BIOGRAPHY OF JACK MARKELL

Jack Markell was re-elected to his third term as State Treasurer in November 2006. He is recognized in Delaware and across the country as a leader in promoting policies to help all people achieve their economic potential. He has also won a number of awards for his innovations in making government more effective.

Financial education has been a cornerstone of Mr. Markell's vision as State Treasurer. The Delaware Money School, which he created, offers free classes to Delawareans throughout the year on topics such as saving for college and retirement planning. More than 10,000 Delawareans have attended Money School classes since its inception. His office has also hosted conferences for thousands of Delawareans on money management and fiscal responsibility.

Delaware's children also need financial skills to succeed, and the Delaware Bank At School Program takes banks and financial education to schools. Mr. Markell has partnered with the University of Delaware Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship and leading Delaware banks, to teach young children the basics of money and savings. Schools in all three counties have "branch offices" in their schools where thousands of students keep accounts - hands-on financial experience that will pay off down the road.

In December 2002, the Council of State Governments named Delaware Financial Literacy Initiatives one of the national winners in its innovation awards program. The Delaware Financial Literacy Initiatives, chosen as one of the top state government programs in the country, competed with more than 140 applications from governments across the country. The CSG Innovations Award brings visibility to exemplary state programs and helps share these ideas with other state leaders. The program is the only comprehensive, national award that focuses exclusively on state initiatives. State leaders evaluate applicants and choose winners based on a variety of criteria, including creativity, effectiveness, and the program's applicability to its region's needs and to other states.

In 2004, the Council of State Governments awarded another of Mr. Markell's initiatives with still one more Innovation Award. "Health Rewards" offers Delaware state government employees with comprehensive physical assessments, detailed statistics about how their health compares with their peers across the country and recommendations about how they can improve their health.

This pilot program is expected to improve employee health and reduce the cost of their health care.

For several years, Mr. Markell has helped lead a campaign, sponsored by the Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation, to promote awareness of the federal earned income tax credit. In 2005, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) campaign brought more than $11 million into the pockets of over 8,000 working Delawareans.

In 2002, Mr. Markell helped cut government waste by leading an effort to streamline and coordinate the procurement of goods and services while using state of the art purchasing techniques. This effort is saving the state approximately $6 million each year. The Pioneer Institute recognized Mr. Markell and Secretary of Administrative Services Gloria Homer with an award in their "Better Government Competition".

In 2001, Governor Ruth Ann Minner chose Mr. Markell to chair the Information Services Task Force, which developed recommendations (which have since been implemented) to revamp the state's management of information technology and to achieve a higher return on the state's $190 million in technology spending.

Since 1999, Mr. Markell has been chairman of the Delaware College Investment Plan and has overseen a huge increase in plan assets to more than $225 million and in accounts to more than 20,000.

Within the Treasurer's office, Mr. Markell has led his staff through a series of reforms, including significant changes in payment policy (relying on fewer checks and more on payments through electronic technologies). Working with the General Assembly, Mr. Markell also helped state employees secure a first ever state "match" on contributions to the deferred compensation plan.

At the 2000 Democratic National Convention, Mr. Markell was selected by the Democratic Leadership Council as one of the 100 "rising stars" of the Party. That same month New Democrat Magazine spotlighted him in a group of just ten innovative leaders from around the country under the age of 40. In October 2001, Philly Tech Magazine named Mr. Markell as the only Delawarean and the only government official on its list of the ten most influential technology leaders in the Philadelphia region.

Mr. Markell, 47, is a native of Newark, Delaware and a graduate of Newark High School. He graduated from Brown University with degrees in economics and development studies and from the University of Chicago with an MBA.

Mr. Markell entered politics after a successful career in the private sector. He helped lead the wireless technology revolution at Nextel, which he joined as the 13th employee and where he served as Senior Vice President for Corporate Development. He was responsible for coming up with the name "Nextel". His other work experiences included a senior management position at Comcast Corporation as well as posts as a consultant at McKinsey and Company, Inc. and as a banker at First Chicago Corporation.

Mr. Markell's wife, Carla, is also a native of Newark. They were Newark High School classmates. After graduating from the University of Delaware, Carla was a corporate trainer in the areas of career development and substance abuse issues in the workplace. She is now at home with their two children, Molly and Michael.

NOTE: You might need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and/or print the Task Force Report. If you do not have Acrobat, please click on the image to the left to download it for FREE.

Last Updated: Tuesday, 18-Dec-2007 15:18:47 EST