Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae
Mark D. Apodaca
1911 Camino Lumbre
Santa Fe, NM 87505
1911 Camino Lumbre
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: (505) 216-2051 (W)
Email: Mark@finlion.com
Phone: (505) 216-2051 (W)
Email: Mark@finlion.com
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
Mark Apodaca has more than 46 years ofexperience in the accounting and finance fields and has
worked in corporate (Hughes Aircraft Company), nonprofit (GLAD and CSD), and
governmental (NMSD) sectors, as well as higher education (UCLA). He is perhaps the only Deaf
financial professional to serve in all four sectors. He is a graduate ofGolden West College,
Pepperdine University, and UCLA. He also studied government accounting and auditing at
Texas Tech and procurement atNew Mexico State University. A strong believer in community
service, since 1983, he has served on at least 25 national, state, and local nonprofit organization
boards. In 2002, he was awarded the Golden West College Pillar ofAchievement Award.
Mark Apodaca has more than 46 years of experience in the accounting and finance fields and has
worked in corporate (Hughes Aircraft Company), nonprofit (GLAD and CSD), and
governmental (NMSD) sectors, as well as higher education (UCLA). He is perhaps the only Deaf
financial professional to serve in all four sectors. He is a graduate of Golden West College,
Pepperdine University, and UCLA. He also studied government accounting and auditing at
Texas Tech and procurement at New Mexico State University. A strong believer in community
service, since 1983, he has served on at least 25 national, state, and local nonprofit organization
boards. In 2002, he was awarded the Golden West College Pillar of Achievement Award.
Mark D. Apodaca
©Mark Apodaca 2024
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY
Master of Business Administration
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA
1981-1983
Hispanics and Latinx accounted for a mere two percent of all bachelor’s and master’s degrees granted to
students in the United States during the early 1980s. Completed degree in less than two years.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA
1977-1978
Received the President’s Award in 1977 while studying at the Malibu campus, transferred to the Los
Angeles campus during the beginning of full-time employment at Hughes Aircraft Company.
California State University, Northridge
Northridge, CA
1975-1976
Worked towards Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. Attended CSUN for three
semesters and one summer session before transferring to Pepperdine University.
Associate in Arts in Accounting
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA
1972-1975
Dean’s List 1972, 1973 and 1975, winner of the Southern California Edison Career Development
Scholarship where he was one of the 12 winners selected from a large number of community college
students (78 candidates from 39 community colleges) planning to transfer to four-year colleges to
continue their studies in engineering or business administration.
Certificate in Accounting
University of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
2009-2011
Recognized by employers throughout Los Angeles and beyond, UCLA Extension's Accounting
Certificate equips candidates with a thorough understanding of accounting standards and
principles. Decided to re-study accountancy due to changes in the profession and additional courses of
study, such as forensic accounting and internal auditing. Completed 42 units.
Certificate in Government Contract Management
University of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
1989-1991
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
The Contract Management Certificate is a program for experienced contract managers in both the public
and private sectors. In addition, the certificate is recognized by the National Contract Management
Association (NCMA). Completed 32 units.
Certificate in Government Accounting and Auditing
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Certificate in New Mexico Public Purchasing and Procurement
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM
Certificate in New Mexico Advanced Public Purchasing and
Procurement
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM
Other Course Work:
Corporate Finance
University of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
2013-Present
Coursework: Principles of Corporate Finance, Corporate Budgeting, Financial Statement
Analysis, Money, Banking and Financial Markets, and Ethics in Finance. Completed 16 units.
Nonprofit Organization Management, Financial Planning, Fundraising,
Grant Writing, Developing Boards and Volunteers, and Strategic Planning
University of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Personal Financial Planning
University of California at Irvine
Irvine, CA
2007
2018
2018
1991-1993
2018
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Chief Financial Officer
TDI for Access, Inc. (Telecommunications for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.
Wilmington, DE
2023 -
Nonprofit organization provides leadership in achieving equal access to telecommunications,
media, and information technologies for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.
Chief Financial Officer
Global Technical Communications, LLC
Sioux Falls, SD
2022 -
Global Technical Communications, LLC is a new startup company currently involved with the
ASL Anywhere app. Appointed CFO in November 2022 and responsible for the
implementation of the accounting management system and contracts.
