Mark Gaines of Highland Park, Ill., is the new national president of the American Technion Society (ATS) elected by the organization’s national Board of Directors. His term began after a unanimous vote of approval during the recently held ATS National Board meeting in Miami.
“I’m thrilled to begin my tenure as American Technion Society President, and honored to be entrusted with this great responsibility,” said Gaines. “In a year when we are celebrating Israel’s 75th anniversary and as we approach the Technion’s centennial in 2024, we have an unprecedented opportunity to elevate public awareness about the Technion’s remarkable impact. We have a responsibility to use our passion and resources in support of the Technion and its impact on the state of Israel and all of humanity.”
“Mark Gaines is uniquely qualified to lead the American Technion Society,” said ATS board chairman Steve Berger. “I know he will lead us to new heights in our work to advance the Technion research, education and innovation for the benefit of the world.”
Gaines, together with CEO Michael Waxman-Lenz, will lead ATS efforts to generate awareness of and raise philanthropic support for the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, a global innovation powerhouse whose breakthroughs benefit the State of Israel and the world.
“Mark Gaines’ longstanding dedication to the Technion and Israel is an inspiration to us all,” said ATS CEO Michael Waxman-Lenz. “His wisdom and wealth of experience, and his commitment to the American Technion Society has made us a much stronger and healthier philanthropic organization. I look forward to partnering with him to the benefit of the ATS and the Technion.”
A loyal supporter of Israel and the Technion, and an active leader in the ATS, Mark Gaines is an alumnus of the organization’s 21st Century Leadership Development Program and a former president of the ATS–Chicago Chapter. As a member of the ATS National Board of Directors, he has chaired the Audit Committee and co-chaired the Development Committee, and served on the Audit, Grants, Investments, Leadership, Planning and Planned Giving committees. He is also a member of the Technion Board of Governors. He received an Honorary Fellowship from the Technion in 2017.
Gaines has hosted and led scores of ATS events, served as co-chair of the 2013 ATS Chicago Chapter Mission, and co-chaired the Technion World Tour to New York City in 2017. He and his wife, Nina, have supported the Asher Space Research Institute Building Fund; the Nina and Mark Gaines Family Lecture Hall; the Mark and Nina Gaines Apartment Unit, dedicated in loving memory of their parents, Alvin and Susan Gaines and Richard and Zella Ludwig, in the Chicago Chapter Wing of the Zielony Graduate Student Village; and a number of other initiatives, including the Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship Fund.
Gaines earned his B.S. in accounting at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1978 and is a certified public accountant. He started his career at the Chicago-based accounting firm of Altschuler, Melvoin and Glasser LP, where he rose to partner. He also served as a managing director at American Express Tax and Business Services and as a managing director at RSM McGladrey, Inc. He retired as a partner at RSM US LLP in 2019.
In addition to the Technion, Gaines is involved with the North Suburban Synagogue Beth El where he has served in various officer positions on the executive committee. He is also Treasurer of Illinois FIRST Robotics and a member of the board of directors for the Leonard and Diane Sherman Family Foundation. In the past, he has served on the board of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago and participated in Nachshon Missions to Israel with the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago.
