Member spotlight: Mark Wade
December 3, 2020
That’s show biz: Rotarian found his calling in ventriloquism
Mark Wade calls it “a hobby that got out of hand.”
It all started after he took a course in the comedic art. The Columbus, OH, native had begun a career teaching elementary school upon graduating from Ohio University. But he soon found his success as a ventriloquist had eclipsed his success as an educator. “I was making more money on weekends at shows than I was teaching for 40 hours during the week and I said, ‘What’s wrong with the picture?’” Mark explained.
Accordingly, he decided to finish out his contract with the school and pursue show business. “I took a leap of faith and bet on myself,” he said.
Mark’s act brought him to Japan, the United Kingdom and many parts of the United States and Canada. He has performed at fairs and various public events, opening for such high-profile entertainers as Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire.
He has appeared many times on national television, including such programs as “Entertainment Tonight,” “CBS Evening News,” and “PM Magazine.”
Now semi-retired, Mark lives in Barefoot Bay with his wife, Jody. He’s still very much involved in ventriloquism, serving on the board of advisors for the Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, KY – the world’s only ventriloquism museum. He’s also an executive director for the International Ventriloquists Convention that draws about 600 participants from around the globe.
Mark got involved in Rockledge Rotary after accepting a speaking invitation. He enjoyed the people and decided to join, having also been a Rotarian in Ohio for a time.
Ventriloquism became a passion for Mark about 40 years ago, catapulting him to prominence in that field and eventually winning him International Ventriloquist of the Year honors – a designation held by such notables as Jeff Dunham.
It all started after he took a course in the comedic art. The Columbus, OH, native had begun a career teaching elementary school upon graduating from Ohio University. But he soon found his success as a ventriloquist had eclipsed his success as an educator. “I was making more money on weekends at shows than I was teaching for 40 hours during the week and I said, ‘What’s wrong with the picture?’” Mark explained.
Accordingly, he decided to finish out his contract with the school and pursue show business. “I took a leap of faith and bet on myself,” he said.
Mark’s act brought him to Japan, the United Kingdom and many parts of the United States and Canada. He has performed at fairs and various public events, opening for such high-profile entertainers as Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire.
He has appeared many times on national television, including such programs as “Entertainment Tonight,” “CBS Evening News,” and “PM Magazine.”
Now semi-retired, Mark lives in Barefoot Bay with his wife, Jody. He’s still very much involved in ventriloquism, serving on the board of advisors for the Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, KY – the world’s only ventriloquism museum. He’s also an executive director for the International Ventriloquists Convention that draws about 600 participants from around the globe.
Mark got involved in Rockledge Rotary after accepting a speaking invitation. He enjoyed the people and decided to join, having also been a Rotarian in Ohio for a time.
“It’s a little bit of a jog to get up there but it’s well worth it,” he said. “I have to get up by quarter of five every Thursday morning and drive up there about 40 minutes. But I like the people so well. That’s just the staying power of that club.”
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Rotarian Duane Daski is a member of the Rockledge City Council and has extended his service to countless people through volunteer work over many years. “I've always been involved in giving back and helping out,” Daski said. “I’m a big-time believer in giving back to your community whenever you can and helping out in any way you can.”
Cheryl Cominsky just wanted to do a little volunteering for The Children’s Hunger Project – that’s all. It turned out to be more than that. In April 2020, she became the nonprofit organization’s executive director. “I started as an office volunteer and then it just became my heart,” said Cominsky, a Rockledge Rotarian . “It was never my aspiration to be executive director. I didn't walk in here with that idea in mind.” The Children’s Hunger Project in Cocoa is addressing a gap in schoolchildren’s meal programs. While in-school breakfast and lunches are available during the week, some children go hungry on weekends. In response to this problem, volunteers for the organization get together and pack weekend food packages that teachers place into the children’s backpacks. The packages contain nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods these children can bring home on Fridays. Volunteers meet at the Cocoa location to prep the weekend food packages. A number of businesses, civic groups and faith communities in the area support the effort with generous donations. “It’s just wonderful to be supported and surrounded by so many good people,” Cominsky said. The Children’s Hunger Project has been in Brevard County for 11 years. It started out serving 27 students. Now, the program is in 46 elementary schools helping to feed about 2,700 every week. In the early days of the pandemic, the number of meals served reached 6,000 but has since tapered off. “We're 72 miles of beautiful beaches with spaceships and rocket launches , but we still have families and children who need help,” she said. A New Jersey native, Cominsky moved to Florida with her husband and son in 2000 (a second son was born in 2002). The move came after she spent years in Pennsylvania managing sales for a software-reselling business. After that job brought the family to the Florida east coast, her husband's job prompted a move to Tampa. Seven years ago, they relocated to Viera . For much of her adult life, Cominsky has been involved in volunteer efforts, helping organize events, fundraisers, and functioning in other child-advocacy capacities. “You’ve got to care for other people,” she said. “Everybody needs some help sometimes.”