issue bonds to provide sufficient funding for financing affordable housing, various business and economic development projects, and capital improvements for state agencies. ADFA also receives federal funds to administer various housing programs. ADFA is the exclusive issuer of bonds for state agencies. ADFA does not receive any general or special revenue from the State of Arkansas. ADFA is a self-funded agency that derives its revenue from issuance and administrative fees, loan interest income, and investment earnings and operates much like a financial institution. Mark is responsible for administering the state and federal programs of ADFA and the management and day-to-day coordination of all program and financial activities, including taxable and tax-exempt bond issuance, state and federal single-family and multi-family housing programs, single-family mortgage programs for first-time home buyers, venture capital investments, private student loan lending, economic development loans and investments, and inter-agency financial administration agreements. ADFA has approximately fifty employees. Prior to joining the Arkansas Development Finance Authority, Mark served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Arkansas Student Loan Authority (now a division of the Arkansas Development Finance Authority) for over 12 years. He has also served in Corporate Tax at Alltel Communications and practiced in the tax group of KPMG, LLP and Ernst & Young, LLP in Little Rock, Arkansas, specializing in the banking and transportation sectors. Mark received a B.A. in Accounting from Ouachita Baptist University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and Certified Global Management Accountant. He is a member of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mark enjoys serving as a continuing professional education instructor for the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, trade associations, local & regional accounting firms, and is a frequent speaker at state and local CPE conferences. Mark was named the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants Mac Angel Discussion Leader of the Year for 2018 and 2020.