Mark Blasko '90
Mark Blasko is the founder of Chuckster's,
a family entertainment company with two locations in the Northeast: Chichester, NH and Vestal, NY. Mark graduated from Houghton in December
1989 to begin eight years in ski resort management in New Hampshire,
while building a custom sportswear business on the side. Once he committed
to full-time self-employment, his company, Shirtmasters, grew to be one of
the largest and most profitable businesses of its type in New England.
Five years ago, he built the first Chuckster's near his hometown of Concord,
NH, thinking it would be a fun side business, but response to it was so great
that he ended up selling Shirtmasters and going full time into this new industry.
The original New Hampshire location has grown and expanded, and two more locations
have been added, with plans to expand them and add more locations in the near future.
Never interested in climbing the corporate ladder, Mark has tried to live by the expression
"find something you love to do and figure out a way to get paid for it." Mark believes that
if he can do it, anyone can do it, and looks for opportunities to help would-be entrepreneurs at every chance.
Mark and his wife and two children live in Concord, NH, where they love skiing and boating together,
and serving as an elder at Centerpoint Church and teaching business classes at Hesser College.
Go here for Mr. Blasko's remarks on March 9, 2007, and here for his remarks on November 4, 2011.
The monthly Guest Executive Dinner series is sponsored by Houghton's business department for the purpose of increasing student exposure to marketplace professionals from various fields and service opportunities to be both salt and light after college.
