C-Suite
Retired director
University Research Park | Madison
Mark Bugher served as director of University of Wisconsin-Madison’s University Research Park from 1999 until his retirement in 2013. Bugher is credited with helping develop the park into a hub for early-stage, growth-oriented businesses in the engineering, computational and life sciences sectors. The number of companies and jobs in University Research Park nearly doubled during his tenure. Today, the park contributes more than $825 million to Wisconsin’s economy annually and supports nearly 9,300 jobs statewide, according to a study from NorthStar Economics Inc.
Bugher formerly was secretary of administration and secretary of revenue under Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson. He also worked for former U.S. Representative Steve Gunderson in the state’s 3rd Congressional District.
Bugher is currently chairman of the Marshfield Clinic Health System board of directors and serves on the boards of First Business Financial Services Inc. and Madison Gas & Electric Co. He is former chair of the Wisconsin Technology Council.
He is also a former chair of the Madison Economic Development Commission, a former member of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on State-Local Partnerships and was a member of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Board.
A resident of Red Cliff, Bugher is a member of Bayfield County’s town of Russell board.