Mark Kohoot
About this Executive:
Name:
Mark Kohoot
Company:
ViaSat-ECC
Interview Topics:
Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Region:
Region 8 - Northeast Ohio
ViaSat-ECC, located in Cleveland, Ohio, develops innovative satellite and wireless technology for advanced broadband satellite and specialized military communications systems. ViaSat-ECC offers design and development services for some of the most advanced satellite, optical and tactical communication networks, in both the commercial and government sectors. In addition to advanced system and modem design, ViaSat-ECC is a fabless semiconductor design center that delivers advanced application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC).
The ViaSat-ECC division was formed when Efficient Channel Coding Inc. was acquired by ViaSat in 2005 to act as the ViaSat ASIC Design Center of Excellence. ViaSat-ECC digital design capabilities are enhanced by partnerships with Xilinx and Altera, the leaders in the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) industry. An FPGA is a semiconductor device that can be configured by the customer or designer for advanced digital processing.
ViaSat-ECC was founded with the goal of developing, manufacturing and marketing advanced communications products and services. Employees include system engineers, digital design engineers, software engineers and ASIC support engineers with a range of experience in designing ASICs for high-speed modems. ViaSat has received national recognition for its record of growth, including three years of recognition on the Inc. 500 list of private companies, BusinessWeek "100 Best Small Corporations" and Forbes "200 Best Small Companies in America."
Mark Kohoot joined ViaSat-ECC in late 2008 as senior director of marketing and business development. Previously he was with Eastman Kodak of Rochester, New York, responsible for restructuring the channel strategy of Kodak's $1.3 billion Consumer Digital group.
As an entrepreneur, Mark founded the Cleveland-based American World Trade in 2002 to manage exports for a variety of U.S. manufacturing companies. He also is the founder of DataFortress, the first fire-and water-resistant home data storage system, later acquired by Schwab Corp.
With significant international experience, Mark speaks several languages fluently. He and his family spent six years in the Netherlands during a series of pan-European leadership roles for AT&T and Lucent Technologies. His international experience is deep, with several years spent as the executive director of the French American Chamber of Commerce, a degree in international business from The Ohio State University, and graduate studies in marketing at the Ecole Superieure de Commerce (now Audencia) in Nantes, France.
Married with a son, Mark lives in Cleveland Heights and is involved in a variety of charitable causes for the arts and education. He enjoys the arts, outdoor activities, metalworking and woodworking, and studies on the evolution of science. Community activities include volunteering at University School, Project Learn literacy for children and Santa's Hideaway. He is also a member of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art and the French American Chamber of Commerce.
Q: What are the top three things that Ohio uniquely offers that you feel have helped make your business successful?
A: First, the outstanding value of Ohio's cost of living allows our employees to enjoy a lifestyle that could not be achieved in Silicon Valley at twice the salary, and makes the pricing of our services more competitive. Second, the abundance of quality universities in Ohio provides an excellent labor pool and opportunities to collaborate on leading-edge technologies. Third, the truly supportive efforts of our legislators and the Ohio Department of Development who have made every effort to help us grow and prosper in Ohio.
Q: What alliances have you created with Ohio academic institutions that have served your business well?
A: ViaSat-ECC was founded by local entrepreneurs with strong ties and advanced degrees from local universities, and aided by a strong relationship with NASA Glenn Research Center that continues to be a great source of internships and engineering talent for us. Recently, we began collaboration with the Wright Center for Sensor Systems Engineering at Cleveland State University, where our integrated circuit design is complementary to its mission, in addition to opening new potential markets for us. Personally, whenever I have had the opportunity, I have enjoyed being a guest lecturer on international business at Cleveland State University.
Q: The Ohio Promise is that you can achieve professional success within the context of a fulfilling life. Based on your experience, how authentic is the promise?
A: The promise is very authentic. I think that it is safe to say that every type of business is represented in Ohio, so no matter what one's career goals are, they can be achieved at the highest levels of professionalism. And, we at ViaSat-ECC know that the highest of high-tech businesses can be started, nourished and flourish in Ohio. When you add that to the overall quality of life, lower commuting times, lower cost of living and access to outstanding educational resources, it is clear that professional growth is made easier in Ohio.
