MARK M. ORTON
2600 N Flagler Dr #411
West Palm Beach, Florida 33407 USA
Tel: 617-312-8550 mark@markorton.com
PERSONAL LIFE
Married to Karen Davis since 1977. Two step-children and four grandchildren. Lived in Cambridge MA from 1969 to 2009, then Hudson NY until 2024. Now resides in West Palm Beach, FL.
There has been a lot of travel, almost all organized by Karen. There have been many road trips around the US, camping, and hiking. There have also been trips abroad to Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong (many times—the step-son and his wife were professors there), Singapore, China, Indonesia, Vietnam (twice), Thailand, Australia (the older brother lives there), the Netherlands (many times—the step-son and his family live there now), Germany, Belgium, Austria, the UK, France, Italy, Sicily, and Morocco.
Mark and Karen rebuilt two houses in Cambridge, much of the work done by their own hands. The second house was reconfigured several times as children moved out. They also built two dark rooms for Karen’s photography work. The house in Hudson has a new bathroom, expanded kitchen, an office in a barn built by Mark, and a new contractor-built sun room on the first floor (this in part to facilitate a possible future need to live on one floor).
Hangs pictures, greets people, and keeps finances at Davis Orton Gallery in Hudson. Karen is curator and moving force behind the gallery. More at DavisOrtonGallery.com
Over the last seven years, Mark has spent lots of time researching the actual workings of the US economy (as opposed to the idealized nonsense taught in American economics). This has led to a broader evaluation of our society. Much work can be seen at AmericanDelusions.com. More recently the surge in autocratic politics in the US and elsewhere has led to work in evolutionary neurology, psychology and anthropology. Trying to uncover the dimensions of human nature under the obviously thin veneer of human rationality.
Tennis is a big part of daily life. Since moving to Hudson Mark has returned to the game of his youth. Has had to learn to play as a though a beginner because of the changes in the game. Taking weekly lesson for the last 3 years. Plays 4 – 5 times a week from late March to mid November outdoors. Three time a week indoors over the winter. Member of men’s doubles league that meets weekly.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS
Board of Trustees of Hudson Area Library, Hudson NY – 2009 to 2016; 2017 to date. President 2011 to 2016; President 2018 to 2022. Ended service on Board in 2023.
Cambridge Community Center, Cambridge, MA – 1980 – 1984. Member Board of Directors; Vice President
Riverside Cambridgeport Community Corp. – 1978 – 1988 Member of Board of Directors; Treasurer
WORK EXPERIENCE
2017 to 2024 Consultant UTM HEALTHCARE LLC and NULINK HEALTH, LLC Hudson NY
UTM is a software company with patented encryption technologies that offers remote patient monitoring products to the healthcare market. See UTMHealthcare.com. NLH provides services to medical clinics and hospitals that extend medical care to chronically ill patients in their homes,keeping them out of hospitals
2004 to 2024 President RIVERSIDE BUSINESS COACHING. Hudson, NY
Business coach to owners and managers of smaller organizations. Focused on strategy and operations. Global client base in services, distribution and manufacturing – startup to $20 million sales. Coaching predominantly delivered via telephone and web-based conferencing. Lean manufacturing/enterprise consulting to manufacturers and service firms. Now phasing this business towards full retirement from work. See RiversideBusinessCoach.com
1999 to 2004 Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer VALUEDGE, INC. Lexington, MA
Valuedge was an innovator in web-based organizational assessment software for use in supplier assessment in multiple industries. Valuedge developed and deployed a custom supplier assessment tool for The Boeing Co. A commercial product was launched in 2003. Valuedge was sold to Emptoris, Inc. in 2004. The product is now part of IBM’s ERP offerings. Responsible for product design and architecture, product roadmap, and product extensions. Worked with co-founder partner on all aspects of general company management and strategy. Also consulted to companies to improve their performance in supply chain management and lean manufacturing/enterprise methods.
1995 to 1999 Co-Director NEW ENGLAND SUPPLIERS INSTITUTE. Boston, MA.
A regional industry membership organization of 115 suppliers that worked with manufacturers to improve performance through joint customer-supplier projects, education, and networking. The organization was jointly funded by the Federal and state governments with extensive industry support.
1993 to 1995 Director MERRIMACK VALLEY MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIP, INC. Lowell,MA
A National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program affiliate. MVMP provided technical, business, and training consulting to small and medium size manufacturers. Incorporated organization, recruited Board of Directors, hired and trained staff of seven consultants. Conducted marketing outreach and sales to small manufacturers. Developed partnerships with other local and regional interest groups and resources including University of Massachusetts at Lowell
1983 to 1992 AUGAT INCORPORATED Mansfield, MA
A $650 million Fortune 500 multinational manufacturer of passive electromechanical components for the computer, telecommunications, and automotive markets. Now part of Tyco International, Ltd.
Vice President of Business Development Interconnection Products Group (1992)
Vice President Marketing for Core Products Interconnection Products Group (1991)
General Manager N. Andover, MA manufacturing plant Interconnection Products Group (1990-1991)
Vice President for Customer Service and Inside Sales Interconnection Products Group (1987-1990)
Product Marketing Manager Alcoswitch Division (1985-1987)
Inside Sales Manager Alcoswitch Division (1983-1985)
1980 – 1983 Product Design Engineer & Custom Engineerings Manager C&K COMPONENTS, Newton, MA Electromechanical components
1979 – 1980 Research Engineer for the Biomechanics Engineering Group MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA Research on artificial hips and knees.
1977 – 1979 Mechanical Designer MINUTEMAN LABORATORIES, INC., Acton, MA Vacuum UV and soft X-ray monochrometers and spectrometers
1973 – 1976 Machinist VARIOUS COMPANIES
1969 – 1971 Teacher NEWTON SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL, Newton,
EDUCATION
B.A. in Russian Language and Literature, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI, 1969
Doctoral Program in Slavic Linguistics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1971-1973
Associates in Applied Science. Manufacturing Technology & Computer Science, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston MA, 1976
Harvard University Extension Cambridge, MA Courses in Operations Management, Financial Accounting, Financial Management, International Finance, Cost Accounting, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Law 1981-1985
Industry Seminars: MRP I (UNISYS two week course); JIT Production (Schonberger); Professional Selling Skills(Learning International); Six Sigma Black Belt Program (American Society for Quality)