Meet Mark: Minneapolis ReStore Sales Associate

Mark Lampman has had a handful of careers over the years, but a series of interesting events led him straight to the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Minneapolis as a Sales Associate.
He studied Microbiology at the University of Minnesota, then completed his Doctorate of Chiropractic at Northwestern Health Sciences University. Soon after his education, Mark started his own Chiropractic business in New Brighton. After retiring as a Chiropractor in 2007, He wasn’t ready to kick-back and relax, so he decided to retrofit several military-grade trailers into a mobile Neapolitan pizza business. He enjoyed the interaction with customers and creating delicious food, but realized the food service industry was demanding and required working days, evenings, and weekends. After a few years, Mark sold two of the pizza oven trailers to another entrepreneur and kept one for himself. He occasionally brings his mobile oven to parties where guests can build their own wood-fired pizza.

After hearing about the ReStore from a neighbor, Mark began making trips to gather materials and supplies for his own home and gardening projects. When his two daughters became homeowners themselves, he began filling their garages with ReStore materials that would help him make repairs or upgrades. On top of it all, he also owns a rental property. Mark now had many “customers” who needed a handy man, which explains why he was always at the ReStore. With the countless trips to pick up what he needed, Mark learned the ReStore was expanding to Minneapolis. He decided he would volunteer and help get the store get off the ground. Shortly after he began volunteering, the ReStore offered Mark a part-time Sales Associate position. He now has a regular shift a few days each week, but uses his “days off,” hunting for materials, gardening, cooking and even doing a bit of watercolor painting.