Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Zinno.
Hi Mark, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story starts as a kid in Long Island, New York that grew up in a very strong Italian & Irish Catholic neighborhood. My 100% Italian roots can be traced back directly to Italy on both sides of my family and shaped how I grew up. I had a very normal childhood playing with friends, very involved in sports, and always staying active. I decided that I wanted to go to a private Catholic school for high school which I felt would give me better opportunities to go to college. After graduating I attended Loyola College in Maryland, where I joined ROTC (initially) to help pay for college. I also played several sports in college and was a member of the varsity co-ed cheerleading team and team captain. Immediately after graduating, I was commissioned into the Army as a Second Lieutenant and went on active duty to Fort Hood, Texas. I left active duty after a few years and joined the Army National Guard to continue my service and moved back to Baltimore, Maryland. After a few years in the “regular job” world, I began my broadcasting career as the play-by-play voice at my alma mater. At the same time was professional cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens co-ed stunt team. In 2005, I was deployed to Iraq for the first time where I trained the Iraqi Special Operations Forces Brigade on support operations. I was awarded a Bronze Star & Combat Action Badge. Upon returning from Iraq, my broadcasting career was a full-time job in Baltimore where I was hosting a daily radio show and still doing play-by-play. I was also doing play-by-play work for my alma mater in men’s basketball and college baseball for the University of Maryland. Then in 2011, I was called back to deploy to Baghdad, Iraq once again for the entire year. After returning safely once again, I rejoined my broadcasting career in the same positions until 2014, when I was moved to Atlanta for a better radio job. I got married and started a family in Atlanta as well, including having twins! I’ve worked for multiple sports and news stations in the Atlanta market and continued my National Guard service where I currently hold the rank of lieutenant colonel and will be promoted to full colonel in 2022. I joined MVP (Merging Vets & Players in December of 2018 when the Atlanta chapter was first stood up. After some leadership changes and COVID, I was asked by co-founder Nate Boyer to take over the Atlanta chapter and gladly accepted. I also host a military-related podcast called the “Hazard Ground.” We tell stories of combat & survival by the individual themselves. We have interviewed veterans and Servicemembers who received the Medal of Honor, went on to careers as movie/tv stars, elected officials, models, actors, CEOs, business owners, and more! We have had over 4 million downloads to our podcast and a worldwide audience!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth is a relative term. There are plenty of people who have had to overcome much more difficult circumstances in life to get where they are. My path isn’t without struggle – some of that of my own doing – but the challenges are learning spots and teaching moments that we must take advantage of. Mistakes are opportunities for growth. I’ve struggled with failure and rejection like many have. I just choose to look for other paths. I learned that on my first deployment to Iraq. I also learned to understand who you are and your strengths and weaknesses. That is pivotal to finding a path that works for you.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I host a daily radio talk show. I used to do sports talk every day. But now I do news & politics. I specialize in opinions. My job isn’t to be a journalist. It’s to be an “opinion-ist.” I like to give entertaining, informative and educational opinions on the biggest stories of the day. My passion is what separates me. I love what I do and that comes across every day through the microphone.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Determination. I just keep pushing forward. No matter how many obstacles end up in front of me, I just won’t quit. Won’t ever stop trying to achieve what I want. I don’t think about failure. I just keep pushing.
Contact Info:
- Website: HazardGround.com
- Instagram: markzinno
- Twitter: MarkZinno
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HazardGroundPodcast
Image Credits
Mark Zinno
