Born and raised in Central New York, Mark Bitz is a respected entrepreneur and small businessman, who has created jobs and balanced budgets while building and growing successful businesses.

Mark is the former owner and CEO of Plainville Farms Inc., which he grew from $5.7 million in sales to more than $40 million. He is also the founder of Central New York Feeds, a dairy feed company and the largest feed mill in Central New York, and the co-founder of Central New York Crops, the largest organic grain farm in the Northeast. Additionally, he purchased Plainville's Nature's Fare restaurant from his father in 2007. As a result of Mark's leadership, these businesses have created more than 100 jobs for Central New York over the last 20 years.

Since age eight, Mark worked in his family's business. He received his B.S. from Purdue University and M.S. from Cornell University. He also completed his Ph.D. course work and A exams at Cornell University prior to being asked by his father to return to the family business in 1985. He has taken the values of hard work, personal responsibility and rugged individualism from farming and carried them over into a successful business career.

Mark has been a member of The Business Council of New York State, the Manufacturer's Association of Central New York, the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse, Cornell University Council, Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Science Dean's Advisory Board, the National Turkey Federation, and the Greater Syracuse YMCA. In each organization, he has encouraged high standards, innovation, and growth.

Never having run for political office before, Mark is not indebted to the bureaucracies in Albany or Washington. He is committed to working towards lower taxes and spending in order to stimulate our economy and create jobs in Central New York. He will discourage bureaucracy and red-tape in order to create a more efficient and responsive government. Furthermore, he will demand responsibility and accountability in government, specifically with regards to mandate-free, affordable and effective education and healthcare.

Mark and his wife Lou live in Baldwinsville, NY. They have two sons, Karl, age 22, and Asher, age 16. Mark enjoys his children's activities, reading, writing, squash, bridge and golf.