Mark Walsh
Encyclopedia
Mark Walsh is an American
entrepreneur
, venture capitalist, and political activist.
Walsh graduated from Union College
in 1976. Walsh started his career as a television newscaster at a West Virginia
CBS
affiliate
. He held this position for two years before leaving to pursue an MBA at the Harvard Business School
, which he received in 1980. After graduating from Harvard, Walsh worked for four years as a director of New Business Development at HBO.
In 1994, Walsh became president
of GEnie
, General Electric
's online service. Walsh became a senior vice-president at AOL
in 1995. While at AOL, Walsh oversaw AOL Enterprise, its business-to-business division. In 1997, Walsh joined VerticalNet
, a business-to-business portal provider, as its CEO. Under Walsh's leadership, VerticalNet went public
on the NASDAQ
in 1999. Walsh is the managing partner of Ruxton Ventures, LLC, a private equity and investment firm he founded in early 2001. In 2005, Walsh became a senior executive fellow at the University of Maryland
's Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. As of 2008, Walsh is the CEO, founder, and chairman
of GeniusRocket
, a provider of crowdsourced
advertising media.
. Walsh also served as the Chief Technology Advisor to the Democratic National Committee
during 2001 and 2002, and as the Head of Internet Strategy for John Kerry for President
. In 2006, Walsh took began serving as co-host of XM Satellite Radio
's Left Jab
, a weekly political radio show.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, venture capitalist, and political activist.
Walsh graduated from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
in 1976. Walsh started his career as a television newscaster at a West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate
Affiliate
An affiliate is a commercial entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger entity.- Corporate structure :A corporation may be referred to as an affiliate of another when it is related to it but not strictly controlled by it, as with a subsidiary relationship, or when it is desired to avoid...
. He held this position for two years before leaving to pursue an MBA at the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, which he received in 1980. After graduating from Harvard, Walsh worked for four years as a director of New Business Development at HBO.
In 1994, Walsh became president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of GEnie
GEnie
GEnie was an online service created by a General Electric business - GEIS that ran from 1985 through the end of 1999. In 1994, GEnie claimed around 350,000 users. Peak simultaneous usage was around 10,000 users...
, General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
's online service. Walsh became a senior vice-president at AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
in 1995. While at AOL, Walsh oversaw AOL Enterprise, its business-to-business division. In 1997, Walsh joined VerticalNet
VerticalNet
Verticalnet Inc. was a "provider of On-Demand Supply Management solutions to companies ranging in size from mid-market to the Global 2000" and host of business-to-business procurement portals...
, a business-to-business portal provider, as its CEO. Under Walsh's leadership, VerticalNet went public
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
on the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
in 1999. Walsh is the managing partner of Ruxton Ventures, LLC, a private equity and investment firm he founded in early 2001. In 2005, Walsh became a senior executive fellow at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
's Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. As of 2008, Walsh is the CEO, founder, and chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of GeniusRocket
GeniusRocket
GeniusRocket is a small creative advertising firm specializing in video production through a curated creative community. The company uses a unique hybrid model referred to as curated crowdsourcing to produce a wide variety of creative video content, including live action, motion graphics, and...
, a provider of crowdsourced
Crowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing is the act of sourcing tasks traditionally performed by specific individuals to a group of people or community through an open call....
advertising media.
Political activism
Walsh has been active in liberal politics. Walsh was recently named National Board Chairman of the New Leaders Council, a major leadership training institution for young progressive talent. In 2004, Walsh served as CEO of Progress Media, parent organization of Air America RadioAir America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
. Walsh also served as the Chief Technology Advisor to the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
during 2001 and 2002, and as the Head of Internet Strategy for John Kerry for President
John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004
The Presidential Campaign of John Kerry, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and the nominee of the Democratic Party challenged Republican incumbent President George W. Bush in the U.S. presidential election on November 2, 2004. Ultimately, Kerry conceded defeat in the race in a telephone call to Bush...
. In 2006, Walsh took began serving as co-host of XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
's Left Jab
Left Jab
Left Jab is an irreverent, informative and provocative two-hour talk radio show in the United States, hosted by David Goodfriend and Mark Walsh, co-founders of Air America Radio, and written and produced by Michael Goodfriend. The show features segments and interviews covering politics and...
, a weekly political radio show.