Mark A. Gagnon

Mark Gagnon is the Harbaugh Entrepreneur and Innovation Faculty Scholar in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State University at University Park, PA. Mark co-founded The Entrepreneurship and Innovation (E&I) Program in The College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State in 2012. The E&I Program is successfully equipped to add value to original ideas and research discoveries by creating entrepreneurial success across Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences community.

Dr. Gagnon's scholarly interests are for-profit entrepreneurship that address challenges in food, agriculture and bio-renewables (AgTech). Many of these challenges in the agriculture space naturally fit under the banner of sustainability. His current research examines new technology value proposition development and strategic implementation within AgTech. In addition, Mark investigates the role of founder values and characteristics and their relationship with firm competitive resource bundling and capability development. He teaches courses in entrepreneurship, strategic agribusiness and coordinates the entrepreneurship minor in food and bio-innovation.

Mark is a former entrepreneur and business development executive in forest products and building materials. He has been involved in two green building product start-ups and has managed product portfolios over $300M. Furthermore, he has extensive experience in change management, new product development and has been a part of successful product launches for leading brands. Mark consults with leading agribusiness firms and emerging start-ups in food, agriculture and bio-renewables.