A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Mark Kosior

Mark-KoziorLa Porte native Mark Kosior has left his mark on the community through his active roles in ensuring the health and wellness of its citizens and also caring for its students and their education.

Since 2007, Kosior has worked as a hematology oncology consultant at Celgene, a biotechnology company that manufactures drug therapies for cancers and inflammatory disorders. Celgene specializes in cancers such as multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but primarily focuses on hematological cancers, which are cancers that affect the production and function of blood cells.

Growing up, Kosior had always had been interested in the medical field and decided to go to Wabash College to study medicine. During his educational process, he decided to switch to another aspect of the medical field: sales.

"I've been in sales since graduating Wabash College, and I always stuck with it. I have really always focused in on health care and was interested in the sciences," Kosior said.

After graduating from Wabash with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics, Kosior has been involved with sales and loves meeting the needs of his customers through his work at Celgene.

"Every day is different, and there are changes that happen over time. My days are always structured around what my customers need – whether they are physicians, pharmacists, doctors or nurses. I love it because it allows me to almost run my own business with Celgene," Kosior said.

He travels far beyond Lake, Porter and La Porte counties for his customers, and has even made the trek to Joliet and Kankakee, Illinois. In the past, he has covered Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, Michigan, South Bend, Fort Wayne and any area in Indiana north of Indianapolis.

His hunger for learning about medicine stems from his overall love of education. In 2005, Kosior went on to earn his Master's Degree in Business Administration at Purdue University Calumet. Six years later, in 2011, he began involving himself with the La Porte Community School Board and served as the board's vice-president. Kosior is currently in the midst of serving his second term. Kosior was named president of the school board for both 2012 and 2013.

Kosior had always been heavily interested, engaged and involved in what goes on in schools prior to joining the school board. His interest sprouts from his upbringing. He is the only one in his family to be born in the United States. His parents migrated from Poland in 1966 with his siblings who were both born there.

"My parents really instilled a high value for education in us and taught us that education is the key to bettering yourself and bettering your circumstances," Kosior said.

The school board elections are coming up in the near future, and Kosior said he wishes to remain a board member.

"I was president of the board for two years, but I feel that it is important to have that role transitioned among members, because I don't have all the answers and all the ideas. We all work together as a board, but I think it is important for other people to be put in those roles that have the skill sets to do it. It is an opportunity for them, but also an opportunity for our schools," Kosior said.

Although he believes that the cycle should be maintained, he would happily run for president of the school board again in the future. In his two-year term as president, he has learned a tremendous amount about what teachers do, what they are responsible for, the laws surrounding education and government finances. He has also learned about how to talk and work with people as a team. These skills he has acquired have taught him about the importance of strong ethics and morals and to also have the capability of being open to new ideas.

As an elected official, he made it a point to always talk to members in the school system and the community to better accommodate the needs of the corporation.

"I think I have helped the school corporation by engaging the public and getting them more involved and most importantly, helping with strategic planning. I believe in more community engagement and great accountability to the staff, community and the students," Kosior said.

During his time as a member of the board, he has grown a strong sense of gratitude and appreciation for all those who take part in the education and upbringing of children.

"I really have to hand it to what the teachers, administrators, bus drivers, custodians, food servers, and everyone else in the corporation does every day. The impact they can have on kids is tremendous. Sometimes it only takes one person to make a big difference in one kid's life. I have grown to appreciate what goes on in schools by being on the school board," Kosior said.

Kosior's involvement in the community surpasses his participation on the La Porte Community School Board.

In 2014, Kosior served as the co-chairman of the Tour de La Porte committee alongside Jim Laughlin. It was his third year as co-chairman. Two to three years prior to his co-chairman position, he served on the committee as an avid member.

"The Tour de La Porte committee and its volunteers are such a tremendous group of dedicated people. This has gone from a 5K walk and has extended to 10Ks, time trials and bike riding. The committee and the volunteers make it all possible. They are quite honestly one of the hardest working groups of people that I know," Kosior said.

He participated in the Tour de La Porte every year since the first and continues to make remarkable strides to help benefit cancer patients by cycling. Last year, Kosior took part in the 100-mile bike ride.

"In 2013, I told myself I would do the 100-mile ride next year, and completing it was a huge accomplishment for me. I not only accomplished something I have never done before, but I have helped someone in need," Kosior said.

He is also the vice-chairman on the IU Health La Porte Hospital Foundation Board. In 2012 and 2013, Kosior served as the IU Health La Porte Hospital Foundation Board's secretary.

His efforts made on the hospital foundation board have better help assist IU Health LaPorte Hospital patients and faculty.

Kosior is also a member of the Holy Name Society, a men's service group that helps meets the needs of the parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in La Porte. Although their primary focus is to help meet the needs of the children in the church, they also take part in other church projects. He also volunteers for Lil' Fish Club.

When Kosior has free time, he enjoys being involved in his children's lives, cycling, exercising, scuba diving, skiing and reading. Kosior's love for sports led him to a journey of coaching several sporting programs for various sponsors.

Since 1993, Kosior coached La Porte Turbos Swim Club, YMCA basketball, Pop Warner football and Kankakee Valley Association baseball, and co-coached a traveling basketball team.

"Eight out of the 10 boys I coached basketball with at the YMCA now play basketball for La Porte on either varsity or junior varsity levels. I feel very good about helping them accomplish their own goals and achievements," Kosior said.

Kosior is inspired to achieve great things due to lessons he has learned from his parents firsthand.

"Seeing what my parents had to do to be the best for the family, I have learned that the smarter you are and the harder you work, the more choices you are going to have," Kosior said. "They have inspired me and have defined how hard I worked at school, and how hard I work to continue to get better at my job. I invest a lot of my time getting better at what I do professionally, as a board member, husband or dad. I am a lifelong learner because I am constantly trying to better myself."

Kosior and his wife of 17 years, Amy, work effortlessly to instill these values and lessons into their children. Together, they have 15-year-old twins, Mason and Alexa, and a four-year-old daughter, Ava.

His outstanding love of the community, his efforts toward those in need and the fire in his heart for helping and serving others is a gift that should not go unnoticed. Kosior has given back to the community in more ways than one over the course of his years in La Porte, but 2015 is not the end for his roles of leadership, guidance and direction; it's a new chapter.​