An alumnus of American University in Washington, Mark Knouse earned recognition on the Dean’s List while acquiring a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Five years later, Mark Knouse relocated to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he worked as Chief of Staff for Lieutenant Governor William W. Scranton III. Mark Knouse gleaned an in-depth understanding of the position during his tenure and assumed a similar role for the Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation in 1980. Serving in Washington, Mark Knouse obtained firsthand experience in federal government processes. From 1983 to 2001, he drew on his knowledge of legislative affairs to lead public policy and government relations for a pair of prominent companies: BAT Industries and the Union Pacific Corporation. While contributing to these sizeable firms, Mark Knouse procured federal funding and orchestrated large-scale public relations campaigns, creating opportunities for prolonged growth. Mark Knouse continued to aid the private sector as the Vice President of Government Relations for the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, where he developed a plan to attract federal funding to the region. Mark Knouse returned to the public sector in 2004 after receiving a nomination from U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao to the post of Executive Director for the Secretariat of the Commission for Labor Cooperation. Upon receiving confirmation from the ministers of labor for Mexico and Canada, Mark Knouse assumed control of a multimillion dollar annual budget and directed a multinational team responsible for researching workforce issues in North America. In 2006, Mark Knouse turned his legislative prowess to nonprofit and for-profit clients as a Government Affairs Consultant. Working from Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mark Knouse focuses his efforts on issues related to the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Defense, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, as well as the government of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.