Mark Despotakis joined the Progressive Music team in September of 2002 where he is the director of Market Development. Mark also does some outside sales for Progressive Music. Prior to working at Progressive, Mark spent time at CNN Newsource in Washington D.C. where he helped to produce stories out of the nation's capital for CNN as well as their nearly 800 affiliate stations across the country. Before CNN, Mark was the News Director at TV 5 News in Clarion, Pennsylvania. He had the opportunity to cover local news as well as anchored coverage of the attacks of September 11, 2001. He also hosted his own television talk show, "Feedback with Mark Despotakis" and radio talk show, "Talk Around Town."

mark.despotakis@progressivemusiccompany.com

While at TV 5 News, Mark won various awards from the Society for Collegiate Journalists and was named as a Young American Broadcaster. Mark earned a BS in Communication from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 2002. Throughout his television career, Mark also made time for music. He taught the Baldwin High School Band woodwinds from 1998 - 2011 as well as served as the Assistant Band Director of the Baldwin Highlander Marching Band and the Director of the Baldwin High School Woodwind Ensemble. Mark is proud of the many accomplishments of the Highlander Band but says he is most proud of their 2006 performance in the 80th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Mark's TV News Resume Tape

When he joined Progressive Music, Mark was able to combine his degree in communication with music.

"It's fascinating to work in the music products industry. It's amazing how I have already seen the industry change in my time here," said Mark. "There are new challenges and opportunities everyday. That's what makes it fun and keeps it interesting."

Mark has presented sessions on the music industry at the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association annual conference as well as presented at the yearly gathering of the music product's industry, The NAMM Show. He fully believes in the value of music education and is a strong advocate and has traveled to Washington, DC with delgates from NAMM to lobby on Capitol Hill for music education.

He has had articles published in the PMEA News and various music industry publications including The Music and Sound Retailer.

A self-proclaimed "news junkie", Mark is always reading newspapers or watching various television newscasts (including CNN on at his desk all day) to find out the latest information. When he's not doing that, you can find him listening to some of his favorite music artists like jazz vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway.

Mark is a member of NAfME: The National Association for Music Education, PMEA: The Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association, NAMM: The International Music Products Association, NAMM Young Professionals board member, the International Society for Music Education, Americans for the Arts, The SupportMusic Coalition, a member of the board of directors of Tournament of Bands: Chapter Eight and served on 2006 and 2008 Subcommittees to the NAMM Board of Directors.