Johnsrud, Mark

Head shot of suited businessman (Mark Johnsrud) smiling against brown backdrop
Name: 
Johnsrud, Mark
Title: 
Chief Executive Officer of Nuverra Environmental Solutions
Texas A&M Class: 
1991
Inducted: 
2014

Biography:

Mark Johnsrud is described as a visionary strategist, a skilled business builder, and a multifaceted leader.  The accurate profile is the result of more than 25 years of proven results, with each of his achievements building on consistent prior successes.  With roots in North Dakota, Mark applied his early appreciation for agribusiness as he leveraged his collegiate career (B.S., North Dakota State University; M.S.-1991, Texas A&M University) and founded Johnsrud Farms.  For eight years, he honed his entrepreneurial skills in a business focused on animal agriculture.  The result was a thorough understanding of business fundamentals coupled with an appreciation of agribusiness.  The combination served him well as he undertook the next phase of his career, when he became a specialist in building successful agribusinesses through his review, analysis, vision, and ability to identify and balance risks and rewards.  Disciplined risk became the hallmark of his management and leadership style.

Mark has enjoyed more than 20 years of financial banking experience, where he has led businesses and teams to revenue and profit enrichment.  As a Managing Director/SVP for Bank of America (1994 - 1999), he enhanced his skills in client development, business integration, and portfolio building.  After leading the U.S. Agribusiness Finance Group for Banque de Paris in 1999, Mark established Johnsrud & Company LLC where he served as Managing Director/Principal.  His rich experience allowed Mark to apply his keen eye for industry and segment trends and business fundamentals to identify, lead, and implement successful opportunities in business financing, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and divestment. 

Mark currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Nuverra Environmental Solutions (formally Heckmann Corporation), a $1.6Billion publicly traded (NYSE) company.  With more than 3,000 employees across the U.S., Nuverra is a leader in the energy sector, dedicated to the protection, enhancement, and advancement of environmental solutions for the energy and industrial markets.

Mark became a key figure in the company's history in 2004 when he led the acquisition of Landtech Enterprises.  From nine employees, the business increased by another forty with the 2005 acquisition of Ferrell Transport from Ferrell Gas.  Mr. Johnsrud founded the resulting enterprise, Badlands Power Fuels, where he served as CEO.  Badlands Energy Power Fuels, LLC specialized in environmental services and water management, providing services to the oil and gas industry in the Bakken region of Western North Dakota and Eastern Montana.  Growing the company revenue from $10Million to more than $350Million, Mark led an organization that began with only 50 employees to an industry leader with a dedicated team of more than 1,500.  As the CEO and sole owner of the company, he had the vision to recognize the opportunity of merging with Heckmann Corporation in 2012, at which time Mr. Johnsrud was named the CEO of Heckmann Corporation.  In May 2013, Heckmann Corporation became Nuverra Environmental Solutions (NYSE:  NES), and Mark had the honor of ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.  Prior to acquiring Power Fuels, Mark served as a Managing Director for Bank of America Securities where he directed the firm's corporate and investment banking activities with Fortune 1000 clients.

Mark’s primary focus since 2007 has been on providing affordable housing for employees and families.  As oil exploration in the Bakken Shale exploded in sparsely populated western North Dakota, the influx of people quickly overwhelmed the infrastructure of the small communities as well as creating a demand for housing that simply wasn’t there.  Mark has built permanent housing for more than 1,000 employees and their families which he sells to them at cost.  He also constructed a day-care facility that serves more than 300 children.

He recently has served on the science advisory board of the Energy and Environmental Research Center.  He also serves on the Executive Board of the North Dakota Petroleum Council.  During the Minot, North Dakota flood of 2011, he led the effort to insure a clean water supply to Minot Regional Hospital.  Mark has also supported more than 100 community activities through generous sponsorships.  In addition, he has served on the board of the North Dakaota State University’s Alumni Foundation, his undergraduate alma mater.

Mark and his wife MariBeth currently reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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