“What we do with the rest of our lives is of critical importance.” That profound message hangs on the back of Dave Markarian’s office door. It’s a reminder to prioritize his goals, values, and actions.” I am an optimist, driven to succeed, give back to my community, and mentor others, as others have done to me.”

He has, and continuously does just that. Dave’s law firm helps companies of all sizes, including Fortune 500’s, solve their challenges, guiding many, from start-up to grown-up, for both business and life. “I provide value through advocacy and counsel in challenging legal, governmental, business, regulatory, energy, and technology arenas. We also work alongside coalitions of small businesses, senior corporate leadership, and elected officials to drive profitability at marginal cost and risk, generating win-win outcomes.”

He is a fighter at his core. “I grew up in Miami in the 70s and early 80s, and the whole environment of my youth was winning. Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins had the perfect season, the Miami Hurricanes were winning championships. I remember one day as a young law student sitting in the courtroom watching a trial, and I knew right then and there that I wanted to litigate.”  At one point, he won ten trials in a row, but then that streak came to a halt. “I felt so horrible that I never wanted to lose again, and I went on to win nearly every case I have tried since that time. I obsess about winning and getting the best outcomes for my clients.”

Dave and his team take a compassionate approach to their client's needs, focusing on transparency, efficiency, and, most importantly, integrity. “My team would say I am a hands-on, supportive leader who leads with praise. I remind them, and often myself, that our goal is to be better today than we were yesterday. Daily improvement is the goal.”

That belief to improve life for his team and the community led him to join The Economic Council of Palm Beach County six years ago. “I knew it was one of the most influential groups in the community, and I knew that service with the Council was actually service. It was not a marketing group. It is a group that studies things and gets things done. We have come to be known as a purpose-driven organization, in which we choose to work on things because we care. It adds another dimension to our image. We’re not there to hand out business cards. We're there to study things and see where we can improve them.”

He believes several critical issues need to be addressed for Palm Beach County to maintain a strong economy. “Climate change is one of the most pressing problems facing our state.  It threatens our way of life and our tourism, agricultural, and business interests.  I’ve spent nearly a third of my professional life focused on issues and initiatives related to renewable energy development and energy independence. One of our strongest members of the Council, and in our community, NextEra, is the leading thought leader in this realm. “

Workforce housing, he says, is another challenge. “Affordable housing is an issue in almost every hire. Whether we are soliciting talent from Martin County or convincing people that they can afford to relocate here and find affordable, comfortable rentals, it’s a real obstacle. Home ownership is almost out of the question for young people entering the workplace.  And this isn’t just a workplace problem for the members of the Council.  It is also a quality of life issue for us all. We all think of the day when our children and grandchildren may consider coming back to live and work in our community. Will they be able to afford to put down roots? It doesn't look promising.”

Dave also sees education as a vital concern we must address.  Not one to sit on the sidelines, Dave first began influencing change as Chair of the Board of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. “I learned through attending Economic Council meetings how uneven education is. With the help of fellow leaders at our Chamber, we lit a fire and shined a spotlight on opportunities that were just beginning to get focus and traction, such as developing an incredible network between the schools, their principals, and the Chamber. This prompted questions about how the business community can assist with education, mentorship, and real participation. We also took advantage of Junior Achievement’s “Principal for a Day” program, which allows business leaders to see first-hand the challenges that our schools face. That awakening allowed us to better support scholarships for students and teachers to enhance their commitment to education. As an example of progress, we raised 4 times more funding for scholarships from one year to the next through our Palm Beach North Education Foundation.”

Dave’s next leadership opportunity will be as Chair of the Board of Directors of CareerSource Palm Beach County, which is dedicated to job and career placement, training and retraining. Nothing is more important to our fellow neighbors than the dignity that comes from a decent job and self-determination. Dave also strives to bring people together in a purposeful way. “We need to return civility to the forefront of our public discourse. We are far more alike than we are different, and we need to take time to understand and acknowledge differing points of view and what drives respected people to think differently than we do. Civility is something that drives me. Brotherhood and sisterhood. Working with one another to engage in civil discourse needs to make a renaissance.”

Reflecting on his 35-year-plus career, Dave had plenty of advice for his younger self. “I would start early on in my career do something about issues that bothered me and get involved to make a difference. I would my live life purposefully – beyond my work – to be present and aware while making sure to laugh and have fun making new friends, and I would take good care of myself.

One could say that he has had his own personal renaissance. He is involved with many local organizations, and when we spoke, he was on his way to help build a home for Habitat for Humanity, another one of the organizations he cares deeply about, and also serves on the Board of. “Habitat for Humanity provides more than a physical structure. They offer security, stability, and progress. There is so much gratitude, pride, and a real sense of community that comes for both those volunteering to help build a home, and in helping the new homeowner.” 

The renewed belief in a brighter future that the new homeowner feels also pushes Dave. He embraces continued growth, finding inspiration from the book “Mindset” by Carol Dweck. “You must avoid falling into the trap that your learning years are behind you. The book teaches us that the brain is like a muscle. The more I use my brain and learn, the better it is for my brain as I age. It gives me joy to learn new concepts and ideas. This book changed my life because it made me realize that the next 50 years of my life will be informed by learning, rather than coasting on the ideas that currently rattle around in my head.”

After all, “What we do with the rest of our lives is of critical importance.”  It is a wake-up call for many, but for Dave, it’s his commitment to reflect on what truly matters while leaving a meaningful legacy of positive contributions and impact for others to emulate.