Mark Cunningham

Mark A. Cunningham, AICP, CPM, ICMA-CM, has been Assistant County Administrator since 2012. Cunningham has more than 22 years of experience in county and city government. Prior to joining Sarasota County, he was Executive Director of Planning and Development in Denton, Texas and Director of Land Development in Polk County, Florida.

Cunningham has also worked in the planning departments of several counties in Maryland, and the city of Jacksonville, North Carolina.

A former Marine, Cunningham served eight years as a combat engineer, including a tour during operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield before he was honorably discharged in August 1991 at the rank of Sergeant.

He has a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in urban management from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor’s degree in public policy analysis from Sojourner Douglass College in Baltimore.

He an International City/County Management Association Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM), a Certified Public Manager (CPM) via Florida State University, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He has earned certificates in Innovations for Economic Development and Leadership Decision-making from Harvard University.