Director of Finance/Chief Procurement Officer
New Mexico School for the Deaf
Santa Fe, NM
2006-2024
Responsible for the school's $20M budget. $63M in net assets, and $6.5M in investments. Oversees
Finance, Information Technology, and Theater Operations. Finance functions include internal auditing,
treasury management, investment management, financial statement analysis, budget development,
accounting functions, and working with CPA firms during NMSD's annual financial audit.
As Chief Procurement Officer directs and coordinates all aspects of NMSD's Procurement, Accounts
Payable, and NMSD Services functions. Develops policies, procedures, and objectives for the school's
purchasing program in accordance with state and federal procurement codes and guidelines, and school
policy. Acts as the procurement officer for the institution.
Since 2006, NMSD’s financial audits have been conducted by three different CPA firms and the New
Mexico Office of the State Auditor. The school received 16 unmodified opinions and one modified
opinion. The last 16 fiscal years were straight, unmodified opinions.
Director of Finance
Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc. (CSD)
Sioux Falls, SD
Milestones during employment at CSD:
1999 Named Division Director of CSD of Georgia, a subdivision of CSD, the largest Deaf operated
nonprofit organization in the nation. Subdivision through its 28 staff members was
responsible for providing work literacy, job training, and independent living skills to Deaf
© Mark Apodaca 2024
1999-2006

Curriculum Vitae
and Blind individuals throughout the state of Georgia. Wrote proposal and granted a $500K
contract with the Georgia Division of Rehabilitation Services.
2001 Named Assistant Vice President of Programs responsible for CSD subdivisions in Texas,
Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
2001 CSD of Texas won human service contracts from the Texas Commission of the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing to establish an office in Lubbock, Waco, and to expand services in Austin.
CSD assumed operations from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resources Center of San
Antonio to form CSD of Texas – San Antonio.
2002 CSD of Oklahoma won a $700,000 grant from the United States Department of Justice to
provide domestic violence prevention programs for the deaf and hard of hearing in Tulsa and
Oklahoma City.
2002 Becomes Assistant Vice President of CSD Finance. Section responsible for budgeting,
estimating, forecasting, and financial management.
2002 CSDVRS launched. Part of the Video Relay Service six-month core development team.
Helped develop and implement automated statistical reports associated with all VRS centers.
CSDVRS became a $50M revenue department within CSD.
2004 Appointed Regional Director of National Programs reporting to Dr. Robert Davila.
Responsible for human services at CSD of South Dakota, Iowa, Maryland, and North Dakota
and VRS marketing within Maryland, Washington DC, New York, and Florida. Dr. Davila
would later become President of Gallaudet University.
2004 Participated in a 5K run to raise funds for sending two middle school students to CSD’s
Camp Lakota Youth Leadership Training. Learned later that both students were from
NMSD. Raised about $2,000.
2004 Returned to CSD Finance responsible for budgeting and forecasting.
2005 Internal Auditor
Chief Executive Officer
Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD)
Los Angeles, CA
1998-1999
Milestones while CEO of GLAD
1998 Named Chief Executive Officer of GLAD ($3.5M yearly budget). GLAD employed 79 and
was a combination of seven nonprofit organizations which included Center on Deafness
Inland Empire, Orange County Deaf Equal Access Foundation, Tri-Counties (Ventura, San
Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara), LifeSigns Interpreting, Center on Deafness Access in North
America (property management), and Deafness Affordable Housing Corporation (HUD).
GLAD moved into its new Deaf Cultural Center in Eagle Rock just a month after becoming
CEO.
1999 Leaves GLAD after 8 months as CEO.
Instrumental in securing $1.74 million in funding
($636K augmentation to $1.6M yearly contract with the California Department of Social
Services, new $600K three-year contract from the California Department of Health Services,
$350K one-year continuance contract with the California Employment Development
Department, and doubling a $150K Ralph Pearson Foundation grant), increasing revenues by
30% from the previous fiscal year, nearly doubling interpreting revenues from previous fiscal
year ($700K to $1.3M), improving staff morale to an all-time high, and renewed community
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
involvement. GLAD also became the first agency to pilot the VRS system. Also, along with
a few staff, participated in a 10K run to raise at least $5,000 for GLAD.
Director of Finance
Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness
Los Angeles, CA
Milestones while Director of Finance
1993 As Director of Finance until 1998, was instrumental in bringing GLAD up to par with
technology, implementing accounting control systems, developing and implementing
financial reports and budgets. Also involved with the process of the purchasing and
construction of the Deaf Cultural Center in Eagle Rock. Secretly, Mark renegotiated with
two Vice Presidents of Wells Fargo to secure funding for construction after learning that the
bank decided not to fund the project.
