The Technion’s story has been intertwined with Israel’s for more than a century, from laying the foundations for a new nation to shaping its future.
Step inside Israeli innovation at the David and Janet Polak Visitors Center. Experience our 360° immersive movie and tech exhibition. Open to individuals and groups.
Learn More
Mark is the immediate past president of the ATS National Board of Directors. As a member of the Board, he has chaired the Audit Committee and co-chaired the Development Committee, and he has served on the Audit, Grants, Investments, Leadership, Planning, and Planned Giving Committees.
Mark has hosted and led scores of ATS events, served as co-chair of the 2013 ATS Chicago Chapter Mission and co-chaired the Technion World Tour to New York City in 2017. He and his wife, Nina, have supported the Asher Space Research Institute Building Fund; the Nina and Mark Gaines Family Lecture Hall; the Mark and Nina Gaines Apartment Unit, dedicated in loving memory of their parents, Alvin and Susan Gaines and Richard and Zella Ludwig, in the Chicago Chapter Wing of the Zielony Graduate Student Village; and a number of other initiatives, including the Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship Fund.
Mark earned his B.S. in accounting at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1978 and is a certified public accountant. He started his career at the Chicago-based accounting firm of Altschuler, Melvoin and Glasser LP, where he rose to partner. He also served as a managing director at American Express Tax and Business Services and as a managing director at RSM McGladrey, Inc. He retired as a partner at RSM US LLP in 2019.
In addition to the Technion, Mark is involved with the North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, where he has served in various officer positions on the executive committee. He is also treasurer of Illinois FIRST Robotics and a former member of the board of directors for the Leonard and Diane Sherman Family Foundation. In the past he has served on the board of the America – Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago and participated in Nachshon Missions to Israel with the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago.
Mark and Nina live in Highland Park, Illinois. They are blessed to have their children – Matt and Sarah Gaines (and children Bayla, Shoshana, and Lital) and Jill and David Friedman (and children Zev, Avi, and Tamara) – living close by, as they love spending time with them all.