Talent, Ambition and Hard Work Spell Success For San Carlos Pilot Mark Schwartz
By Herb Foreman
Mark Schwartz stands by his Debonaire.I have known Mark Schwartz for a number of years now and I am still amazed at the talent in this one man! In a sketch I wrote several years ago, I called him the ultimate entrepreneur. He’s also a musician, mechanic, salesman, pilot, manager, businessman and more.
He bought the original Holland Motors from Bob Holland 35 years ago. It seemed a successful operation so he never changed the name to reflect his own glory. He figured he would just build on what Holland had begun and it worked out well. Building confidence in customers became all-important to him in the conduct of the business.
When I was a youngster, I watched countless movies of the “Old West” and always looked for the straight shooter (the hero of the story) played by actors such as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, John Wayne, Gary Cooper and many others. Honesty and integrity were all important to these individuals. Mark passes every test in this aspect of his life. Automobile sales people have not always commanded this kind of respect. Perhaps that is why Mark is the owner/operator of two highly successful automobile repair businesses.
He specializes in top-of-the-line automobiles: Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Volkswagon and Mini Cooper. Occasionally, he will work on other high-tech machines, such as Volvo and Lexus.
Convenience is another “by word” close to his heart. Always interested in aviation, he secured his private, instrument, multi-engine, commercial and ATP licenses flying for both pleasure and business. He is the proud owner of a Beech Debonaire and a well-equipped Beech Baron. Most of the automobile auction agencies are located in Southern California. Especially, with the Baron, he can fly there and bid on low-time foreign cars that his customers desire. It has worked out well.
A spotless operation, keeps Holland Motors’ customers happy.Mark’s recent expansion from his store in San Mateo to a second one in San Carlos has met every expectation. He bought an old warehouse containing 6,300-square-feet of space. His good friend, David Kervinen, a two-time Emmy Award winner in Graphic design, has helped in remodeling the building into a state-of-the-art structure with six work stations, each with its own lift. One could eat from the bright gray epoxy-covered floor. It is a visual masterpiece that should meet every expectation of his customers. Kervinen is an aviation expert himself, having recently constructed the world-famous Turbine Yellow Toucan, a highly-modified Pitts S-2C with a 750-horsepower Walters Turbine supplying power that can actually cause the plane to hover like a Harrier. The amazing aircraft will be used in demonstrations at various airshows throughout the world since a sponsor has been agreed upon.
I think it is noteworthy that successful individuals usually are equipped with more than one single skill or talent. In addition to his mechanical attributes, Mark is an accomplished musician. During the Viet Nam conflict, he had a USO contract to play the drums with a band that entertained our troops. He was an outstanding drummer at Washington High School in San Francisco. He was an excellent athlete, too, and in 1971 became the fastest man in the City on the high school track team. He earned a black belt in Karate and teaches a class in martial arts in San Francisco.
Mark has always tried to give something to the community, as well. He is an active member of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Air Squadron. He achieved his ATP license at Golden Gate Aviation and Embry Riddle University. He has done charter flying in a King Air and has the Citation rating, too.
There’s more but I think you can see the talent he brings to the San Carlos Airport and San Mateo County.
