Mark Ellison

A native Texan, Mr. Ellison has spent the majority of his career in the service of Texas.  Mr. Ellison grew up on a cattle ranch in Central Texas, a beginning which adds personal experience and understanding of the agricultural, infrastructure and environmental issues in which he works.

As Regional Director for Business Development for IDE Technologies, Mr. Ellison is responsible for business development and customer relations in Texas.  IDE Technologies is a global leader in seawater desalination and other water treatment technologies. The company has completed over 400 projects in more than 40 countries over the last 50 years.

As Manager of Strategic Water Initiatives for Texas Governor Rick Perry Mr. Ellison worked with communities, industries and local, state and federal agencies on water related projects that have a strategic impact on the Texas economy.  These projects include siting of water intensive industries and the water infrastructure needed to serve those industries and surrounding communities.  He worked to assure that municipal and private water utilities are part of the state’s overall economic development effort to provide water not only for newly recruited companies but also those companies already present in Texas.

Mr. Ellison has extensive international experience having lived in Casablanca, Morocco to launch marketing and site visits to African countries, while working for the US Wheat Associates and has participated in multiple international trade missions.

Ellison also works with the water technology sector in Texas to help bring their know-how to the marketplace and to further develop the next generation of water technologies.  He also works to recruit water infrastructure and technology companies to the state.

Ellison previously served as Special Advisor for Economic Development at the Texas Water Development Board; Director of Corporate Relations at The Texas A&M Energy Institute; Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic Development at the Texas A&M University System; Director of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund; Director of Employer Initiatives at the Texas Workforce Commission; and Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture at the Texas Department of Agriculture.  He has also worked in the private sector in the areas of agricultural technology investment banking, international trade policy and international market development.

Mr. Ellison received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University in 1980.

Mark still enjoys ranching and maintains a small ranch near Rosebud where his family has lived since the 1870s. He enjoys international travel, history, hiking and cooking.