I was born and raised in Ohio and graduated from Ohio State, which gave me the exposure to the wider world. That led to graduate studies in France and Fortune 500 employment in Europe for more than six years. With many doors open, at decision time, my family and I chose to return to Northeast Ohio for my son's education, the arts and the overall quality of life.
Q: Thinking of people you know, share a story of somebody in Ohio who, in your opinion, has excelled in achieving both their professional and personal aspirations?
A: Russell Fuerst, ViaSat-ECC vice president and general manager, has a typical Northeast Ohio "boomerang" profile. He was born and raised in Cleveland, attending Case Western Reserve as an undergrad before getting his doctoral degree at the School of Optics at the University of Central Florida. From there, he learned some strong technical and business lessons from several high-tech companies and start-ups before returning to Cleveland to apply those lessons learned to founding and growing ECC. Here he is able to retain contact with his family and lifelong friends, while still maintaining a challenging and fulfilling career in a high tech industry that he has been educated and trained to thrive in. A balanced life means not having to compromise in any aspect, and Ohio provides the ability to eliminate the compromises on both the personal and professional sides.
Q: What business benefits do you feel your business realizes from having employees who achieve a positive work/life balance?
A: A happy and well-adjusted employee is a productive employee. Additional hours spent in the office end up with a diminishing return, particularly when a technological hurdle needs to be overcome. Technology often depends on "eureka" moments for advancements, and those sorts of moments can happen anywhere, at anytime. Furthermore, nothing can burden creative thought as much as knowing that a family member needs care, or some other issue that will distract from the task at hand. Our ability to offer employee remote access or 24-hour office access is a large part of attracting the talent we need to excel.
Because people are our most important resource, we do our best to accommodate. Some staff arrive early so that they can leave to be on time to collect their young ones from school. Others have flex-time so that they can earn another degree. We also have many people volunteering for a variety of public service and charity works, and we are happy to support these important "give-backs" to the community that help us prosper.
Q: If an executive from your industry was evaluating Ohio as a location for capital investment, what are the top three industry-specific assets you recommend exposure to?
A: First, Ohio is an excellent hub for logistical purposes. We are strategically located within reach of most North American population centers overnight, and we have excellent highways, air, rail and shipping infrastructure that permit just-in-time practices as well as delivery. Second, talent and innovation from Ohio's workforce: No matter the needs, from blue collar to white collar to PhD's, they are available in Ohio. And in addition to the educational variety, the Midwestern ethics of smart work, initiative and integrity assure good workers. Third, Ohio's technology hubs and related infrastructure: There is too much to mention, but NASA Glenn, Wright-Patterson AFB, the state's research universities, Battelle, Cleveland Clinic Innovation Center, the fiber network of One Community and OARNet are among the good examples of the high-technology infrastructure that is in place and waiting to be used. Few regions in the world can boast this level of technological innovation and support.
Q: Trailing spouses need to be comfortable that relocating their family to Ohio is a good thing. What should a trailing spouse consider when evaluating Ohio?
A: A trailing spouse should know that Ohio offers so many opportunities. Ohio is a great place to raise a family. The excellent quality of schools, the value and variety of housing, the outstanding healthcare, and the friendliness of neighbors all contribute to that. But it is the depth of the community that really lets a spouse get comfortable. World class arts, plentiful continuing educational opportunities, beautiful parks, professional sports, great dining and all the things one would expect in a major city are very accessible. And, our foundations and charities are unique, offering many opportunities for volunteerism for any interest. My wife Andrea and I consider Cleveland as a place with mid-Western ethics and sensibilities along with a very sophisticated and cosmopolitan social scene.
Q: What is the most unique thing you have discovered about Ohio that you share with others?
A: With such a variety to offer, and being unable to live without the famous West Side Market of Cleveland, this is the most difficult of all your questions. But as far as unique, I must say the Cuyahoga River Valley, Ohio's only National Park, is one of the most "quiet" assets despite being one of the most used recreation centers in the country. Our headquarters is located only steps from the vast parkland, and at the same time, only minutes from downtown Cleveland. The value of having a walk in nature or a quick bike ride at lunch time is hard to beat when one can clear one's head, think in quiet, have a breath of fresh air and take a moment to be thankful for where you have the privilege of living.