After moving from Germany to the U.S. as a teenager, Mario started his career in teaching in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but quickly chose to follow a business career through studies at the University of Wisconsin. A good portion of his working life was in the start-up and ownership of various businesses, including distributorships, trade services, and a chain of restaurants in San Diego and Denver.
Mario’s corporate career includes roles as VP of Marketing for Oak Communications, managing television stations in Dallas and Florida, and Managing Director for Time Warner in Europe where he was instrumental in establishing HBO in Hungary and the Czech Republic.