Dr. Mark A. Friedman is inspired to create and live in a world of Beloved Community where authentic, joyful and connected giving and receiving contribute to creating the richest and freest of lives for all people. Mark works with individuals empowering them to live creative, bold and prosperous lives, and with communities and organizations guiding them to fully realize their visions. Mark is a Certification Candidate with the International Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) who has been living, knowing and sharing Nonviolent Communication (NVC) since 2010. Mark embraces and teaches the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King as a Certified Trainer of Kingian Nonviolence (KNV). Mark is a certified life coach having completed the Coaching for Transformation program of Leadership That Works. He has regularly served as a coach and head coach in the Landmark Self Expression and Leadership Program (SELP). He deeply values community, contribution, education, creativity, boldness and authenticity.
Mark has always enjoyed and taken a leading role in working with others to create organizations and communities. He has demonstrated his leadership as a member of the NVC Candidates Active Learning Forum (CALF) team working to support CNVC candidates on their path to NVC trainer certification. He has served as an organizer of NVC International Intensive Trainings in Virginia, Brazil, Italy, New York and Florida. Mark served as the organizer of the online CNVC Virtual Intensive Training. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Houston NVC, serves as a contributor to the Rocky Mountain Compassionate Communication Network, and has offered technical support of online NVC events through the NVC Academy. He has delivered trainings in NVC, created and facilitated several NVC practice groups, and participates as a member of the NVC African Diaspora Men's Group. Mark is planning to create an online NVC practice group for the LGBTQ+ community.
With a background in Computer & Systems Engineering and a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Mark combines his profound commitment to fostering emotional and communicational growth with rigorous analytical skills, research capabilities, systems thinking, and a proven track record in managing large-scale projects. His experience and expertise are characterized by a deep ability to solve complex problems and innovate within technological and organizational frameworks. Mark’s career spans significant contributions in technology giants like IBM, Hewlett-Packard, General Electric and Digital Equipment Corporation, and academically as a professor at Trinity College and Central Connecticut State University. He is a student of diverse psychological and communication theories, including REBT, Integral Theory, Myers Briggs and the Enneagram, which enrich his workshops and training sessions. As the founder of the Richard Roman Institute, Mark continues to offer leadership training that embodies his deep commitment to community and personal development, equipping individuals and organizations to achieve their highest potential.