Mark Wylea Erwin
Encyclopedia
Mark Erwin is a former U.S.
ambassador and the President of Erwin Capital, Inc., a family-owned investment company
located in Charlotte, North Carolina
.
During the Clinton Administration
Erwin served in two positions. In 1997, President Clinton appointed him to the Board of Directors
of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
. This organization promotes the foreign policy of the United States
through the State Department
.
From 1999-2001 Erwin served as United States Ambassador
to the Republic of Mauritius
, the Republic of the Seychelles
and the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros.
Over the years, Erwin has been active in civic affairs and has served on the boards of over thirty civic, charitable, and educational organizations. Erwin was an Adjunct Professor
at the Business School of Winthrop University
for several years and has guest lectured at many schools and universities.
He received an honorary Doctorate
of Humane Letters from Winthrop University in 1994. In 2000 Erwin received the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine
” from the Governor of North Carolina
. This is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state. In 2007 Erwin was ordained as a Minister of the Methodist Church
.
Erwin studied real estate
at the University of Tennessee
and in 1969, became a real estate administrator for United Parcel Service
. He served four years of active duty
in the United States Air Force
, and two years on inactive reserve status.
Currently Erwin serves on the Board of Directors of NewDominion Bank, Chairman The Avenir Foundation, Chairman Emeritus, Board of Trustees
of The Echo Foundation
, the Board of Advisors of The African Presidential Archives and Research Center at Boston University
, the Board Trustees of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
and the Lynnwood Foundation Board.
He and his wife, Joan, maintain a residence in Charlotte, North Carolina. They have two daughters, Jennifer and Melissa and two granddaughters, Della and Lila.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ambassador and the President of Erwin Capital, Inc., a family-owned investment company
Investment company
An investment company is a company whose main business is holding securities of other companies purely for investment purposes. The investment company invests money on behalf of its shareholders who in turn share in the profits and losses....
located in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
.
During the Clinton Administration
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
Erwin served in two positions. In 1997, President Clinton appointed him to the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation is an independent agency of the United States Government that mobilizes U.S. private sector investment in new and emerging markets overseas in order to support both the sustainable economic development of those markets and the creation of American jobs...
. This organization promotes the foreign policy of the United States
Foreign relations of the United States
The United States has formal diplomatic relations with most nations. The United States federal statutes relating to foreign relations can be found in Title 22 of the United States Code.-Pacific:-Americas:-Caribbean:...
through the State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
.
From 1999-2001 Erwin served as United States Ambassador
Ambassadors from the United States
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to individual nations of the world, to international organizations, to past nations, and ambassadors-at-large.Ambassadors are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
to the Republic of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, the Republic of the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
and the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros.
Over the years, Erwin has been active in civic affairs and has served on the boards of over thirty civic, charitable, and educational organizations. Erwin was an Adjunct Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the Business School of Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Winthrop University is a public, four-year liberal arts university in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. In 2006-07, Winthrop University had an enrollment of 6,292 students. The University has been recognized as South Carolina's top-rated university according to evaluations conducted by the South...
for several years and has guest lectured at many schools and universities.
He received an honorary Doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Humane Letters from Winthrop University in 1994. In 2000 Erwin received the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine
Order of the Long Leaf Pine
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, created in 1965, is an honor that can be granted in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The Longleaf Pine is the official state tree of North Carolina. As of Dec 31, 2006, the Order has been awarded to 6,672 individuals....
” from the Governor of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. This is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state. In 2007 Erwin was ordained as a Minister of the Methodist Church
The Methodist Church
The Methodist Church was the name adopted by the Methodist denomination formed in the United States by the reunion on May 10, 1939 of the northern and southern factions of the Methodist Episcopal Church with the Methodist Protestant Church....
.
Erwin studied real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
and in 1969, became a real estate administrator for United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
. He served four years of active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, and two years on inactive reserve status.
Currently Erwin serves on the Board of Directors of NewDominion Bank, Chairman The Avenir Foundation, Chairman Emeritus, Board of Trustees
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of The Echo Foundation
Echo Foundation
The Echo Foundation is a non-profit education foundation, co-founded in 1997 by Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and Stephanie G. Ansaldo. The purpose of The Echo Foundation is to serve humanity through education...
, the Board of Advisors of The African Presidential Archives and Research Center at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, the Board Trustees of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
and the Lynnwood Foundation Board.
He and his wife, Joan, maintain a residence in Charlotte, North Carolina. They have two daughters, Jennifer and Melissa and two granddaughters, Della and Lila.