"Mark Warner grew up in a middle class family where he learned the value of hard work, faith and family, and the importance of a good education. With the help of student loans and a few part-time jobs, Mark worked his way through school. He became the only one in his family to graduate from college, earning his Bachelor's degree from George Washington University in 1977 and a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1980.

But instead of practicing law, Mark followed a different passion - business. And although he learned during his first two business ventures that it isn't always easy getting started, he did not give up.

Mark remained determined, worked hard, and in the early 1980s started his first successful company here in Virginia. And he didn't stop there. Mark went on to become a founding partner of Columbia Capital Corporation, a technology venture capital fund in Alexandria, and started more than 70 businesses that have grown to employ more than 22,000 workers.

But Mark's hard work extended beyond the business community - he has been a dedicated leader in community life across Virginia, and he has put his commitment to improving the lives of all Virginians to work.

Mark started the Virginia Health Care Foundation, which has provided health care to more than 400,000 underserved Virginians in rural and urban areas. Through the Virginia Health Care Foundation, Warner started SeniorNavigator.com, a program that helps Virginia senior citizens and their families, caregivers, churches and community groups use the Internet to find answers to medical questions, locate senior health services and connect with other senior citizens in their communities.

Understanding the crucial need to help bridge the digital divide, Warner started TechRiders, an innovative new program at work in more than 150 churches across Virginia teaching basic computer skills to the people who need them most.

In 1997, Mark developed and launched the Virginia High-Tech Partnership which helps students from Virginia's five Historically Black Colleges and Universities pursue technology careers through a summer internship and job placement program. And to help liberal arts students find good jobs while giving companies a new proven pool of workers, Mark developed Tek.Xam, a test that allows students to demonstrate basic technology skills to high tech companies. The successful program has been offered on more than 60 college campuses and has been endorsed by dozens of major employers.

With a firm belief that in order for Virginia to continue to prosper no Virginian can be left behind, Warner founded four regional investment funds, which have raised tens of millions of dollars to help Southwest, Southside, Richmond and Tidewater attract businesses so their communities can share in the prosperity enjoyed by other parts of Virginia.

Warner is committed to giving everyone in the Commonwealth the tools to compete and thrive in the new economy. He is dedicated to seeing Virginia lead the nation in the new century-and the new economy. And he understands that in order for this to happen, Virginia needs a leader who understands our changing world and economy, and who has the business skills to manage Virginia government more like an efficient business.

Warner currently is on the board of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, chairs the Virginia Math and Science Coalition, co-chairs Virginia's Communities in Schools Foundation, and serves on the boards of Virginia Union University, George Washington University, and the Appalachian School of Law.

He lives in Alexandria with his wife, Lisa, and their three daughters Madison, Gillian, and Eliza. Mark is 46 years old."