• Office Sought: Representative, Indiana (3)
• Birth Date: July 18, 1950
• Occupation: Businessman
• Religion: Evangelical
• Web site: http://souderforcongress.com/
• E-mail address: mark@souderforcongress.com

Education

• University of Indiana, BA
• University of Notre Dame, MBA

Mark E. Souder (pronounced SOW-der) was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., and lives there. Souder is a 1968 graduate of Leo High School just west of Grabill, Ind. Souder earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Indiana University-Purdue at Fort Wayne in 1972. He also served as student body president.

He received a master's degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1974. He worked briefly as a management trainee in St. Louis for Crossroads Furniture, before joining Gabberts Furniture in Minneapolis.

Souder in 1976 moved back to rural Grabil, where his family has strong ties. Souder's great-great-grandfather was among Allen County's first Amish settlers in 1846, and his great-grandfather and grandfather founded Souder's of Grabill, a harness shop, in 1907. The store expanded into several other businesses, including Historic Souder's of Grabill, a 30,000-square-foot complex including Our Country Home Inc., a manufacturer of store fixtures.

Souder said he first was inspired to enter politics at age 14 when he heard Ronald Reagan give a speech for Barry Goldwater in 1964. Souder went to work for then-U.S. Rep. Dan Coats in 1983 as his economic development liaison. Coats hired Souder the following year as the Republican staff director of the House Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families.

Coats moved to the Senate to fill the seat vacated when Dan Quayle became vice president in 1988. Souder was selected legislative director and later became Coats' deputy chief of staff.

Souder left Coats' staff in 1993, moving back to the Fort Wayne area.

He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1994.

Souder and his wife, Diane, have three children.