The Competed Life Initiative has named Mark Barger Elliott as its new Executive Director. “Our Board is thrilled to introduce a leader with Mark’s qualifications and experiences to guide CLI forward into an exciting next chapter,” said President Jason Smith. “Mark’s extensive work as a fundraiser, and his skills in staff development, human resources, marketing and communication, and being present with those in end of life circumstances are a perfect fit for our growing organization. Along with its work in advocacy and public policy, CLI is also committed to expanding its efforts in multimedia and Mark is an award-winning filmmaker.”

Mark assumed his role as Executive Director on September 18th, 2023. In accepting the position Mark notes, “I am honored to help lead an organization committed to providing resources for how to shape what has been called a ‘good life’ and a ‘good death.’ As our world faces health care challenges and questions about autonomy in our culture and within our politics, the work of CLI is extraordinarily timely and vital. I am thrilled to work alongside an outstanding Board and staff to realize its mission and vision for the future.”

Mark is a graduate of Cornell University (B.A.), Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and San Francisco Theological Seminary (D.Min.). He has studied nonprofit management in the Executive Education programs at the Harvard Business School and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and earned a certificate in Human Resource Essentials from Cornell University. Along with his wife Lynn, he served Presbyterian and Congregational churches in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota and Connecticut. He was honored to speak at Ted Global at Oxford on “Blue Lobsters,” has run seven marathons in cities such as Rome and Montreal, and is writing a book with his wife titled, Calling Calder: Rediscovering the Art of Living by Living Like an Artist. He was honored to co-officiate at Faith Sommerfield’s service, Founder of The Completed Life Initiative.