Sparks is clearly the entrepreneur’s entrepreneur. Since 1978, he has been the principal in many start-ups... some extremely successful, and some not so successful; however, Sparks states that “the not so successful ventures are like taking a course at the World University for Entrepreneurs” and further states that “without experiencing the not so successful ventures, you wouldn't gain the knowledge to succeed, understand how to manage success or be able to fully appreciate your successful ventures. God gives us challenges and even devastating circumstances in order for us to understand the responsibilities that come with success and to keep us humble. One never forgets when and where they get their scars in life.”

The youngest of 5 children, Sparks was born June 8th, 1957 in Rockwall, Texas. At three years old his family moved to Austin, Texas, where he was raised. Upon graduating Westlake High School Sparks immediately moved to Dallas to begin his career in the wholesale furniture business with his father. The option to go to college was never discussed. "During my upbringing, it was always understood that I would follow in my father's footsteps."

In 1975, right out of high school, Sparks began the journey of learning the wholesale furniture business and literally from the ground up. He started by sweeping furniture warehouse floors and driving a delivery truck for Freed Furniture Company, on of Dallas' oldest furniture store chains still in existence. After that long hot summer, he continued his apprenticeship by working in several other retail furniture stores in the Dallas area while chomping at the bit to open his own furniture store. After traveling the country selling railroad box cars of furniture to retailers and after opening several high-end wholesale furniture showrooms with his father in the Dallas World Trade Center (the largest wholesale market in the world), Sparks' father realized he could no longer hold back his son's incessant entrepreneurial passion to build and expand. Therefore, it was amicably agreed between father and son to "set Marc free" to pursue his own dreams and ambitions.

A monumental life lesson for Sparks came in the form of a venture that was bittersweet. In 1989, through a series of events, Sparks started yet another highly successful endeavor in the construction surety bonding industry which morphed into the property and casualty insurance industry. Ultimately, Sparks acquired his local recording agents insurance license (retail), a surplus lines license and even a managing general agents license. Over the next ten years, Sparks had a goal of fully integrating the insurance industry. “Cradle to grave” Sparks said, meant not only selling an insurance policy to a consumer but servicing the policy, managing the claim (including appraisal and subrogation), financing the premiums, and even taking a portion of the risk (via Sparks’ MGA and insurance company).

Finally, in 1996, to complete the "cradle to grave" vision, Sparks and a minority partner purchased a distressed property & insurance casualty company in an arrangement with the Texas Department of Insurance and thereafter received “Form A” approval – which is the state’s blessing to own and operate a full-fledged insurance company... a milestone Sparks was very proud of. “It was the beginning of one of the biggest and most emotional phases of my life,” Sparks says. Since starting his insurance career in 1989 with a staff of just 10 people and a goal to be a leader in the property & casualty insurance industry, Sparks grew the company to a successful insurance holding corporation. Sparks attributes his success to his focus on business development and quality customer service. "Without a happy staff and a satisfied customer, there is no business to manage", a simple, yet usually forgotten fact of a successful business venture. By 1999, the company was generating over $160 million in annual premium, had a staff of over 500, owned 171 retail agency offices in three states, established two premium finance companies, had several general agencies (wholesale), a M.G.A. all backed by eleven A and A+ (AM Best) rated reinsurers, was listed on the American Stock Exchange, and appeared to have no limits to its growth. It was this entrepreneur’s dream come true...success, tremendous growth opportunity, happy staff and good health.

Then the walls came crashing down. The company’s stock started falling, far and fast – before Sparks and his management team could even begin to find a reason for the drop. The Stock Exchange halted trading and then the rumors started to fly. Thereafter, the coveted A+ rated list of "who’s who" reinsurers became spooked and stopped backing the vast insurance policies that were being sold. Sparks lost not only the company that had been his passion for 10 years, but he also lost his business relationships, his stellar reputation, many friends and a wonderful staff. He was probably very close to financial and emotional bankruptcy. While, over the ensuing years, the lawsuits and the Securities and Exchange Commission investigation have been amicably resolved; there was no way to escape from "the ride". The ride was painful, expensive and very personal. "I wouldn't wish 'the ride' on the devil himself."

Ultimately, this experience awards a kind of “badge of honor” for an entrepreneur – and is mirrored in the biographies of most financial and business leaders. "The biggest lessons clearly come from the fall...not the rise".

Sparks recalls, “I got an incredible awakening from that experience. I simply put too much trust in the wrong people – and didn’t open my eyes until it was much too late. I remember the day, very vividly, after I had tried in vain for months to stop the bleeding, when I knew I’d lost it all. It was like losing my whole family in a horrific accident, right before my eyes.” Several years later, Sparks is reluctant to discuss it, so painful are the memories. "Twenty five percent of my life was spent building a wonderful business with great people that only took months to destroy...it was horrible".

