About Mark
The Backstory

Throughout his entire life, Mark has worked hard to achieve massive results. Here is a small sampling of his success in multiple disciplines.

Football

  • High School:
    • High School All American (Junior as WR, Senior as QB)
    • Inducted into Hall of Fame 2005
  • College:
    • University of Washington
    • 2 Rose Bowls and 2 Aloha Bowls, 1 Orange Bowl including winning catch.
    • Played under legendary Hall Of Fame coach Don James
    • Inducted into Hall of Fame 2016
  • NFL:
    • Played 5 years.
    • Drafted in 7th Round by LA Raiders.
    • Played with New Orleans Saints.
    • Member of NFLPA
Entrepreneurial Life

CEO & Co-Founder of The Pattison Group, a branding merchandising company. A successful multi-million dollar business for 15 years with three core target areas for market penetration.

1) Direct Marketing
2) Online Sales
3) Partnerships. Starbucks, Microsoft and Amazon part of the client base.

CEO & Co-Founder of Front Porch Classics, a venture-backed company that was acquired by University Games. Front Porch Classics invented the term Coffee Table Games. FPC focused on creating games to interact between Dad’s and their kids. Investor backed, FPC won Toy of the Year in 2001 and 2002, the product was sold in over 700 different retail locations and distributed in 7 countries. The company was sold in 2006. Mark’s responsibilities were to help create the marketing plan, fundraise, manufacture, warehouse, partnerships and sell.

SVP of Business Development for Scout.com. Scout is a sports digital media company which was sold to CBS Interactive in 2017.

Mark is the FOUNDER, GM + SVP of Sports Illustrated Team Sites called On SI.   He founded the vertical in 2019 and has become the fastest growing team network in sports history vaulting the iconic brand back to #1 ahead of ESPN.  Mark continues to launch new sites and work with its parent company, Minute Media.
Philanthropy
  • In 2020, Mark created a new campaign called Emilia’s Everest, the Lhotse Challenge. The goal was to raise $27,940 which was accomplished. The NFL social justice department and the Las Vegas Raiders also donated to the cause. All proceeds go to Higher Ground.
  • In 2019, Mark organized and raised $29,800 for a project called Emilia’s Everest. The event held in Sun Valley, Idaho raised both money and awareness for the National Epilepsy Foundation.
  • In 2017, Mark partnered with Chris Long of the Philadelphia Eagles and raised over $46,000 to build water wells for the people of Tanzania through his foundation, Waterboys. They brought awareness to the cause by climbing Mt Kilimanjaro with other NFL Players and War Hero veterans in 2017.
  • In 2013, Mark also raised $10,000 for inner-city kids of Los Angeles during his Mt. Kilimanjaro climb in 2013.  http://westcoastsports.org/
The Summit Master

In every facet of his life, Mark Pattison scales personal and professional summits. Mark is a former NFL Player, philanthropist, podcaster and successful entrepreneur & currently an executive at Sports Illustrated and now has climbed all Seven Summits having completed this feat by scaling the death-defying Mt. Everest in the spring of 2021. Mark dedicated his climb to his daughter Emilia who is overcoming her own Everest by defeating epilepsy. Mark has raised over $150,000 with generous donations from many individuals, the NFL and Las Vegas Raiders. All proceeds go to Higher Ground.

In the Fall of 2021, the NFL debuted a documentary called Searching for the Summit about Mark's epic journey he experienced on Mt Everest. The film was nominated for Best Cinematography and was also nominated and WON Best Short Documentary in 2022 Sports Emmy Awards. This 30 minute film can now be seen on NFL360 - click here to watch.

Mark's podcast, Finding Your Summit has over 200,000 downloads after 275 episodes which provides powerful conversations with celebrities, sports legends and others about overcoming their adversity and finding their way.

Having been a teammate, climbing partner and friend of Mark's for over 35 years, I can say without hesitation that he is a man of tremendous integrity, moral conviction and mental toughness.  His ability to both lead from the front and be a core team member speaks to both his strength of conviction as well as his selfless attitude.  Mark has a vision and an energy that others are naturally drawn to, his ability to inspire others with both his words and actions are beyond compare.  This is a man that has reached the highest peaks professionally as an NFL player, in business as an entrepreneur, as a father and as a high altitude mountain climber.

Jim Mora

UConn Head Coach

Watch Speaking Reel and Invite Mark to Keynote your Event

While most people talk about achievement, Mark has actually DONE it, multiple times through his Pyramid of Success formula! Who better to talk to your audience or team about setting big goals (Playing in the NFL, Climbing the Seven Summits, Leading Sports Illustrated to #1 & an Emmy for Best Picture ) and then attacking them than Mark? He's got the experience, credibility and business chops to back it up. PLUS, a % of Mark's speaking fee will be donated to Emilia's Everest Challenge through Higher Ground, a not-for-profit dedicated to bridging the gap between disability and belonging.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BOOKING MARK FOR YOUR EVENT