Mark A. Sessumes, executive director for TMAC, passed away in August 2021 after 26 years of service with UT Arlington and TMAC. Mark joined TMAC one year after its inception and was a valuable team member, co-worker, supervisor, and friend. He advocated for manufacturing in Texas and throughout the United States. He was passionate about TMAC’s mission of developing and improving products, processes, people, and technologies.
Mark served as one of the original manufacturing field specialists within TMAC. He worked diligently to keep Texas manufacturers competitive and profitable. Mark was named the TMAC metroplex regional director in 2012 and served in that capacity for six years. He was then promoted to TMAC state executive director in 2018 and served in this capacity until August 2021.
Mark’s 26 years of advocacy and executive leadership not only benefited Texas; he also developed strong networks throughout the United States. He served on the National Board of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Board of the American Small Manufacturing Coalition, among others.
During Mark’s tenure as executive director, TMAC customers reported and verified more than $1.8 billion in new and retained sales, more than $620 million in new investment, more than $437 million in cost savings, and more than 15,000 new and retained jobs. Additionally, this UT Arlington-affiliated program served 1,452 customers.
This hybrid public/private partnership is a unique win-win for industry, the TMAC program, UT Arlington, and the state of Texas.
The purpose of the Mark Sessumes Graduate Fellowship is to provide financial assistance to UT Arlington graduate students interested in improving, studying, or developing the U.S. manufacturing enterprise. This includes reshoring or bolstering U.S. supply chains, operational efficiency (financial, administrative, or technical production lines), review and study of new technologies, or improving people, process, and products of manufacturing. Students awarded funds from this scholarship will also be given an opportunity to possibly work as a paid intern at TMAC during their final year of graduate school. During the internship, students gain valuable
hands-on experience working with TMAC field specialists on various customer projects related to their field of study.
