Mark Hendrickson serves as the Assistant County Executive Officer for Merced County. In this role, he provides executive-level oversight of several County departments, ensuring alignment with the strategic priorities, policies, and direction of the Board of Supervisors. He fosters interdepartmental teamwork and collaboration, with a specific commitment to providing the highest-level of customer service to Merced County residents and shaping policies that lead to better governance. In this regard, he supports the County Executive Officer in promoting the County’s core values of acting with integrity, driving innovation, and valuing the importance of inclusion.
Formerly the Director of Community and Economic Development for Merced County, Hendrickson provided strategic leadership on efforts to attract, expand and retain business. Also, he was responsible for the County’s Planning, Buildings, and Environmental Health Divisions, and water policy portfolio.
Hendrickson previously served as the Director of Governmental Affairs for Merced County and was responsible for the oversight and direction of all federal and state legislation, and provided strategic counseling to the Board of Supervisors and County Executive Officer.
He also has extensive private sector experience, formerly directing government relations for one of the nation’s largest gas and electric utilities.
He has served on many boards including as a current member of the Atwater Elementary School Board of Trustees, the California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Livingston Community Health Board, the Merced County Workforce Investment Board, was the former President of the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce, Vice-Chairman of the Redevelopment Advisory Committee for the city of Merced and as a board member for the Merced College Foundation, amongst many others.
A decorated veteran of the United States Air Force and a graduate of California State University, Stanislaus, certificated in the Strategic Management of Public Organizations by the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley and a recognized California County Credentialed Senior Executive. Additional distinctions include being an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow and a graduate of the National Association of Counties High Performance Leadership Academy.