Employee Spotlight: Mark Oprisch
After more than 30 years at Niles Bolton Associates, our steadfast Director of Technical Services Mark Oprisch has gained a lifetime of experience as well as many stories to share. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Architecture, Mark joined the firm in 1988. Along with his role at NBA, Mark is a devoted runner with an impressive 1,000+ day running streak, an avid traveler making trips around the world with his family, and he has even graced the cover of People Magazine once upon a time (more on that later). Within the firm, Mark has helped create a robust internal quality assurance program and is currently involved in studio management. On a project front, he was part of the team responsible for creating an innovative housing concept for Georgia State University that was emulated throughout the Georgia Board of Regents and used as the basic unit prototype for the 1996 Olympic Village housing.
Read all about Mark’s career, hobbies and travels below!
What made you want to become an architect?
I have always wanted to be an architect, and this is a good lesson to parents: be careful what books you read to your children. Point in case, my parents read to me Harold and The Purple Crayon. The premise of the story is Harold gets a purple crayon as a kid, and everything he draws with that crayon comes to life. I thought, who could do that in real life? An architect. They draw something, and it gets built.
Mark celebrating NBA’s 40th anniversary with President Ray Kimsey (far left), Director of Landscape Architecture Chris Fortner, and Chairman & CEO Niles Bolton
As Director of Technical Services, what is it like reviewing each team’s projects?
With every project, I take it one step at a time and think about the scope without getting overwhelmed. When I review one project, I feel like I’ve joined that team. I’m always learning and improving from one project to the next. In my role, I work alongside everyone, and I love it. I get to see each employee’s passion and excitement that comes from starting a new project and watching it grow and change.
Do you have any projects that stand out in your mind?
Designing my house has been my favorite project, but every NBA project is interesting and to be learned from in some way. Helping to develop the housing prototype for Georgia State University, with the intention to be used by Olympic athletes during the 1996 Summer Games, was another one of my favorites. I’ve also really enjoyed working with our client, AvalonBay Communities, Inc. I have completed over 50 projects and 12,000 apartment units with them. Every project with Avalon has been a positive experience because they are very knowledgeable, and they understand the inner workings of creating a viable project. There’s always some aspect of a project that’s fun and a challenge. That’s how you should approach each project: what can I learn from it? What’s different about it and how can I do better?
What is your favorite memory so far at NBA?
The infamous magazine prank. NBA’s long-time iconic receptionist, Debra Milline, enjoys reading People Magazine. One day while she was away from her desk, I was thinking: wouldn’t it be funny if we put me on the cover of the magazine and see if she notices? At the time, Channing Tatum was on the cover of People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive edition. I mentioned my idea to the Marketing department. They had me pose for a headshot and used Photoshop to place my head over Channing Tatum’s on the magazine. Debra picked up the updated version of the magazine later that day, and she never even realized the change until NBA Principal Rowan Stewart walked by and started cracking up. Debra turned the magazine around and finally noticed the cover. The prank made for a great story, and now the magazine cover proudly hangs framed in my office.
What is the best part about working at NBA?
Bottomless cups of decaf coffee. On a more serious note, the interaction with employees is what’s important to me, and the positive company culture shows the strong value in our people. I enjoy getting to know everyone around me, and it encourages an animated workplace. Interpersonal connections at NBA go beyond the workplace into things like office events—my favorite being the firm’s annual summer picnic.
How would you describe working from home during the pandemic?
Oh, was I working? Just kidding. It was interesting because I was focused, but I found it distracting when family members would come into my office – or should I say the kitchen – looking for food. I also moved my schedule up quite a bit so that I had some quiet time early in the mornings. There were definitely good and bad parts about working from home. I’m a people person, so I prefer to be in the office.
Mark shaving his mustache after 35 years
You have quite the running streak. How many miles have you run?
Running is a big part of my life and a passion of mine. I currently have a 1,181-day running streak and 11,000 miles in Georgia since 2012. June 23rd this year [2021] marked 3 years of running every day. My family traveled to Morocco in 2017, and at that point I had a 938-day streak, almost to my goal of 1,000 days. Unfortunately, the long flight made it impossible to continue the streak. The next morning, I tried to make up for my lost time and went for a run. Lo and behold, I got lost in the maze-like town with no cell service. That was the end of that.
As of last December, I have run every street in the city of Atlanta—all that remains are the private streets. Occasionally, I will run with my coworker, Project Manager Landscape Architect Paul Laseter, who also has a goal of running every street in Atlanta. So far, he has completed 95% of the city. Maybe one day he will catch up to me. For now, he has to eat my dust! :)
Mark receiving an award from NBAer and running buddy, Paul Laseter, for running 2,017 miles in the year 2017
Mark and fellow NBAers at the 2011 Atlanta Marathon Relay
What do you think is your greatest running achievement?
My greatest running achievement is the novice mile in indoor track when I was a freshman in high school. My mother and sister sneaked into the meet and saw me win the race by coming up from behind.
What is your most memorable trip?
To give some background, I have three kids: Laura, Gusto, and Teddy. My two youngest, Gusto and Teddy, were adopted from South Korea. I’d have to say traveling to Korea to adopt my son was my most memorable trip. The country’s rich with culture and different from anything I’ve ever experienced. What made the trip so special is the day we got Gusto was the same day Teddy was born: the 4th of July. How patriotic. We like to take it as a sign.
You are known around the office for posting a "Quote of The Day” on the firm’s intranet every week. What is your favorite quote?
“Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.” - Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Rapid-fire Questions
If your life were a book, what would its title be?
Born to Run
What is your go-to snack?
Cheetos
If you had to listen to one genre of music for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Motown
If you could play the lead role in any motion picture that has been made, what would it be?
Wesley from The Princess Bride, but with the character Vizzini’s lines
What new skill or hobby did you learn during the pandemic?
Wood carving and a mean behind-the-back frisbee throw
What is your favorite emoji?
The thinking face emoji
