The Weinert Center of Entrepreneurship is proud to announce the induction of Mark Meester into our esteemed Hall of Fame. Mark, managing member of Meester Capital, LLC, graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree double majoring in Accounting and Finance from the Wisconsin School of Business in 1985. Following his CPA certification, Mark began his early career as an auditor at Arthur Young (now known as Ernst & Young), where he collaborated with numerous high-tech and biotech firms. Subsequently, his involvement with a client led to his work with PowderJect, a vaccine carrier company. Eventually he ended up in Princeton, NJ working for Pharmasset as the Chief Administrative Officer from 2005 until it was purchased by Gilead in January of 2012 for $11 billion.
Throughout his diverse corporate journey, Mark remained committed to Madison and the UW. Upon his return in 2012, he immediately started giving back. “I am so grateful for what the Wisconsin School of Business has done for me and for so many other people. It gave me the foundation that I needed, and I want to stay involved as much as I possibly can and give back. Since 2012, he has served on the WAVE Advisory Board, lending his expertise and passion to entrepreneurship on campus. Beyond his corporate endeavors, Mark never anticipated becoming an entrepreneur. Reflecting on his career, he shares, “When working in the corporate world… I always tended to go towards the smaller startups. The innovative and the risky. That’s what I most like about entrepreneurial organizations, especially if you’re in management, you get to help set the corporate culture.” Mark’s influence on campus extends to his advocacy for entrepreneurship among the students, emphasizing the importance of pursuing passion over profit even in the corporate industry.
Today, Mark’s entrepreneurial spirit thrives through Meester Capital, his family’s startup and real estate investment firm and through his purchase of Wrecktify, an auto body shop, that allows him to enjoy his passion for cars as well as mentor his younger business partner. Mark loves to challenge and diversify his interests and remains committed to growing as an entrepreneur.
Congratulations on your induction into the Weinert Center Hall of Fame!
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