Michael Marks is a 20-year full time resident of Hilton Head Plantation.  His professional career included 43 years in the nonprofit sector. After 13 years in the national health agency business, Michael devoted the next 30 years to the museum field serving as president/CEO for three museums: the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, The Health Museum of Cleveland, and Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head. His work background includes public facility design/construction, planning and executing capital campaigns up to $20 million, developing master plans, transforming organizations, beginning major growth initiatives, identifying strategic opportunities, establishing endowments, and leadership roles in fundraising campaigns that have raised over $100 million.

Michael holds a BA in political science from the University of Kentucky; participated in the master’s program in urban studies at Old Dominion University; earned a museum management certificate from the University of Colorado; completed Executive Education Programs at Harvard Graduate School of Business and was a Professional Fellow at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University.
He served on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry where he chaired the Development and Donor Services Committee and its Public Art Committee.  He was also a member of the Governance and Planning Committee and the Project Safe (Sewer Access For Everyone) Committee.  Michael is a member of the Rotary Club of Hilton Head Island where he serves as its Sergeant-of-Arms, and he is currently the Chair of the Arts Council of Hilton Head Island.