Chicago-based integrated design and delivery firm Wight & Company has announced that James C. Mark Jr. has rejoined the firm as chief strategy officer. Mark’s first tenure at Wight & Company was from 1999 to 2017, during which he rose to senior vice president and managing director of the Chicago office.
“We are thrilled to have Jim back at Wight & Company, where he proved himself to be an invaluable contributor to our growth and initiatives such as the development and implementation of our ‘Design + Delivery’ model,” said Mark Wight, chairman and chief executive officer at Wight & Company. “In his new role as chief strategy officer, Jim will be able to apply his strategic vision to the company as a whole, which will not only propel our continued growth but also further our contributions to the markets we serve.”
Mark began his career as a practicing architect and ultimately added leadership responsibilities to his job duties. Between his two Wight & Company periods, Mark served as North America central region practice leader for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP, where he led strategic initiatives at the firm’s Chicago office focused on growing business in the city and throughout the North American central region.
In his previous role at Wight & Company, Mark led the development of the firm’s integrated delivery model and led the growth, direction and management of the Chicago office. His experience spans several sectors including public/institutional, civic/cultural, recreational/community, K-12 education, science and technology, higher education, transportation, corporate/commercial and corporate interiors.
“The chance to lead the company’s overall growth was one of the most appealing reasons to return to Wight,” said Mark. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to more fully integrate our business development and operational units to further raise our level of excellence for our clients and projects.”
Mark earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas. He also attended the École des Beaux-Arts, an influential art school in Fontainebleau, France, near Paris. He is also a member of the American Institute of Architects and a LEED-accredited professional. Involved in several civic organizations, Mark currently serves as board chair for the Chinese American Service League and sits on the executive board of Friends of the Chicago River.
