Mark Dougherty has been a member in “good standing” in the Chicago Council of Carpenters for 47 years and 10 months; 40 years of which were spent in the exhibit industry.
Mark began at GRS&W as an apprentice. Over the following decades, he worked for GRS&W, Giltspur Exhibits, Exhibitgroup| Giltspur then Derse Inc, loyally working for each company until the doors closed and they transitioned to another entity. Over the years, Mark worked officially as an apprentice, a carpenter, a lead carpenter, and a set-up supervisor. Unofficially, Mark was a mentor, a teacher, a soundboard and a friend to many.
To quote a co-worker on Marks character “…I’ve always counted Mark among the best teachers I’ve had in this industry. When I was just starting out … Mark was the set up supervisor on the road for a lot of the sets I was on. By his example, he showed me what good customer service looks like. He dealt with on-site plot twists with patience, grace and ingenuity. He was a miracle worker to my impressionable eyes. I took a ton of notes from Mark’s example.”
In December 2023, Mark was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor. Because of the aggressive nature of this cancer, he was forced to immediately retire and has not returned to work since. Mark is the main provider for his household which includes him, his wife Lori and their adult son, Danny. Prior to Mark’s diagnosis, Lori worked part time to help support the household. However, she has remained at home caring for Mark since December. Mark had planned to retire in a few years. As much as he looked forward to retirement, he knew he would miss the work and the industry that had become such an integral part of his life. As you can imagine, the countless doctors’ appointments, ever changing medications and travel to seek out doctors has racked up considerable bills.
