Mark A. Gagnon, Ph.D.

Vitae

Teaching Interests

Entrepreneurship, agribusiness, agritech (food, Ag & Bio-renewable start-ups), strategy and sustainability in the agricultural sciences

Research Interests

Entrepreneurship in agritech (food, agriculture and bio-renewables): entrepreneur linkages with new venture practices and performance, investment and venture capital, sustainable entrepreneurship in for-profit contexts

Courses taught

• AGBM 308w - Strategic Agribusiness
• AGBM 445 - AgTech Entrepreneurship
• AGBM 460 - Managing the Food System

Biography

Mark Gagnon is the Harbaugh Entrepreneur and Innovation Faculty Scholar in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State University at University Park, PA. Mark co-founded The Entrepreneurship and Innovation (E&I) Program in The College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State in 2012. The E&I Program is successfully equipped to add value to original ideas and research discoveries by creating entrepreneurial success across Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences community.

Dr. Gagnon's scholarly interests are for-profit entrepreneurship that address challenges in food, agriculture and bio-renewables (AgTech). Many of these challenges in the agriculture space naturally fit under the banner of sustainability. His current research examines new technology value proposition development and strategic implementation within AgTech. In addition, Mark investigates the role of founder values and characteristics and their relationship with firm competitive resource bundling and capability development. He teaches courses in entrepreneurship, strategic agribusiness and coordinates the entrepreneurship minor in food and bio-innovation.

Mark is a former entrepreneur and business development executive in forest products and building materials. He has been involved in two green building product start-ups and has managed product portfolios over $300M. Furthermore, he has extensive experience in change management, new product development and has been a part of successful product launches for leading brands. Mark consults with leading agribusiness firms and emerging start-ups in food, agriculture and bio-renewables.

Select Publications

Gagnon, M.A. and Lulek, W. 2024. American Egg Case II: Strategic Growth. Sage Business Cases.

Gagnon, M.A, Broad, G., Grandison, K., and Chiles, R.M. 2022. AgriTech Investor and Informant Perspectives About Cellular Agriculture. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review.

Chiles, R.M., Broad, G., Gagnon, M.A., Negowetti, N., Glenna, L., Griffin, M., Tami-Barrera, L., Baker, S and Beck K. 2021. Democratizing Ownership and Participation in the 4^th Industrial Revolution: Challenges and Opportunities in Cellular Agriculture. Agriculture and Human Values, Issue 2.

Gagnon, M.A. and Donley, W.R. 2020. Sigma Rail Services: From executive to entrepreneur teaching case. Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy.

Gagnon, M.A. 2020. American Egg: Making the Family Dividend. In Sage Business Cases.

Industry Experience

Co-Founder/Vice President - DyeNon Building Technologies, Inc., Murfreesboro, TN

Director of Business Development - Bay Tree Technologies-USA, LLC, Memphis, TN

Director of Product Management - Huttig Building Products Corporation, St. Louis, MO

Regional Sales Manager-J.M. Huber Corporation, Charlotte, NC