Mark Bankord
Mark is the Directional Leader and CEO of Heartland Community Church in Rockford, Illinois. He and his wife, Sherri, founded Heartland Community Church in July 1998 with a core group of people committed to “A Different Way To Do Church”, where transformational teaching is “the norm” and spiritual gifts are identified and used. Heartland has grown from 118 attending the first service in July 1998 to more than 6,000 people attending one of four identical weekend services. Under Mark’s leadership, Heartland purchased Colonial Village Mall in 2006 and now occupies more than 150,000 square feet of beautifully renovated space. Sunday service attendance is already at capacity and the two Saturday evening services are nearly full. For Mark, it has never been about a building. It is about providing seats for people who want to learn more about God. He is currently leading discussions with the Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and elders addressing the need for more room.
Mark served as the Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Christian Management Partners from 2003 to 2006 and is serving in his fifth year on the Christian Management Association Board of Directors.
From 1979 to the fall of 2007, Mark Bankord was the Managing Principal of CapTrust Asset Management in Rockford, Illinois. Mark’s professional accomplishments include co-anchoring an ABC-affiliate investment program, teaching at a local college and authoring a variety of articles for local and national publications. In 1996, Mark was presented with the Outstanding Broker Award by Registered Representative, a publication considered to be a leading magazine for investment professionals. Mark has over 25 years in the professional money management field and holds a degree in finance from Eastern Illinois University.
Mark and Sherri live in Rockford. They have four adult children all involved in ministry and one new grandson.
