Attorneys.

J. MARK SMITH, OF COUNSEL

BIOGRAPHY

J. Mark Smith has been a licensed attorney in Texas since 1999. He has worked on both sides of the bar – representing individuals and companies in cases involving employment law, contract disputes, personal injury claims, and other legal matters. Since 2004, he has represented Harris County Emergency Corps (“HCEC”), formerly Harris County Emergency Services District No. 1, a premier EMS agency in Southeast Texas. During that time, he served as Vice President of Administration and General Counsel for the organization of 200+ employees and volunteers and serving more than 500,000 residents of Harris County, Texas. Since returning to private practice, Mark has added a number of small businesses to his growing practice.

A graduate of Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School with an MBA, Mark serves as a class agent and keeps in frequent contact with his classmates. He is also a sports and fitness enthusiast, having participated in several races including the Tough Mudder, the Spartan Race, and others.

EDUCATION

Texas A&M University (B.A.)
Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School (M.B.A.)
University of Houston Law Center (J.D.)

CERTIFICATIONS

Myers Briggs Typology Indicator (MBTI)

PRESENTATIONS

Texas NAEMSP Medical Directors Conference

• EMS Wall. Time Woes: What Can We Do About It?, March 2022

Texas EMS Conference

• When Patients Say No: EMS Liability for Patient Refusals, November 2019, 2018, 2017

17th Annual SAFE-D Conference

• EMS Billing and Compliance, February 2018
• EMS Liabilities, February 2018

HR Houston

• Are They Really Exempt: FLSA Classification Issues, October 2017

Texas Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues

• FLSA Overview and the New Overtime Rules, May 2017
• When Jane Becomes John: LGBT Issues in the Workplace, May 2014, 2015, 2016

American Ambulance Association

• When Patients Say No: Handling Patient Refusals in EMS, November 2016

Meador Staffing

• FLSA Overview and the New Overtime Rules, October 2016

HR Southwest

• When Jane Becomes John: LGBT Issues in the Workplace, October 2016, 2015
• Strategic Planning and Execution for HR Professionals, October 2015

Texas Firefighter Magazine

• Employment Exams: How Fire Departments May Fail the Test (October 2015)

Galveston County Small Business Development Corporation

• Texas Payroll Law, April 2015
• Texas Employment Laws, August 2014
• If You Build It: Texas Business Formation, August 2014

Pearland Senior Expo

• Texas Estate Planning Basics, March 2015

Pearland Chamber of Commerce – Wisdom on Wednesdays

• Hiring Right: Tips for Building a High Performance Team, July 2014

EMS Patient Refusals, July 2, 2014

ARTICLES

Texas Firefighter Magazine

• Employment Exams: How Fire Departments May Fail the Test, October 2015

MEMBERSHIPS

National

• Society of Human Resources Management

State

• State Bar of Texas
• Texas EMS Alliance
• Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts (SAFE-D)
• Texas Aggie Bar Association

Local

• Brazoria County Bar Association
• HR Houston
• Pearland Chamber of Commerce

LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY

Pearland Neighborhood Center (January 2022 – Present)

• Director

Expanding Frontiers (November 2021 – Present)

• Advisor

The Pearland Chamber of Commerce (January 2016 – 2021)

• Past Chair (2021)
• Chair (2020)
• Chair Elect (2019)
• Vice-Chair of Governance (2017 – 2018)
• Director

Keep Pearland Beautiful (March 2016 – Present)

• Chair (2020-2021)
• Chair Elect (2019 – 2020)
• Director (2016 – Present)

Forgotten Angels Foundation (2016 – 2018)

• Director

Aggies Helping Others (February 2015 – Present)

• Director & General Counsel

The Foundation For Creative Leadership (February 2015 – Present)

• Director & General Counsel

Houston Technology Center – South (February 2015 – 2018)

• Advisor

Pearland Foundation For The Performing And Visual Arts (2014 – 2018)

• Vice Chairman/Secretary & General Counsel (2014 – 2015)
• Chairman (2016)
• Immediate Past Chairman (2017)

Outdoor Association For True Heroes, Inc. (OATH) (2013 – Present)

• Director & General Counsel

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Representing one of the largest emergency medical services agencies in Southeast Texas (a non-profit corporation).
Representing a large, non-profit community health network in Brazoria and Galveston Counties.
Representing a small municipality in Fort Bend County, Texas as city attorney.
Representing numerous small businesses as outside general counsel.