1996 Represented TRI-GLAD at California Coalition of Agencies Serving the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing (CCASDHH). Was involved with the Telephone Relay Service request for proposal
four-person team partnering with MCI. Responsible for the finance part. MCI-CCASDHH
beat out Sprint-CSD to win the contract with the lowest bid. Relay America! was formed.
Set up an investment portfolio with Smith Barney and by the end of 1999, the portfolio had a
balance of at least $300K.
1996 Certificate of Completion, Leadership and Technology Management Training Program,
California State University, Northridge.
1998 Appointed to the Los Angeles County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies – Metro
Los Angeles Call Box System Commission, which was responsible for the implementation
process of the yellow call boxes throughout Los Angeles County freeways.
Head of Finance
Hughes Aircraft Company
El Segundo, CA
Milestones while employed at Hughes Aircraft Company
1978 Started employment with Hughes Aircraft Company as an Accounting Assistant (February
21).
1978 Promoted to Accountant I (August). Involved with Quality Circles, which was founded by
Dr. Edwards Deming.
1980 Received Hughes Aircraft Company Radar Systems Group Outstanding Achievement Award
1982 Promoted to Accountant II
1983 Promoted to Accounting Senior after receiving MBA from Pepperdine University.
1983 Long before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed by Congress, helped Hughes
implement special services for the Deaf where TTYs (telephone devices for the deaf) were
installed in several office buildings and interpreters were provided to Deaf employees within
Radar Systems Group.
1983 Promoted to Supervisor of Accounting I responsible for one finance division and 3
employees.
1984 Received Certification of Appreciation in recognition of perfect attendance.
1984 Assigned second finance division and two additional employees.
© Mark Apodaca 2024
1993-1998
1978-1993

Curriculum Vitae
1985 Promoted to Supervisor of Accounting II responsible for three finance divisions and 12
employees. Divisions covered material accounting, inventory control, and scrap, repair, and
rework functions for the F-14, F-15, F/A-18, F-22, and B-2 radar programs.
1986 Staff member received the Chairman of the Board Corporate Superior Achievement Award,
the highest award in the company.
1987 Promoted to Head of Finance responsible for three divisions and 25 employees. Became the
second known deaf individual in the nation to hold a managerial position in corporate
America where a company did not sell deafness-related products and services.
1987 Received Hughes Aircraft Company Group Achievement Award.
1989 Second staff member receives the Chairman of the Board Corporate Superior Achievement
Award. The staff member was African American.
1992 In a joint effort with Hughes’ Management Information Systems Department, developed and
implemented two financial management systems, which would result in $530,000 in yearly
cost savings to the group and $4.7M when eight other company-wide groups implemented the
system. Received a number of performance improvement and cost improvement certificates
during 15 years with the company.
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
OTHER PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Founder and President
FINLION, Inc., FINLION Consulting Group, LLC, FINLION Accounting and Income
Tax Service, LLC
Santa Fe, NM
1978-Present
FINLION, Inc. is an S Corporation founded in 1999. It was originally an income tax service entity.
When the request for consulting services became more frequent, it was determined to form FINLION
Consulting Group and FINLION Accounting and Income Tax Services as separate entities and serve
as subsidiaries of FINLION.
FINLION Consulting Group, LLC is a consulting firm specializing in entrepreneurship and nonprofit
organizations. The firm helps individuals develop business and marketing plans, implement
QuickBooks or Sage accounting systems, develop business and financial models, financial reports, and
board governance training. In addition, the firm serves as a registered agent to businesses, corporations,
LLCs, and nonprofit organizations when articles of incorporation and articles of organization (LLC) are
filed and approved by the New Mexico Office of the Secretary of State. The firm had helped form at
least 15 national, state, and local nonprofit organizations.
FINLION Accounting and Income Tax Service, LLC offers accounting, bookkeeping, and income tax
services.
