Meet a Colleague: Mark Fontenot Mark Fontenot serves as fire and life safety systems technician.

W&L News Office
January 11, 2023

Q. How long have you worked at W&L?
I will have worked at W&L for 30 years this coming July.

Q. What do you like most about working at W&L?
I like working around my friendly co-workers.

Q. Where did you grow up?
I was born in Germany while my dad was stationed there in the Air Force. When we moved back to the states, we lived in New Hampshire for five years. Lexington became our home when I was five years old. We first lived on Rt. 608 and then later, my parents bought a small farm in Collierstown.

Q. What is the most adventurous thing that you have ever done?
Actually, a few adventures come to mind:
• I was honored to fly co-pilot in a F-16 fighter jet.
• It was quite an adventure to earn my scuba diving certificate in Curaçao.
• It was a major adventure being the catcher for my daughter as she practiced daily to become a girls fastpitch softball pitcher.

Q. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
I enjoy spending time outdoors. I like to golf, hunt, spend time in the woods and occasionally will go on a fishing trip. I love spending time with my family, especially pushing my new granddaughter in her stroller.

Q. If you could live anywhere, where would you build your dream home?
I honestly think that my home in Rockbridge County is my dream location. Our views there capture about 10 different mountain ranges. I enjoy visiting the western U.S., different beaches and other countries, but I love coming back home.

Q. Who most inspires you?
I have been blessed to have had a grandfather, father and father-in-law who were great role models and examples of great family, citizenship, faith and work values. Each of them played an important role in molding me.

Q. What music are you listening to these days?
I most enjoy listening to older country, classic rock and bluegrass music.

Q. Your favorite film (movie) of all time?
“Smokey and the Bandit” LOL!

Q. What is the website you visit most often?
I’m afraid my family hooked me on Amazon.

Q. If you could have coffee with one person, who would it be?
My Dad passed away 20 years ago and so much has happened in my life that I would love to share with him, especially his great granddaughter Zola coming into this world and our family.

Q. Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
One of my other careers besides being an electrician was as an aircraft mechanic. I spent 21 years in the Virginia Air National Guard as a crew chief where I worked on A-7’s, F-16’s and F-22’s. I retired as a Master Sergeant.

Q. What is your secret talent?
I am a scheduler – always have a game plan and deadlines to meet. I love to make things happen.