Even the strongest of business egos would have folded. Not Sparks, which is why he didn't try to figure out if he was bankrupt or not... "that's like looking in a rear view mirror". Sparks allowed himself less than a month to grieve. On antidepressants, Sparks started looking for his next venture. The survival instincts went into high gear and Sparks knew he had to get out of bed and start over or literally die. Sparks knew one thing for sure; he’d built many successful businesses before and would do it again. He knew that his God-given entrepreneurial talent could never be taken away from him. "I'd much rather fund or partner with an entrepreneur who has experienced devastation than one who hasn't."

Another time, Sparks ran a tombstone ad in the Dallas Morning News, looking for a business model that “needed” his talent, experience, vision and tenacity. Out of the 200+ opportunities that flooded him, God shone the light for Sparks on one in particular – a unique software start-up operation. While Sparks didn’t know how to even turn a computer on, much less know about software code, he forged ahead anyway as he clearly saw a perfect match.

It was amazing. Sparks was forced to leave a company he had devoted nearly 100% of his time to – and while his former ‘advisors’ and colleagues pointed fingers at him, he courageously sat front and center in a large first-floor office window, daring to start over. Daring to prove himself… once again. “What ‘they’ never seem to ‘get’ is that building is what I do best, it's my passion - not just my purpose.” Sparks says.

Sparks took on a brash, young partner who had developed a remarkable software program but had no idea how to get it out of his garage, much less get it packaged, to market, manage customer service and technical support, and ultimately expand it into six additional software programs with substantial recurring revenue. In just four and a half short years, GlobalTec Solutions has become extremely successful. As of June 15th, 2004, GlobalTec had a staff of just over 130 people. And it had become a leader in the "Business to Consumer" financial software marketplace.

While Sparks carefully plans his business ventures, “when I make up my mind... it’s ‘ALL IN' for me. I’m a horrible passive investor… I feel as though I’m blind-folded. I have found that when I invest in myself, I win and my team wins. It’s when I invest in something that I don't control… that’s usually when I lose. It’s not about control; however, it’s usually about work ethic, honesty, focus, passion and persistence.”

An enormous focus of GlobalTec Solutions’ staff, and in-grained in its company culture, is to provide exceptional, focused customer service. Under Sparks’ leadership, GlobalTec initiated an annual convention for its software users. Attendance has tripled since the inaugural “WizeFEST” in 2002 which now accommodates 3,000 GlobalTec customers at each annual convention. To attend a WizeFEST convention is akin to attending a Republican or Democratic Party convention. The frenzy and excitement is clearly generated by Sparks’ marketing fire, and his contagious enthusiasm.

While Sparks could write a book on what to do and – equally as important – what NOT to do, at times he says he wouldn't wish his life on the Devil himself. Yet, at other times, he says he’s had a remarkable life and wouldn't trade his experiences for the entire universe. "There is no other way to learn the remarkable lessons I've learned without being in the game."

Throughout his career, Sparks has been in the wholesale furniture business, retail furniture business, commercial mortgage banking, restaurant, manufacturing, real estate, surety bonding, property and casualty insurance, software, and his latest business passion… LIVE, business television and now streaming of video and data.

Splash Media, LP (www.splashmedia.com) is the culmination of a five-year friendship and business relationship between Sparks and Chris Kraft. While Splash is a full-fledged video and film production company with three state-of-the-art "Live" studios in Addison, TX, Sparks’ entrepreneurial vision and Kraft’s technology expertise have led to Splash focusing on a B-to-B-to-C concept – providing video content, focused on consumer product training. Sparks and Kraft have launched TSTN (The Success Training Network, www.TSTN.com) distributed via traditional television and Splash's proprietary streaming platform, SplashStream. Sparks says, "I haven't been this excited about a business venture since I founded Wizetrade in 1999."

Sparks’ business passion is clearly to build companies – often from ideas that others think inexecutable. Taking that initial idea, he proceeds to establish not only the business model but the company culture and to develop both the short-term goals and the long-range growth plans. Sparks manages by example, setting the patterns for his entire staff to follow. He hires the best staff he can find and mentors them diligently in order to eventually take over when its time again for him to go and build the next venture. "My door truly is always open, we meet in real time...right now! Everyone calls it 'Sparks Speed', I figure by the time you set up meetings and reserve conference rooms, you could just resolve the challenge."

Sparks says, "I'm a builder... I love to build a business from scratch – no office, no employees at first… many times, no capital… just an idea. I love to build the products, the sales teams, the customer service teams, the marketing plans, the culture, the collateral materials... all of it from scratch. It’s the most thrilling thing to me to see employees and customers who admire working in your office and buying your products... it’s a HIGH you can hardly explain. My biggest challenge is managing after "it's built." My weakness is also realizing when it’s time to let go so that the business can grow to the next level."

