The Story So Far
About
Author, musician, chef, strategic advisor, and rocket scientist turned business leader. A career built on leadership, innovation, and the belief that taking care of people leads to extraordinary results.
About
Author, musician, chef, strategic advisor, and rocket scientist turned business leader. A career built on leadership, innovation, and the belief that taking care of people leads to extraordinary results.
Background
My Story
My path has been anything but conventional. I started my career as an aerospace engineer on the first U.S. commercial space program, served as a launch systems engineer on 12 commercial space launches, and spent 20 years in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserves.
That engineering mindset followed me into the hospitality industry, where I served as Chief Operating Officer of Central Florida Investments and Westgate Resorts—a billion-dollar hospitality and real estate company. Our team grew from 2 regional resorts to 23 destination properties across the country.
Today I advise founders, boards, and executive teams on strategy, growth, culture, and operational alignment. I'm also a published author, patented inventor, and songwriter. I believe the secret to building great organizations is simple: take care of your people, and they'll take care of everything else.
30+
Years Leadership
8,000+
Team Members Led
$3B+
In Development
3
Books Published
"I work in a collaborative manner, and my role is not to replace management, but to help owners and boards ask better questions, see blind spots, and align strategy with execution."
— Mark Waltrip
A Unique Background
I have extensive experience in high-destination tourism markets including Orlando, Florida; New York City, New York; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Branson, Missouri; and Las Vegas, Nevada. Within these environments, I have been involved in the creation and operation of 23 destination themed resorts and more than 50 restaurants, as well as a range of indoor and outdoor water parks and entertainment venues.
Hospitality & Real Estate Leadership
Previously served as Chief Operating Officer for Central Florida Investments, Inc. and Westgate Resorts, LTD., a billion-dollar entrepreneurial hospitality and real estate company. Our leadership team grew from 2 regional resorts to 23 destination properties across the country.
- •23 destination themed resorts developed
- •100+ restaurant, retail, and entertainment venues
- •Largest sports book in Las Vegas
Rocket Scientist & Engineer
A true-to-life "Rocket Scientist" that helped build the commercial launch facility for the Atlas satellite program. Served as propulsion and pneumatics engineer on the launch team for 12 commercial space launches.
- •BS & MS in Aerospace Engineering (same day)
- •University of Colorado, top of class
- •Member of 3 National Honor Societies
Military Service
Served 20 years in the United States Air Force—10 years on active duty and an additional 10 years in the Air Force Reserves. Led a highly decorated unit that specialized in business reengineering of Government agencies.
Beyond Business
Accomplished musician, published author, chef, and patented inventor of BottleShock wine travel cases. Recognized leader in the community serving on several charitable foundation boards. Proud husband, married 44+ years and father of 2 successful children.
Published Author
Three Books on Leadership & Culture
Mark's books distill decades of hands-on leadership into actionable wisdom for entrepreneurs, executives, and anyone building organizations that last.
Recipes for Success
A Cookbook with a Recipe for Life
Mark's first book blends his love of cooking with the leadership lessons that shaped his career. Based on the belief that life is a lot like cooking—the difference between success and failure are the ingredients you choose and the recipe you follow. Part cookbook, part leadership guide, it brings people together around the table and around a shared vision.
Building a Culture of Success
An Entrepreneur's Guide to Leadership
A practical roadmap for creating organizational cultures that drive performance. This book bridges the gap between entrepreneurs and leaders—what they can learn from each other, and the eight basic principles of entrepreneurial leadership that help you grow and sustain a successful organization. It became the blueprint for leadership development programs at Westgate Resorts.
You Already Have a Culture
...And It's a Reflection of Your Leadership
Mark's latest book challenges everything you think you know about organizational culture. Culture cannot be launched, rolled out, or installed like software. It is the byproduct of leadership behavior—shaped by what leaders do when no one is watching, what they tolerate when results are at stake, and what they confront when it would be easier not to. Written for operators who've earned their skepticism and leaders ready to stop performing culture and start living it.
My Approach
Systems-Level Perspective
This breadth has allowed me to advise from a systems-level view while remaining grounded in the operational realities that determine whether strategy succeeds or fails.
Navigating Transition
I am best utilized when businesses are navigating transition: growth that has stalled, markets that have shifted, leadership change, or the need to rethink long-standing assumptions.
Collaborative Partnership
My role is not to replace management, but to help owners and boards ask better questions, see blind spots, and align strategy with execution.
Clarity & Discipline
My approach emphasizes preserving what matters, reassessing what no longer serves the organization, and helping leadership teams move forward with clarity and discipline.