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 YEO National Convening | 2015 75 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