Ben Marks

Ben Marks has been a music lover and former taper for a number of years. His favorite band, the Grateful Dead, opened the door to musical pathways including the Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule, Steve Kimock, Railroad Earth, Leftover Salmon, and a lifelong affinity for classic jazz. Similar to others, he pondered the power of harnessing the collective conscious of the audience for a greater good while attending the Benefit for the Rainforest at Madison Square Garden in 1988. Working locally with the Sierra Club and MarylandPIRG, he began his professional career with a simple notion: “Make a difference in all that you do in the world.” A graduate of Towson State University and the Pace University School of Law’s environmental program, he worked on legal and policy issues relating to clean water and renewable energy. He remembers the Eco-Saloon at the Wetlands in Lower Manhattan for its combination of great music and vibe of making a difference. Returning from New York to Baltimore in 2009, Ben lives a block from Camden Yards with his dog, Woody. He enjoys cooking, baseball, and traveling – Asheville and NOLA are his new favorite cities. He currently consults on matters as broad as data management and business development in the natural foods industry.