Founder and President
Mark Apodaca, Parliamentarian, LLC
Santa Fe, NM
2015-Present
Registered Parliamentarian (2018). Provides parliamentary services to associations and organizations
including parliamentary training and workshops, board training, bylaws development, and advising the
chairperson or president of organizations while running board and business meetings. Member of the
National Association of Parliamentarians, American Institute of Parliamentarians, and New Mexico State
Association of Parliamentarians. Also, a member of eNAP, an electronic unit of the NAP®. In
September 2018, became a Registered Parliamentarian after passing the five-part exam in three months
and became a candidate for the Professional Registered Parliamentarian credential.
Professional Registered Parliamentarian (2019). Granted the Professional Registered Parliamentarian
credential after completing training in Las Vegas, Nevada in July 2019 and approval by the NAP®
Development Committee in October 2019. Became the first deaf parliamentarian to ever receive the
credential by NAP® since its founding in 1930.
Treasurer – Land of Enchantment Parliamentary Unit
Treasurer – New Mexico State Association of Parliamentarians
Secretary – Land of Enchantment Parliamentary Unit
2021 - Present
2019 – Present
2022 - Present
Candidate for Treasurer of the National Association of Parliamentarians (2021)
Conference Parliamentarian:
National Association of the Deaf Conference – 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
Louisiana Association of the Deaf Conference – 2019, 2023
ASL Teachers Association Conference – 2019, 2021, 2023
Conference of Interpreter Trainers Conference – 2020, 2022, 2024
Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters Conference – 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens Conference - 2021
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Conference 2022, 2023
Texas Association of the Deaf Conference - 2021
National Black Deaf Advocates Conference - 2021
California Association of the Deaf Conference – 2021, 2022
Virginia Association of the Deaf Annual Meeting – 2022
West Virginia Association of the Deaf – 2023
Georgia Association of the Deaf - 2023
Board Meeting Parliamentarian
Louisiana Association of the Deaf – 2019 - Present
Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens -2021 - Present
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf – 2021, 2022
Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf – 2021, 2022
American Society for Deaf Children - 2021
Deaf Counseling Advocacy Referral Agency (DCARA) – 2021, 2022
Conference of Interpreter Trainers – 2022
Board, Finance, and Parliamentary Training:
South Dakota Association of the Deaf - 2019
Louisiana Association of the Deaf – 2019, 2023
ASL Teachers Association – 2020, 2023
Conference of Interpreter Trainers -2020
Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens – 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters - 2021
California Association of the Deaf – 2021, 2022
Deaf Community of California (education program by CAD) - 2021
DCARA 2021 (2), 2022
Maryland Association of the Deaf - 2021
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf - 2021(2), 2022, 2023
Texas Association of the Deaf – 2021, 2023
National Black Deaf Advocates -2021
Washington State Association of the Deaf – 2021
Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services - 2022
Washington State Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf - 2022
Washington State Association of the Deaf – 2022
National-wide, Finance for Nonprofit Boards – 2022
West Virginia Association of the Deaf – 2023
Georgia Association of the Deaf – 2023
New Jersey Association of the Deaf - 2023
National Association of the Deaf National Leadership Training Conference – 2023
Fresno Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center – 2023
TDI for Access – 2023
Deaf Congress, organized by the Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, Inc. - 2023
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
Bylaws Consultant
Louisiana Association of the Deaf – 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens – 2020, 2021, 2022
California Association of the Deaf – 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
National Association of the Deaf – 2020, 2021, 2022
Virginia Association of the Deaf - 2022
DCARA – 2021, 2022
West Virginia Association of the Deaf – 2022, 2023
ASL Teachers Association – 2022
San Francisco Club for the Deaf – 2023
Los Angeles Club for the Deaf – 2024
Texas Association of the Deaf – 2024
Deaf Pickleball USA – 2024
ASL Instructors Network – 2024
Washington School for the Deaf Alumni Association – 2024
Alabama School for the Deaf Alumni Association – 2024
Founder and President
National Institute of Financial Literacy for the Deaf, Inc./DEAFinance, LLC
Santa Fe, NM
2015-Present
The National Institute of Financial Literacy for the Deaf, Inc. is a nonprofit organization specializing in
financial literacy for middle/high school students, adults, and senior citizens by providing training
workshops in the area of personal finance. Entered into a contract with CSD Learns in 2015 to serve as
a consultant during the production of videos covering investments and debt reduction. DEAFinance,
LLC provides presentations and workshops on all aspects of personal finance. (The organization’s
function has been put on hold until after retirement from NMSD in June 2024.)
