Mark L. Venit, 67, marketer extraordinaire, apparel graphics expert, and all-around Renaissance man, passed away Saturday, December 26, after a heart-attack, stroke, and coma in early December. His lifelong passion for castles now has him exploring “castles in the air” above us all. Mark L. Venit, MBA, was president of Apparel Graphics Institute LLC, which provided management and marketing consulting and proprietary research to apparel graphics companies throughout the Americas and Europe. Author of several books, including The Business of T-Shirts (2011) and nearly 500 articles on management and marketing published in trade magazines and professional journals, Venit was recognized by Impressions Magazine as one of the Top 25 Innovators in Industry History.
In recent years, he served as Chairman of the Board of ShopWorks Software, the apparel graphic trade’s leading provider of industry-specific business software, and he was engaged extensively as an expert witness. He was qualified in all US and Canadian jurisdictions in the areas of trademark and copyright applications and business practices for the apparel graphics industry.
His career included being CEO of USAdvertising Corp. (Philadelphia, PA); President/CEO of Empire Specialty Printing Corp. (Philadelphia, PA); and Executive Vice President of Plymouth Mills International (New York, NY). Venit also helped manage the business affairs of Buffalo Bob Smith and Howdy Doody as well as being closely involved in apparel marketing promotions for Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, Meatloaf, and The Kingsmen.
A former professor of advertising and marketing, Venit earned his bachelor’s (Magna Cum Laude 1970) and Masters degrees (Summa Cum Laude 1973) at Temple University in Philadelphia. He has presented over 1,100 workshop and seminar courses at more than 250 trade events throughout North America and Europe, as well as conducting thousands more management and marketing programs for more than 600 clients and at colleges and universities.
An accomplished pianist, avid boater, and whitewater rafting enthusiast, he also enjoyed woodworking, fishing, and target shooting. His self-confessed passions are exploring medieval castles, including researching the histories long-hidden within their walls, and building sandcastles. Venit is a 3-time world champion sand sculptor. To see his online video of How to Build a Sandcastle, visit: http://www.monkeysee.com/play/2120.
He is survived by his mother Mildred Klugman, his sons Kyle and Gabe, his brother Kenn and his wife Bonni, his nieces Dawn Cathey and Joy Shane Venit, and Dawn’s son Kevin, Mark’s godson. He will also be missed by his hundreds of clients and friends throughout the apparel graphics industry.