Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1518296
10 M PS E . O R G Mark has served on the Board of the MPSE for most of his career. He has had an incredibly successful two terms as President. While it will be sad to see him end his final term, I had the pleasure of sitting down with him to go through his life and career. Mark Lanza was born in Englewood, New Jersey, at the northern tip of the state, just across the Hudson River from New York City. He spent his formative years growing up in this region, where both sides of his family had deep roots. Mark's grandparents lived in Brooklyn and the Bronx, he had aunts, uncles, and relatives spread across different NY neighborhoods, including Wantagh, Westbury, and Jamaica Estates. As a young boy, Mark embraced the outdoors. He enjoyed swimming and biking, riding his bike enthusiastically regardless of the season. He even recalls a wild winter incident when he slid on the ice while riding his bicycle, narrowly avoiding a collision with traffic. Winters in the region could be harsh, he remembers waiting by the radio with his mother Sandy on snowy mornings for the list of school closures to be read in hopes of getting a "snow day." Mark found joy in building snow forts and engaging in epic snowball fights. His creativity and enthusiasm led to constructing elaborate snow forts all day in preparation for his father, Joe, to become an unwitting target for Mark's snowball attacks when he returned from work. One of Mark's passions, even as a child, was a deep appreciation for music. Although he never formally learned to play a musical instrument, his early experiences with his sister Lisa's Raggedy Ann and Andy tape recorder piqued his interest in recording. Growing up, Mark enjoyed watching movies and television shows, often visiting movie theatres with his family. Young Mark had dreams of becoming an astronaut, director, or doctor, much like any other child with a vivid imagination. Mark's family moved to Florida when he was a teenager due to a business opportunity for his father. Living in Florida for five years allowed Mark to immerse himself in watersports, from water skiing to fishing, and even sailing. Eventually, his father's business ventures led the family to Reno, Nevada. However, the cold winters in Reno reminded them of their New Jersey days, and the family decided to relocate to Southern California, where the milder climate and the proximity to Reno suited their needs. In Southern California, Mark completed his final year of high school. Next, Mark began his pursuit of a career in computer science, going to college and running his own computer-consulting company. Mark's journey in sound editing and design started when he met a fellow student in his university programming course, who was Joe Lanza, Sandra Lanza, and Mark Lanza in Reno, NV. Lisa and Mark Lanza building a snow fort in New Jersey.