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FAIRHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1976

Where We Are Now

Interesting information about our classmates taken from the World Wide Web or submitted by themselves.We would prefer if our classmates submitted the information and photo themselves to save us from 'searching you down'

Mark White

Mark lives in Acushnet with his wife and two daughters. Mark has successfully operated several businesses in the area, including Gear Locker Marine Services in New Bedford, GM White Construction in Acushnet and the Popes Island Corp., among other business ventures that also include Wayland Development and D.W. White Construction, according to records with the Secretary of State's office. In 2008 Mark an avid golfer, purchased Heritage Hills Country Club in Lakeville at a foreclosure auction. Mark's plans are to reopen the par-3 course and country club as soon as possible and rebuild his clientele His F.H.S. classmates wish him well. Standard-Times photo January 18th 2008.

LAKEVILLE MEN OF THE YEAR: Trio that revived golf club 'a godsend' December 24, 2009 12:00 AM LAKEVILLE — When homeowners near the Back Nine Golf Club and Pub look out their windows these days, they see a manicured course and a thriving, community-friendly business. It's a far cry from the property that, in recent years, had been overgrown and in disrepair, and the transformation has made owners David Marchand, David Waxler and Mark White the 2009 Lakeville Men of the Year. Nominations for this award came from the community and members of the newspaper staff. Recipients were selected by a newsroom committee. "I'm ecstatic about what these guys have done. ...They have been ... a godsend," said Kevin McMenamy, who lives in the subdivision surrounding the course. "The money they have put into this place has been unbelievable. I don't know how they can ever make it back, but it certainly has improved the value of the properties around here." Known previously as the Heritage Hills Country Club, the property had deteriorated under prior ownership. Three years ago, White, Marchand and Waxler decided to use their experiences in upgrading the New Bedford Country Club to strike out on their own and turn around the Heritage Hills property. The three invested hundreds of hours and millions of dollars into the project. Changes included a new septic system, installing asphalt pathways, ridding the property of mosquito breeding areas, removing 300 trees and hiring experienced groundskeeper Jerry Noons. The clubhouse itself received a new deck and a cellar-to-roof renovation. They also added a restaurant and hired New Bedford Country Club's Joe Klein as manager and chef Derek Arruda, who developed a following during his time at Cork Wine and Tapas Bar in New Bedford. "We saw a lot of the success we were able to do (at the New Bedford Country Club), and we kind of kicked around the idea at times, saying it would be nice to see if we could do this in the business world," said White. "This place had been in the paper with a lot of bad publicity for a long time. I had played out here for fundraisers, and one thing they always had was a loyal group of people that swore by this place." Along with knowing their way around golf courses — White and Waxler have both spent time as president of the New Bedford Country Club — each man has brought unique expertise to the endeavor. White owns a construction and land development company, Waxler is a retired attorney and Marchand is the chief financial officer of Sealand Energy and, say his business partners, a marketing genius. All three said that from Day One, the business plan has been to make the Back Nine into a fun and affordable place to play golf, dine and socialize. Unlike other courses that charge as much as $100 to $150 for a day of golf, you can play 18 holes at the Back Nine for $18. Marchand said the club got its name because "the back nine is the best place to be on a golf course .. .you have a match going and are having a blast and it is a sunny, beautiful day and you come into a nice atmosphere like this (clubhouse). The owners stressed that the dream of The Back Nine would never have been realized without the support of town officials and the neighbors. "It was a really good opportunity for the town to have such a reputable company come in and turn the property around. ... Now it is a real, class golf course and restaurant," said Derek Maksy, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Neighbors, such as Richard LaCamera and Erik Madsen voiced their appreciation. "They have done a terrific job of bringing the course to almost where it was years ago. ... If they hadn't come in, it really could have been a disaster for the neighborhood," said LaCamera. "My family and I eat at the club at least once a week. ... The seafood is great," Madsen said. He added that The Back Nine has also brought the neighborhood together, with residents holding a neighborhood Christmas party at the pub. For his part, Waxler said there is a delicate balance between pleasing customers and making a business work. "What we found is ... when we come up with an idea that is fun and will make the place more inviting, it's often the right thing to do economically.... This has got to be a place where people really smile when they hear the name."