We’re on a mission: to build and power the next-generation trades worker.

Mark started and leads the Forge team. In 2010, fresh out of graduate school and having never had a job in the “real world,” he undertook his first entrepreneurial venture (or at least the first one that generated revenue): Intrepid. Bootstrapped from inception to exit, Intrepid used an apprentice-style training model to create one of the largest mobile development firms on the East Coast before selling to Accenture in 2017. Mark loves building companies and solving problems, but when he’s not doing that, you can find him cooking, running, playing chess, and thinking about how technology is going to change our lives. He is mission-driven, the father of three incredible kids, and wakes up every morning to build and power the next-generation trades worker.

As one of Forge’s original team members and a true “Jane of all trades,” Mae has had a hand in creating all of the core functions that we rely on today: finance, data, people operations, and more. Prior to Forge, she led the finance team at Intrepid and helped shepherd the company through its acquisition by Accenture in 2017. Her passion for building the next-generation trades worker was sparked as a child by watching her father’s work in construction. When she’s not in the office, you can find Mae outside, biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and wrangling her daughter and dogs.

Growing up in a multi-generational family of woodworkers and builders, Christof learned all about lumber and building at work in his father’s sawmill. He drew on that experience to create the Forge Apprentice Program. Christof earned a master of science in mathematics, discovered his love for teaching as a fellow at Boston College, and worked in the actuarial field for several years before returning to his woodworking roots. (Before joining Forge, he was a furniture and cabinet maker working out of Fort Point Cabinet Makers.) He enjoys hiking, biking, grilling, and walking the dog with his favorite people in the world—his family. He visits his extended family in South Africa every year.

Olivia has worn many hats at Forge. She was Forge's first marketer and spent time as Chief of Staff before going back to her roots to lead our marketing and sales teams. Olivia brings with her over 10 years of marketing experience from a wide range of Boston startups in media, construction, healthcare, digital marketplaces, and video. Her superpower is getting things done and she loves building things from scratch. When she’s not at Forge, you might find her cooking an Alison Roman recipe, seeking interior design inspiration, or walking around the neighborhood with her husband trying to get their baby to take a nap.

Before coming to Forge, Brendan spent over a decade working in government and politics, serving as Chief of Staff to former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. After his time in government, Brendan was the founding Executive Director of HubWeek, a civic partnership founded by Harvard, MIT, Mass General Hospital, and The Boston Globe. Prior to Forge, Brendan had a Fellowship at the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and still serves as a board member for the Climate Beacon Initiative. He has also worked extensively as a communications strategist and advisor to CEOs, elected officials, and startups, with a focus on the intersection of public policy, private investment, and scalable business solutions.