John began his career in the human resources profession.  Working for large/global corporations, John enjoyed leadership challenges with FoxMeyer Corporation (now McKesson) a leading pharmaceutical distributer, Accuray (now ABB) and Armco, Inc. (now Cleveland Cliffs), process automation and steel manufacturing firms respectively. During this period, he became highly skilled in the areas of talent acquisition, executive search, employee relations, HR strategy and succession planning, compensation, OD, training and development and employee retention. In addition, he lectured on such subjects as professional Outplacement, Assessment Center Design for employee hiring, EH&S, employee conflict resolution/empathy, and was a member of the American Iron and Steel Institute speakers bureau. 

After leaving Corporate America in his mid-30’s, John co-owned and successfully managed two executive search firms. For the past 20 years, John co-managed Markt & Markworth, LLC, a boutique retained executive search firm that conducted C-Level executive, senior management and Legal searches for organizations of all sizes, publicly and privately held, throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe. Their search expertise was diverse and included functional areas and industries such as: Supply Chain Management, Attorneys/Legal, Engineering/Science/R&D, General Management, High-Tech/Nano Manufacturing, Metals Manufacturing, Consumer Products Manufacturing, IT, Finance and Accounting, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Management Consulting, Process Improvement/Six-Sigma/ Quality and International.

Over his entire career, John has been a trusted advisor for several successful private family-run manufacturing businesses going through growing pains and generational transition. In addition, he has been active in creating DEI awareness and putting words into action. 

John grew up in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. He is graduate of Miami University majoring in Personnel and Labor Relations Management, with a minor in Economics. He is lifetime member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. John is married to Pamela Markt, a retired IT Manager for Progressive Insurance, and they reside in Shaker Heights, OH. They have two grown children and enjoy global travel, golf, cooking, hiking, driving electric cars, and spoiling their three grandchildren.