Mark Hendrickson has been the Director of Community and Economic Development for Merced County since 2008. In this capacity, he oversees the redevelopment of Castle Commerce Center, a former military installation and provides leadership on economic development issues facing the County, and is responsible for the implementation of all land use, building and fire code permitting processes. Additionally, he serves as the Regional Foreign Trade Zone Administrator and ensures the County’s compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
Hendrickson was formerly the Director of Governmental Affairs for Merced County where he was responsible for the oversight and direction of all federal and state legislation and provided strategic counseling to the Board of Supervisors and County Executive Officer. He has extensive private sector experience, formerly directing government relations for one of the nation’s largest gas and electric utilities.
Hendrickson currently serves on a number of boards including on the Atwater Elementary School District Board of Trustees, the California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Livingston Community Health Board of Directors and the Merced County Workforce Investment Board. He previously served as President of the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce, Vice-Chairman of the Redevelopment Advisory Committee for the city of Merced and as a board member for the Merced College Foundation, amongst many others.
Hendrickson is a decorated veteran of the United States Air Force and a graduate of California State University, Stanislaus, earning a degree in political science. Hendrickson is also certificated in the Strategic Management of Public Organizations by the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, is a California Credentialed County Senior Executive and a graduate of the National Association of Counties High Performance Leadership Program.
