Mark Bolinger is the Vice President of Business Lending for Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation. Mark came to Kentucky Highlands in June 1993 following an internship with the business development department. Mark has worked in most phases of business development including the provision of technical/management assistance to portfolio companies, provided architects/engineers with design/specification information to design a manufacturing building, prepared budgets for the purchase of equipment for portfolio companies, Board member for Kentucky Highlands portfolio companies and loan packaging/servicing.

Mark coordinates all lending activities at Kentucky Highlands including Revolving Lines of Credit, the SBA Microloan Program, the SBA Community Advantage Loan Program, the USDA IRP Program, USDA RBEG Revolving Loan Funds, the USDA RMAP Loan Fund, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Loan Fund, the Create Jobs for the USA Loan Fund and various other loan funds. Mark has assisted in the development and teaching of a curriculum for business planning seminars for small businesses.

Prior to college and his transition to Kentucky Highlands, Mark worked for 10 years in the private sector in various positions from grocery clerk to underground coal miner. Mark's work study at Berea College was spent as an Accounts Payable Clerk. Mark spent 1991 as an Economic Development Intern at the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development where he conducted a survey of Woman Owned Businesses in their service area.

Mark is a graduate of Berea College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. He financed his education through grants/loans, work study, internships and summer employment. Mark has completed various business related training including the Kentucky Institute for Economic Development and the Venture Capital Institute of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (MASBIC). Mark received a certification as an Economic Development Professional through the National Development Council in 2008. Mark spent time as a member of the Kentucky Appalachian Commission and is a graduate of Leadership Tri-County and Leadership East Kentucky.