Mark Baker named CEO at Santa Clara-based One Workplace
Mark Ferrari to expand his role as chairman of the board of the family-owned business
Today One Workplace named Mark Baker as CEO, choosing a leader whose expertise in both commercial furniture and family-owned enterprises brought him to the company as chief operating officer in 2017. Mark Ferrari, who is celebrating his 50th work anniversary (36 of those years as CEO), will expand his role as chairman of the board of the family-owned company that was founded by his father in 1947.
Mr. Baker is a former executive at Steelcase who has led One Workplace through growth of technology and construction divisions, the initiation of workplace culture consulting and the company’s expansion into other markets, including Sacramento, Salinas and Seattle. He’s helped build the company into a strong workplace partner for some of the world’s best-known brands in the Bay Area and Seattle, and also bolstered their presence in the creation of healthcare and education environments. He has a track record of advising family businesses, which made him an especially good fit for the company, currently in its third generation.
In announcing the transition, Mark Ferrari said, “Mark Baker has helped us re-imagine our business alongside an external board of directors that will continue to guide our strategy as a growth company. While our business will grow and change, we’re confident that Mark will continue to uphold the values and culture that have contributed to the uniqueness of One Workplace.”
Mark Ferrari, together with his siblings Dave Ferrari and Julie Jarvis, took over leadership of the company when their father died suddenly in 1985. Over the past five decades, they have grown the business from a small office supply and furniture dealership into a multi-disciplinary partner to some of the world’s largest companies, designing and furnishing millions of square feet of real estate in the service of employee and customer experience, culture and brand building. Today One Workplace brings Steelcase and hundreds of additional brands, as well as expertise in design, construction, technology, workplace culture consulting, and hospitality into play as they help companies big and small create spaces where people work, innovate, learn and heal.
In addition to the leadership changes, One Workplace has welcomed two new members to the board of the privately held company: Alan Aldworth, managing director of Leopardo Management Company, who brings expertise in M&A, finance, strategy, and corporate governance; and Cynthia Paul, partner and national practice leader at FMI Corporation who works with architectural, engineering and construction companies and has a strong background in strategy development and driving a customer-focused culture.
In addition to Mark Ferrari, Dave Ferrari (president) and Julie Jarvis (executive vice president), other family members working in the business include Bryan Ferrari (director of workplace transformation), Chris Ferrari (director of sales operations), Liz Ferrari (manager of customer experience), Kelly Jarvis (account manager) and Scott Jarvis (sales associate).
About One Workplace
One Workplace creates new ways of working by helping companies bring their brands and cultures to life. As the West Coast’s leading interior solutions provider, One Workplace brings construction, technology, furniture and services under one roof to create better spaces, build powerful brands, and empower stronger cultures from the inside out. The One Workplace family of brands includes OpenSquare, Two, porter, Peninsula Business Interiors, Vantis, Splice, Pair, Technology by One Workplace and +One Consulting.
