Building On A Tradition Of Teamwork M
ark Carson knows the important role teamwork plays in the success of any organization. It’s a lesson he’s learned from many facets of his life, including the nearly 18 years he’s served as the District 2 representative on the Great Lakes Energy Board of Directors. But his roots with GLE go back much further than that. A native of Boyne City, Mark grew up in the small town he now calls home. His first thoughts of serving on GLE’s board likely grew out of hearing his father, Howard Carson, talk about serving on what was then the Top O’ Michigan Electric Cooperative Board of Directors (one of the cooperatives that later merged to form today’s GLE.) Shortly after he graduated from high school, Mark participated in a summer work program with GLE’s power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative. Mark was part of a crew that visited Wolverine’s electric substations doing maintenance work such as lawn mowing and painting fences. He went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration. Mark started his professional career working for Walmart, and for the past 29 years, he has worked as a manager with Gordon Food Service in Gaylord.
Mark Carson works with members of his team at Gordon Food Service in Gaylord, where he has worked as a manager for the past 29 years.
Mark Carson stands outside the Wolverine Power Cooperative’s Carson Generating Facility near Gaylord, which is named in honor of his father Howard Carson, a former Top O’ Michigan Electric Cooperative board member, and his uncle Bill Carson, who was a supervisor at Wolverine’s former Advance power plant.
“ Coaching, management, and serving on the board blend together in many ways, especially when it comes to teamwork. You have to look at who fits best in which roles and how you can equip the team for success.” For much of that same time, he’s been actively involved in youth basketball. He first got involved as a parent, then for about 15 years as a coach, and in 2021, he switched from coaching to officiating. Mark said the same teambuilding, leadership, and decision-making skills that he’s developed in his professional and youth basketball pursuits have served him well in his time on the GLE Board of Directors. “Coaching, management, and serving on the board blend together in many ways, especially when it comes to teamwork,” Mark said. “You have to
look at who fits best in which roles and how you can equip the team for success.” Mark said he has enjoyed the many learning opportunities he’s had and serving on a board comprised of people with diverse backgrounds who work well together in the best interest of GLE and its members. He’s also proud of the fact that he was serving as the chairman of the board with GLE when Truestream was in its beginning stages. “There were a lot of discussions about if it was the right time for GLE to take on such a big project. But we also heard so many comments from members that access to fast, reliable internet was something they really needed,” he said. Looking to the future, Mark is excited about the continued growth of the Truestream network, how it will enhance members’ lives through access to reliable high-speed internet, and how it will help improve GLE’s electric reliability for many years to come. Mark is one of three board members whose seats are up for re-election in 2024, and he is planning to seek re-election.
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