National Convening Program Books 2015 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 76
YEO Bios
Paul Mark
State Representative
Dalton, Massachusetts
Representative Paul Mark serves in the Massachusetts House of
Representatives, where he is vice chair of the Joint Committee on Higher
Education. Before his election, Mark worked for 10 years as a splice service
technician at Verizon. He is a member of the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, where he served as a union steward, press secretary,
executive board member, and political director. While working full-time,
Mark went back to school and completed an associate’s degree in telecommunications, bachelor’s
degree in economics, a master’s degree in labor studies, a law degree, and a doctorate in law and
policy. His doctoral dissertation, titled “Predicting Labor Law Reform,” is an analysis of why the
Employee Free Choice Act did not pass the 111th Congress, despite strong Democratic majorities in
both houses of Congress. Mark passed the Massachusetts bar exam in July 2009 and was sworn in
as an attorney in December 2009. @RepPaulMark
Nadeem Mazen
City Councilor
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Nadeem Mazen is a city councilor in Cambridge, Massachusetts, CEO of
Nimblebot, co-owner of danger!awesome, and partner in Trifecta Editions.
After moving to Cambridge for undergraduate and graduate work at MIT,
Mazen fell in love with the city and opened two small businesses in Central
Square. Both provide community access to cutting-edge technology,
services, and job training. Mazen also holds a faculty position at the School
of the Museum of Fine Arts, where he teaches entrepreneurship and small business practices to
emerging artists. @nadeemtron
Brandon L. McGee
State Representative
Hartford, Connecticut
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State Representative Brandon McGee, Jr. is serving his second term and
represents parts of Windsor and Hartford. McGee holds a B.A. in political
science from Alabama State University and a master’s of science in
management and organizational leadership from Albertus Magnus College.
He is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Emergent Leaders
Network, and in 2009, McGee became the youngest recipient of the
National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials Community Award. He was the Youth and College
Division NAAACP President for the state of Alabama from 2004-2006, through which McGee became
acquainted with Rosa Parks, whom he considers a friend and mentor. McGee serves the community
in various capacities, including with the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Zone, NAACP of
Greater Hartford, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. McGee is a deacon and member of the board of
directors of the Citadel of Love Church. He lives in Hartford with his wife. @RepBMcGee