Webinars and Workshops:
Bay Area Deaf Community, northern California, “Your Personal Finances”, “Estate Planning”, and
“Mortgages”, January 2019
National Technical Institute for the Deaf/Rochester Institute of Technology staff and students, and the
Rochester Community, Rochester, NY, “Your Personal Finances”, December 2019.
Deaf in Government, (1) “Managing Your Finances During a Time of Uncertainty” (2) “The Stimulus
Check – 7 Myths” and (3) “Thrift Savings Plan”, May 2020
Community Webinar – (1) “Understanding Your Personal Finances During COVID-19” (2) Preparing
Your Financial Future During a Pandemic”, June 2020
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Instructor of Accounting
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
1991-1993
Taught financial accounting to university students. During each class, ASL was used, and an
interpreter was provided for the hearing students. Hearing students were professionals from
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
investment banking, dentists and doctors with practices, foreign students, candidates for the
CPA exams, and entrepreneurs.
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
PRESENTATION ENGAGEMENTS
• Gallaudet University
Hispanic Heritage Month
One of the several presenters
• Georgia School for the Deaf
2000 Graduation Speaker
• Gallaudet University
“Education of a Hispanic/Latinx Deaf Professional”
• Fresno State University
“Parenting in Multicultural Families
PUBLICATIONS AND ARTICLES
Appeared in the GLAD News, “Profile of a Deaf Manager”
Appeared in Pepperdine Voice newspaper, “Deafness
doesn’t deter Apodaca from business career”.
Appeared in the Daily Breeze newspaper, “Louder than
Words” related to UCLA.
Appeared in Pepperdine Voice magazine,
“Breaking the Sound Barrier”
1998
2000
2015
2024
1985
1987
1991
2004
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BOARD SERVICE
• Pennsylvania School for the Deaf – Treasurer, Chairman (2023)
• AccesSOS – Board Member
• Santa Fe Parliamentary Unit – Secretary and Treasurer
• New Mexico Association of the Deaf - Vice President
• Deaf Bible Society - Director
• New Mexico Signed Language Interpreting Practices Board
• New Mexico State Association of Parliamentarians – Treasurer
• American Chess Association of the Deaf - Treasurer
• Lawrence R. Fleischer Deaf Sports Foundation – Director
• Council de Manos – Treasurer
• New Mexico Hispanic Council of the Deaf and HOH – Founder
• USA Deaf Sports Federation – Treasurer
• New Mexico Commission of the Deaf and HOH – Chair
• New Mexico Association of the Deaf – President
• Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce – Economic Development
• National Council of Hispano Deaf and Hard of Hearing – Director
• National Association of the Deaf – Vice President
• National Advisor Group – NTID/Rochester Institute of Technology
• National Association of the Deaf – Treasurer
• California Latino Council of the Deaf – Founder and President
• National Hispanic Council of the Deaf and HOH – Treasurer
• Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness – Chair
• GLAD Foundation – Chair
• California Association of the Deaf – Treasurer
• National Society of Hispanic MBAs – Core Founder
• So. California Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf- Treasurer
• National Deaf Christian Workshop Conference – Chair
National Association of the Deaf
After 116 years since its founding, became the first Hispanic/Latinx to serve on the Board of
Directors and as an Officer. In 1999, raised $2.5K for NAD when participated in 10K run.
As Vice President from 2004 to 2006, served as Chair of the Development Committee.
Raised over $180K. Served on the finance committee from 1996 to 2014.
National Society of Hispanic MBAs – Core Founder
Was a part of the 7-member core group led by Henry Hernandez, which led to the founding of the
National Society of Hispanic MBAs. The core group would spend the next 9 months developing the
organization. As of 2020, NSHMBAs has more than 25 thousand members, total assets of $1.5M and
its foundation has total assets of $7M in investments. (NSHMBA became Prospanica).
© Mark Apodaca 2024
2022-Present
2022-2023
2021-Present
2020-2022
2019-Present
2019-2022
2019-Present
2019-Present
2017-2020
2014-2016
2012
2010-2020
2007-2016
2007-2011
2007-2009
2005-2007
2004-2006
1998-2004
1996-2002
1996-2000
1992-1996
1991-1993
1991-1993
1990-1993
1988-1988
1983-1989
1979

Curriculum Vitae
New Mexico Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Appointed by New Mexico Governor Suzanna Martinez. In 2008, appointed by the board as
interim executive director as a volunteer for six months after the resignation of the executive
director.
