Mark Petrarca became Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Public Affairs in 2005. He is responsible for all domestic and international human resources activities including policy and strategy development, employment, compensation, employee relations, performance management, organizational development and succession planning. He also manages the company's public affairs function which includes internal and external communications and community relations. Additionally, he serves as the company's official spokesman.
Mark joined A. O. Smith in June 1999 as VP - human resources for its Water Products Company, responsible for all human resources activities for the operating unit. He also was involved in the 2000 acquisition of State Industries and played a major role in integrating that business into the Water Products Company.
Prior to joining A. O. Smith, Mark worked as director of human resources for Strike Weapon Systems, a division of Raytheon Systems Company, in Lewisville, TX (USA). He began his career in 1985 at Texas Instruments in its Defense Systems & Electronics Group in Dallas, holding positions in manufacturing and human resources.
Mark holds a BS in industrial engineering from Bradley University and an MS in management and administrative sciences from the University of Texas-Dallas.