Mark Ernsting is the owner and founder of M1 Sports Management – an agency that oversees corporate marketing, event management, and athlete representation. After graduating from UBC’s School of Kinesiology, Mark received a cycling scholarship to attend a university in the United States where he completed his graduate degrees researching Testosterone & Cortisol Ratios in Elite Male Cyclists.
In his athletic career, Mark is a five-time Canadian National Track Cycling Champion and has had the privilege of representing cycling teams in North America, Europe, and was part of the Canadian National Team. Mark competed for Canada at World Cups, World Championships, Pan-Am Games, and other International Road and Track events until his retirement from the sport in 2004.
Upon graduation, Mark accepted a position as a Professor of Exercise Science & Sport Management at West Virginia Wesleyan College in WV (USA) where he established and created a world-class scientific test facility.
It was, however, in 2007 that Mark made the decision to leave academia, return to Canada, and begin his own sport management business. After the successful creation of M1 Sports Management, Mark also co-founded a sports sustainability business called EARTHsport. Recently Mark has received UCI certification as Canada’s first certified UCI Rider Agent allowing him to represent cyclists at the World Tour level.
As Mark explains, “An average day does not exist.” While he admits, “Yes, there are aspects to it that are very outgoing and have fun, entertaining components to the job”, he goes on to explain, has its share of misconceptions. Expanding on this, Mark explains how “what most people don’t realize is that as the contracted agency, we are responsible for every detail of the project to be executed successfully. This means that we are the first on-site and the last to leave during event production days.”
It is, however, reflecting on his past experiences that Mark explains how “My academic and athletic background (5-time Canadian National Track Cycling Champion) has provided me with both the theoretical and practical experience that has provided the foundation in every aspect of what M1 oversees.”
And what is Mark’s tip for success? “Stay honest to yourself and do things how they work for you. There is no one-way to execute something, the important thing is that the outcome is world-class. Be the best at what you do. Dedicate yourself to perfection and being the best in your field of expertise. Don’t focus on the prize; the reward is a result of completing the steps leading up to it. Therefore, focus on what it takes to execute those steps. Then you will succeed in anything you set your mind to.”