National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)
Raised $45,000 in seed funds to establish the Farid Bozorgi Graphic Artist Scholarship in
1992. As of 2021, the endowment is at least $400K. Since its implementation, scholarships
have been given to at least 64 students majoring in graphic arts.
New Mexico Signed Language Interpreting Practices Board
Appointed by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to serve on board. Appointed
Chairperson 2020-2021.
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
HONORS AND AWARDS
Isabelle Calvacca Award
ASL Teachers Association
2021
This special award was created by the President of ASLTA in 2005 in honor of Isabelle Calvacca
and her dedication to ASLTA. It is presented to an individual who has been most helpful to the
President in accomplishing the mission and goals of ASLTA.
Art Kruger Award
USA Deaf Sports Federation, Inc.
2016
The Art Kruger Award is for the deserving individual who demonstrates leadership and
continuous participation, support, and contribution to the Federation over an extended period.
Art Kruger was a pioneer in the field of deaf sports and the Father of the American Athletic
Association of the Deaf, the predecessor of the US Deaf Sports Federation.
Alumni Pillar of Achievement Award
Golden West College Foundation
Huntington Beach, CA
2002
Alumni are chosen for a Pillar of Achievement through a nomination and selection process, and
they are eligible after leaving GWC for 10 years or more. Recipients must have completed 30 or
more units at Golden West College and achieved notable recognition in their field of endeavor.
Silent Garden Distinguished Lecturer
Fresno State University
Fresno, CA
https://chhs.fresnostate.edu/thesilentgarden/lecture-series/pastlectures.html
Invited to speak with Hispanic/Latinx parents of deaf children on how to be strong members of
the Latino and Deaf Communities while raising deaf and hard of hearing children.
2024
© Mark Apodaca 2024

Curriculum Vitae
OTHER
• While in Lawndale High School and playing football on the varsity team, became the
first recipient of the Byron Nott Memorial Award Most Outstanding Senior for Academic
Achievement. Byron Nott graduated from LHS in 1968 and was killed in the Vietnam
War a month after I started my freshman year.
• First in the family to graduate from college with a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
• Second known deaf individual to become a manager in corporate America (Hughes
Aircraft Company) and first Hispanic/Latinx.
• Third known deaf individual to receive the MBA degree and first Hispanic/Latinx.
• First pure deaf finance professional to become a Director of Finance/Chief Financial
Officer of the New Mexico School for the Deaf and first of any school for the deaf since
the founding of America School for the Deaf in 1817.
• First Hispanic/Latinx to serve as an officer on the board of directors of the National
Association of the Deaf.
• Second deaf individual to obtain the Registered Parliamentarian credential of the
National Association of Parliamentarians. First deaf Hispanic/Latinx.
• First deaf individual to obtain the Professional Registered Parliamentarian credential of
the National Association of Parliamentarians. There are only 385 PRPs out of nearly
4,000 members and only one PRP who happens to be deaf.
• First deaf PRP to become a candidate for Treasurer of the National Association of
Parliamentarians.
• James Zehmer, President of Toyota North America, was once employed at HAC-RSG
Finance reporting to me as his supervisor. When I was promoted to Head of Finance in
1987, he was later promoted to Supervisor. He left in 1992 to start his career at TABC.
• Dr. Herman Weiner, my uncle, was one of the founders of Kaiser Permanente.
• Upon receiving my MBA from Pepperdine University, Dr. Kenton Anderson, former
dean of the business school and professor of strategy, served as my mentor from 1984 to
1993.
• Around 1800, Jose Bartolome Tapia, my 4th great-grandfather, was a respected farmer
and former army official who requested a concession to the land he first laid eyes on as a
child. This 14,000-acre land lie was referred to as the Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit.
The Governor of Californias José Joaquín de Arrillaga took note of Tapia's military
service and granted Tapia use of the land. This was in accordance with Spanish law
stipulating land ownership was the king's domain.
• Fred Rodriguez, my grandfather, was employed at Hughes Aircraft from 1943 to 1971
and was involved with Howard Hughes’ with the building and delivery of the Spruce
Goose.
• On November 28, 2023, spoke at the “National Congress of Education of the Deaf and
Mexican Sign Language” in the H. Chamber of Deputies through Zoom. The meeting
took place in Mexico City, Mexico.
© Mark Apodaca 2024
