Mark Tanner

Was Chief Operating Officer (COO) for AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) - assist 1st Generation college students

Was in charge of strategy for:

Pepsi Cola
Pizza Hut

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for:

Pepsi International (Asia, Middle East, Africa)
2002 Winter Olympic Games
Mrs Fields Famous Brands

Palo Alto, CA. Bolivia, Honduras, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Avon, CT, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Wichita, Kansas, New Canaan, CT, Salt Lake City, UT, Carlsbad, CA, Incline Village, NV, Frankfurt, Germany

Lots - probably more than you! I have 12, yes 12, siblings who graduated from SPHS!

Roberta, Athelia, Terri, Tres, John, Richard, Claralyn, Kaye, Daken, Scott, Janet, Bryan.

No one currently lives in South Pas.

My father died in 2002. My mom in 2020 at the age of 99 1/2!

COO AVID
CFO Pepsi International
CFO 2002 Olympics
Head of Strategy for Pepsi Cola
Head of Strategy for Pizza Hut

Stanford BA 1976 (Economics)
UCLA MBA 1979 (Finance & Accounting)

Met Ann in 1972 at Stanford (while serving food together in the dorm). Lived in Bolivia for 2 years (as a missionary). Married Ann in 1978 (44 years together! Yea!)

Moved around quite a bit, - - lived in Honduras, Florida, Connecticut, Michigan, Kansas, Connecticut, Utah, back California, and now Incline Village (Tahoe) Nevada. Currently serving for 18 months in Europe assisting in Welfare & Self Reliance efforts.

Had a horrendous accident in December 1999. Was hit by a car going 55+mph as an "unwilling" pedestrian on I-15. Very fortunate and blessed to be alive.

After 20+ years of major endeavors in the Corporate world; 10 years with United Technologies; 10 with PepsiCo, followed by 7 years of semi-retirement, 7 years working as Chief Operating Officer for AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) a San Diego-based non-profit. I am now retired and get to work on things that are important to me.

Very happy to be living next to the ocean, in Carlsbad, where Ann also served as elected trustee of the School Board. Previously I was on the Carlsbad School Board for 8 years. Also have our priniciple residence in Tahoe, Incline Village, Nevada.

I very much enjoy being alive. I travel, volunteer, bike, play senior softball, and try to do more good than bad.

Here is the best advice I have ever been given:

Life is good.
Let it go.
Choose to be happy.

Second best advice:

"Be kind, everyone is fighting a hard battle"

Stanford - BA Economics
UCLA - MBA, Finance & Accounting

There were many experiences and people from South Pasadena that made a good and meaningful difference in my life.

I appreciate the many, many, fine people I had the opportunity of associating with while living in South Pasadena, classmates at SPHS;teachers;coaches and parents who did so much to enrich my life. Thanks to all! I have been the beneficiary of your goodness, kindness and sacrifices.

El Centro Elementary - right across from the beautiful South Pas Public Library. Each summer they rewarded you with a certificate if you read 1 book / week, i.e., 12 books. The summer of 4th grade I read 1 book / day, = 84 books! I have loved reading all my life.

I played a LOT of baseball, - Little League, Middle League. The Arroyo Seco was where I spent a number of wonderful summer nights!

Drama, Student Government, Sports, Working (Balk's Hardware, LA County Music Center, City of South Pasadena).

I enjoy learning new things and traveling to new places.

I (still) love to read. Thank you South Pasadena schools for giving me that gift!

May 2022
Ann and I are doing are best to stay active and to contribute in a positive way to others. We have 5 wonderful children and 11 grandchildren, the are spread out from Texas, to the Bay Area, to Carlsbad.

Currently we are in Frankfurt, Germany working as volunteers. Ann, who is a Social Worker does psychotherapy, and I am trying to assist the underemployed in Cape Verde. I also work with helping immigrants to Europe adapt successfully to the challenges they face.