About Mark
Mark Harrison Snell is a native Iowan, raised on a farm in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. He is the third of four children born to Dean and Shirley Snell, baptized and confirmed at 1st United Methodist Church in Plymouth, Iowa. After graduating from Nora Springs-Rock Falls Community Schools he attended Drake University where he received Bachelors and Master Degrees in Public Administration and Management. Mark is married to Cindy Pennington Snell and is the father of 3 children - Laura, Patrick and Nathan. His professional career includes working as a chamber executive, government official, museum president of development, finance director for the Boy Scouts, management consultant, foreign exchange junior high school English teacher and house builder. He and his wife live on an acreage in a recently expanded and remodeled home known as Echo Ridge Farm in Norwalk, Warren County, Iowa. Mark is an active member and volunteer with Rotary International, Free Masons, Scottish Rite, Lutheran Church of Hope, World Food Prize Foundation, Sister States and Republican Party. He is also an accomplished musician.
Professional Experience
- President/Founder at MHS Management Group
- Former Chief of Staff/Chief Deputy Secretary of State at Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate
- Former Foreign Exchange Junior High School English Teacher in Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan
- Former Finance Director at Mid Iowa Council Boy Scouts of America
- Former President Development and Marketing at Living History Farms
- Former Aide to Governor Terry Branstad and Gubernatorial Appointments Director
- Former Executive Director at Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission
- Former Executive Director at Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission
- Former Commercial Real Estate Leasing Representative with Mid America Group and Cross Corporation
- Former Manager of Affiliate Organizations for Greater Des Moines Chamber Federation
- Former Aide de Camp to Terry Branstad, Branstad for Governor Campaign
Educational Experience
- Master Degree in Public Administration and Management – Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
- IOM – Graduate of the US Chamber of Commerce Institutes for Organization Management at the University of Colorado
- Graduate of Leadership Iowa
- Bachelors of Arts Degree in Public Administration – Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
- High School Diploma – Nora Springs-Rock Falls Community Schools, Nora Springs, Iowa
County Auditor Duties