Sparks is often asked two questions: 1) Aren't you afraid of losing? and 2) How do you do it?

To sum up fear for an entrepreneur, Sparks says that he has no fear of losing at all. “It sounds a little weird; however, as long as I can pay my bills, I've always been happy. I have never said, I want to be rich or I wish I had a million dollars. Being rich to me is having great health, a healthy family, good friends, building a successful business from scratch and having hundreds of happy employees and thousands of successful customers... that's a great day. I believe that God gave me a special ‘shut off valve’ that somehow eliminates the fear factor. I have so little fear, that I sometimes wonder if there’s something wrong with me.” When Sparks moved to Dallas he had $120 in his pocket. “Over the last 30 years, many times I wished I had that $120 back so I could do it again.” The way Sparks sees it, "We all had nothing when we started and we will all have nothing when we leave, so as long as you have your health, faith, family and friends... what’s to fear? I truly love the journey of life."

To sum up "how” he does it... Sparks says, “being an entrepreneur for 30 years has taught me that in order to be successful you MUST have:”

1. Faith
2. Passion
3. Tenacity
4. Focus
5. Monetization savvy, and
6. an Outrageous Sense of Urgency!

“You will rely on all of these qualities often as an entrepreneur. Without these qualities, you will fail in your entrepreneurial ventures… period. However, if you mix these few qualities with treating people the way you want to be treated... fairly, with respect and honesty... you will succeed.”

Surely, every entrepreneur requires an exceptional support system. Sparks has a steadfast relationship with his wife, who unconditionally supports her husband. While the hours he works are often very long, she understands her husband’s drive, tenacity and spirit. She also maintains a strong belief in Christian ethics, family priorities, and shares her husband’s passion of giving back to humanity. His wife has rigorously volunteered with the Meals on Wheels organization in Dallas since 1993. The Sparks family is actively involved with Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. Sparks’ daughter volunteers at the church on a regular basis and attends Southern Methodist University where she will also receive her MBA. (No pressure from her dad, of course.)

To counter the stress, Sparks is a health enthusiast and outdoors man. He enjoys working out at least five times a week (reading email and his beloved business publications while on a treadmill), golf, fly fishing, traveling, and good movies. Sparks thrives on competition – in sports and in business.

Marc is very active economically, physically and emotionally, in several charities:

Friends of the Inn Thrift Store (www.thesamaritaninn.org)
The Friends of the Inn Thrift Store is a non-profit, five thousand square foot, sun filled retail space filled with gently used designer clothing, household goods and furniture.

All proceeds from the store are used to support The Samaritan Inn. Our residents work in the store each day to gain valuable job skills and to make their own contribution to our program,. Graduating residents are given vouchers so that they are able to get the things they need to set up their own households at absolutely no cost.

Our goal is to fund a great portion of the Samaritan Inn's operating budget from income of the, "Friends of the Inn" Thrift Center.

The North Texas Gateway Apartments
1.3 acres of land has been purchased directly across the street from the Samaritan Inn where construction of a twenty unit apartment complex will soon begin. The apartments will be donated to the Samaritan Inn upon completion and will provide transitional housing for people at a third of normal rental rates so that they can get further education or training or save money so they are able to manage market value rents.

In Collin County the average cost of a one bedroom apartment is $650 per month, plus a security deposit, utility deposits and an application fee are regularly required, this makes housing out of reach for most people who earn minimum wage. We see this problem often at the Samaritan Inn - whereby people have completed our program, they have secured employment and are ready to move out, but there is simply no affordable place to go.

The complex has been christened “Gateway” as it will be the final ‘gateway’ to independence for the people who have worked so diligently to get there.

The closest view of Sparks as an entrepreneur and visionary would probably come from his long-time, assistant, Tricia Coulman, who has worked alongside Sparks since 1994.

“I’ve been unbelievably fortunate to be next to Marc in a way that allows me to see inside to the ‘inner workings’ so to speak. He’s driven, he's fair, he’s persuasive as all get out, and he knows what’s right. I’ve seen Marc stand before someone who’s just told him ‘no’ in an unshakeable way, and in minutes Marc turned the guy into the biggest cheerleader for the cause. It’s happened time and time again. First rule I ever learned… Marc doesn’t like the word ‘can’t’.”

Coulman continues, “His moments of doubt or fear have been nearly zero – even at the lowest points. There is this infectious drive and enthusiasm for the big picture that spreads to anyone working around him. He makes you want to beat the odds. He makes you want to succeed at absolutely everything you do. He expects the best of himself, and of anyone around him – and you simply can’t wait to see what he’s going to do next and to be a part of it. This is a man who has only yet begun to make his mark on the world.”