Co–founded, along with two partners, a chain of community newspapers that serve the mid–Fairfield county, Connecticut market. Two newspapers, with a combined circulation of over 40,000 weekly, were created. The firm grew from four to over 30 employees in less than two years. Over $2.5 million in equity capital was raised from over twenty private investors. As publisher, Mark was responsible for the entire operation, from initial concept, fund raising, investor relations to post-office, production and staffing issues. Additionally, Mark designed the system and network that enabled six designers located in two remote offices, to produce over 160 weekly tabloid pages entirely electronically, on Macintosh based systems. In 1996, the firm merged with another, larger entity creating an entity consisting of 10 newspapers, three magazines and a commercial printing operation. In 1998, the firm was sold to a NYSE-listed national newspaper chain that owns over 200 newspapers.