Mark Rubino

Mark Rubino is a social entrepreneur, business executive, and veteran of the United States Air Force and Navy. He is also an interdisciplinary artist with over 45 years of experience in art, vocal performance, photography, graphic design, film production, editing, and creative writing.  Mr. Rubino co-founded Uptometry Eye Care with his wife, Dr. Jane Rubino, in 2020 to advance integrated and holistic approaches to vision and whole person health care.  

Hailing from Tallahassee, Florida, and a graduate of Florida State University, Mr. Rubino has taken a leading role in the development and management of innovative solutions to local, national, and global concerns in public health, sustainability, renewable energy, food systems, finance, transportation, disaster response, education, veterans’ affairs, art and culture, workforce development, community development, economic development, and coalition development. 

Mr. Rubino worked with the Central Alabama Task Force for Self-sufficiency in the mid-1990’s to design a transportation program to support those who were impacted by the national welfare-to-work initiative. During this same period, he co-founded and served as Chairman of Alabama Project SEED, a STEM initiative supported by the American Chemical Society which partnered at-risk high school students with local scientist and researchers and provided continuing education in science for local K-12 science teachers.

Mr. Rubino was tapped by a group of industry and civic leaders in 2007 to serve as the Founding Director of the Green Resource Center for Alabama. Since then, Mr. Rubino has developed solutions for a wide range of sustainability issues involving green building, alternative and renewable energy, transportation, land use, recycling, water management, and food security. He was a member of the core team that developed the legislation for the Alabama Trails Commission, which helps support and connect trails and outdoor spaces Alabama. Mr. Rubino was also selected to develop the strategies and programs for the Green Jobs Alliance of Alabama.  In this capacity he established the nation’s first workforce component for the E3 Program, which is a nation-wide joint federal initiative established to increase the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers through applications in energy and sustainability that have a positive economic impact.

Mr. Rubino developed a state-wide consortium in 2010 to support beginning farmers and ranchers that included Auburn University, Alabama A&M University, Tuskegee University, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, along with several other state and national agriculture industry organizations. The consortium went on to leverage over $2 million in USDA funding and industry resources to reach and support hundreds of new producers across Alabama.

Mr. Rubino set aside his management consulting business in the wake of the tornado outbreak in April 2011 to advance more long-term and sustainable solutions to helping communities recover from disasters. Locally he oversaw the construction of homes and community assets in a hard-hit area east of Tuscaloosa. On a national and global level, he advised senior leaders of World Vision, FEMA, Red Cross, and other NGO’s on how to better collaborate and communicate in mass care scenarios as well as how to advance the recovery of a region’s food system following a disaster.

After nearly a 20-year break in military service, Mr. Rubino received a direct commission in the United States Navy Reserve in 2013. A qualified Navy Expeditionary Supply Corps Officer and Navy Disaster Preparedness Officer, he deployed to Bahrain in 2018, and he served as the Commandant of Camp Badger in Aqaba, Jordan during the major multi-national training exercise, Eager Lion 2019. He is currently a Watch Officer for the Training and Evaluation Unit with Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group in Williamsburg, Virginia.

A life-long multi-sport athlete, Mr. Rubino competes on the national level in sprint events in track and swimming.  

Mr. Rubino’s other notable community involvement include:

·       President of the Board – Alabama Gospel Music Cultural Arts Center

·       Past President – Military Officers Association of America, Greater Birmingham Chapter

·       Executive Committee Member – Central Alabama Veterans Collaborative

·       Senior Advisor – Veterans Mental Health Council of Central Alabama 

·       Business Mentor to the University of Alabama team competing in the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama’s Alabama Launchpad program (2010)

·       Executive Committee – Birmingham-Jefferson Food Policy Council

·       Board Director – Travelers Aid Society

·       Alumnus – Leadership Birmingham - Class of 2012