Mark Dollins
Meet the President
So, I started a new career journey — one that combines the art of storytelling with the science of communicating for a purpose. I studied organizational communications not at a graduate school known for communications, but at one for engineering—what I would call that art-and-science combo.
It worked for me, and I started making it work for all kinds of organizations. From Cap’n Crunch to Kevlar, and credit cards to Corollas, it seemed everyone could use help navigating change — for their businesses, and for communications professionals expected to drive results in dramatically changing marketplaces.
Communications? Results? Guide? “Yeah, that’s it,” I thought. “I could be a North Star.”
I’ve turned in my egg carton Martian mask, but the inner kid with a quest for learning, applying those lessons, and guiding others along the way keeps growing. And after putting on another 200 pounds, I won a couple of national masters amateur wrestling titles in 2012 and 2016. I’m keeping my bases covered.
Okay, if you really want to know about those 30 years, education and awards, you can still click here. But I promise I’ll have a better story to tell in person. You can reach me here.
For now, live long and prosper.
On Passion and Communication
I could bore you with a chronological history of my 30+ years in Corporate Communications and consulting, or my education, or a bunch of awards. Yawn.
My passion is making communications work. My mom will tell you I had it in me since I was an overly optimistic kid growing up in Alexandria, VA. On a hot summer weekday in 1969, all I needed was a green egg carton and a passion for intergalactic storytelling. That’s when this happened…
… As clearly evidenced by the photo, fashion and professional wrestling were close seconds in terms of career potential. Still, I went on to edit my high school newspaper, earn my degree in radio and television, and start my career as a journalist. While covering murder trials, budget battles and basketball games was fascinating, I yearned for something more. I really believed that communications could be more than just reporting what had already happened.
Mark began his career in broadcast and print journalism, working with ABC News and other print news outlets. He currently serves on the national advisory council of George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, served for eight years on LSU’s journalism advisory board for the Manship School of Communications, and holds a seat on The Conference Board’s Change & Transformation Council.
He received a bachelor’s degree in Radio/TV from The George Washington University and a master’s degree in organizational communications from Purdue University. He is also a certified USA Wrestling coach and a two-time national champion in USA Wrestling masters folkstyle.
Mark Dollins
Mark Dollins is president of North Star Communications Consulting, where he advises organizations and leaders on employee communication, change communication, leadership communication and the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the communications profession.
His career spans more than three decades in corporate and consulting roles. Before founding North Star, he served as head of Executive and Global Employee Communications for DuPont, where he led communication strategies supporting 35,000 employees and 8,000 people leaders through major business transformation, including the $130 billion Dow-DuPont merger. His teams have earned multiple IABC Gold Quill, PRSA Silver Anvil and PRWeek honors for employee communication, change management and employee engagement.
Dollins is co-author, with John Stemmle, of the second edition of Engaging Employees Through Strategic Communication: Skills, Strategies and Tactics. He also co-leads an annual global study of artificial intelligence and employee communication, conducted continuously since 2023, examining AI adoption, governance, skills, organizational change and the evolving role of communication professionals. He teaches employee communication and engagement as an adjunct professor at the Missouri School of Journalism.
Outside the communications profession, Dollins is one of the nation's most highly credentialed wrestling coaches. In July 2026, he became the 50th USA Wrestling Gold-Certified coach and the only coach in Connecticut holding the organization's highest coaching certification. As part of that development, he served as a CAP coach with the U.S. delegation at the 2026 U23 Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru, coached at a USA Wrestling national development camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and mentored 15 coaches pursuing USA Wrestling Silver certification.
Dollins also continues to compete nationally and internationally. He has won five USA Wrestling national titles in Masters competition, including the 2024 USA Wrestling Beach Nationals, and in 2026 earned a silver medal in beach wrestling and a gold medal in jiu-jitsu at the Open Masters Games in Abu Dhabi.
He brings the same philosophy to leadership, communication and coaching: develop people, create clarity, set high standards and help others continually improve.