Mark Wylea Erwin
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Mark Erwin (born 30 March 1944, Coral Gables, Florida) is a former U.S. ambassador and the President of Erwin Capital, Inc., a family-owned investment company located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Career
During the Clinton Administration Erwin served in two positions. In 1997, President Clinton appointed him to the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. This organization promotes the foreign policy of the United States through the State Department.
From 1999-2001 Erwin served as United States Ambassador to the Republic of Mauritius, the Republic of the Seychelles and the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros.
Currently, Erwin is an author, businessman, banker, lay minister, husband, father and grandfather. He lives and writes in Charlotte, North Carolina. His books include An Unlikely Journey - Make a Difference. Do Good. Have Fun, Life's Lessons: Lines of Wisdom from a Faithful Stream, and The Practical Ambassador. He also wrote a collection of "For the Journey" books, including Faith For the Journey, Collected Wisdom For the Journey, and Humor For the Journey. He is represented by Avenir Press, LLC, where he also writes a blog.
Over the years, Erwin has been active in civic affairs and has served on the boards of over thirty civic, charitable, and educational organizations. Erwin was an Adjunct Professor at the Business School of Winthrop University for several years and has guest lectured at many schools and universities.
He received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Winthrop University in 1994. In 2000 Erwin received the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine” from the Governor of North Carolina. This is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state. In 2007 Erwin was ordained as a Minister of the Methodist Church.
Erwin studied real estate at the University of Tennessee and in 1969, became a real estate administrator for United Parcel Service. He served four years of active duty in the United States Air Force, and two years on inactive reserve status.
Currently Erwin serves on the Board of Directors of NewDominion Bank, Chairman The Avenir Foundation, Chairman Emeritus, Board of Trustees of The Echo Foundation, the Board of Advisors of The African Presidential Archives and Research Center at Boston University, the Board Trustees of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the Lynnwood Foundation Board.
Personal
He and his wife, Joan, maintain a residence in Charlotte, North Carolina. They have two daughters, Jennifer and Melissa and three granddaughters, Della, Lila and Virginia.