Mark Mank Named MDE Employee of the Year
Mark Mank, a state employee of 12 years who played a key role in MDE’s efforts to provide risk analysis for a variety of organization-wide programs, has been named the agency’s Employee of the Year.
“Any success I’ve had over the last 13 years I’ve spent at the Maryland Department of the Environment working on many of the most highly contaminated and interesting sites, could not have been achieved without the dedication of the agencies with which I work and the support of my coworkers,” Mank said.
Mank, a Geologist Supervisor in the Land Restoration Program, was honored as the agency’s Employee of the Year for his role in conducting and reviewing human health and ecological risk assessments that support the evaluation and proper cleanup of contaminated sites. His activities -- and the efforts of those he supports -- have led to the assessment and cleanup of numerous sites across the state.
In presenting the award, MDE Secretary Robert M. Summers said Mank is recognized throughout the Department as a devoted employee whose persistence in even the most difficult of cases has contributed largely to his value as an essential team member.
“Mark has tackled some of MDE’s most difficult site contamination cases with a commendable attitude and wide-range of knowledge that have only increased over his 13 years on the job," Secretary Summers said. "We are grateful for his contribution to the overall success of MDE as an organization and excited to be able to highlight his achievements.”
Mank received his Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Delaware and his Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Sciences from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining MDE in 2000, Mank worked for a private consultant overseeing biological testing facilities that assessed the toxicity and efficacy of a wide range of regulated chemicals and biological agents. At MDE, he has served as the toxicologist for the Land Restoration Program, section head in the Voluntary Cleanup Division and operator of the Land Management Administration’s analytical chemistry support laboratory.
Mank now uses the knowledge he has gained over the years to provide well-informed and timely consultation crucial to decision-making in various compliance and clean-up cases where pristine conditions may be impossible to achieve, but are necessary in order to protect human health and the environment. In November 2011, Mank was recognized by the Land Management Administration for his outstanding performance in providing Budget 101 training to LMA staff.
Mank currently consults on a variety of sites overseen by LMA as well as on various projects with other MDE Administrations where he serves as a subject matter expert in the fields of toxicology, chemistry and site assessment. Mank is also responsible for the development of MDE’s Soil and Groundwater Cleanup Standards as well as the review and evaluation of Risk-Based Criteria for controlled hazardous substances.
Mank was one of four finalists for the MDE’s Employee of the Year award. The others were:
- Abdulrahman Mohammed, an engineer in the Air and Radiation Management Administration whose efforts in Greenhouse Gas Policy as the only inventory engineer resulted in fulfillment of the legal mandate to produce and publish a 2011 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for all source sectors as well as providing technical support for Greenhouse Gas Policy Initiatives under development.
- Jay Prager, a member of the Wastewater Permits Program in the Water Management Administration for his efforts to provide detailed guidance and recommendations to the Program, the WMA Director, and the Office of the Secretary regarding critical and essential legislation and related issues with regard to septic systems and their nutrient impacts on the Chesapeake Bay
- Kathi Russell of the Office of the Secretary for her ideas in reinvigorating, expanding, and managing MDE's Brown Bag Lunch program by arranging approximately 15 lunches to date in 2012.
- Paul Emmart, a member of the Water Quality Protection and Restoration Program whose efforts have ensured that key resources are being directed to State programs within MDE and the Maryland Department of Agriculture that are central to Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay restoration success.
- Elaine Nolen of the Operational Services Administration for her work in making this year’s Maryland Charity Campaign a success.
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