Born and raised in Niagara Falls, New York Mr. Balys graduated from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA and from U.C. Riverside. After a 34 year career with the Riverside County Planning Department he retired as Deputy Planning Director. Since 1980 he has been on the Board of Directors of Altura Credit Union and is currently Vice-Chairman of the board. Mark has served Habitat for Humanity Riverside as a volunteer, board member, two-term past president, and most recently as Director of Fund Development. He and his wife Pam, a teacher at Matthew Gage Middle School, reside in Riverside. He was appointed to the Regional Park District Commission by Supervisor Bob Buster in 2010.