Attorney Spotlight – Mark Carlton
Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman’s Attorney Spotlight for September is Mark G. Carlton. Mark joined Harman Claytor shortly after graduating from law school and has been here for 24 years. His practice focuses on insurance coverage.
1. Where are you from originally? — I was born in Roanoke, Virginia. I’ve lived in Virginia my entire life.
2. Did you have any other professions before becoming an attorney? — Only if you count waiting tables at Red Lobster and Olive Garden when I was in college.
3. How would your best friend describe you in three words? — I actually asked him. “Bald…kinda short.”
4. What advice would you give your younger self? — Wear earplugs to all those concerts!
5. When have you felt the proudest and why? — As a parent of two boys, it’s hard to pick a single proudest moment. However, I’ve been very lucky to perform music with both my boys. I’ll never forget the feeling of pride that would wash over me when I’d look across the stage and see the great performers and musicians they’ve become.
6. Describe an experience that has had a lasting impact on you. — As a guitarist growing up in the 80s (the heyday of rock guitar virtuosity), I’ll never forget when I first heard Joe Satriani. I was 14 years old and had been playing guitar for a few years. One of my older sister’s friends was at our house and heard me playing. He came into the room and said, “I see you play guitar… I have a tape you might like.” (Yes, it was a cassette tape.) He went to his car and came back with Joe Satriani’s “Surfing With The Alien.” I put it in my Walkman (yep… my Walkman), pressed play, and was absolutely mesmerized. I had never heard the instrument speak like that before, and it hit me in my musical gut. His playing influenced me more than any other musician. To this day, as much as I try NOT to just sound like a Satch imitator, it just comes out. (Bonus related impactful experience, just because it’s fun to think about, and you asked. I also remember around the same time, a buddy of mine gave me Metallica’s “Ride The Lightening” tape. I made it about 1 minute into the first track, right after James Hetfield starts singing on “Fight Fire With Fire,” and immediately shut it off before my parents heard it (my dad is a Methodist minister). The music sounded so evil to my young ears, I thought the walls were gonna start bleeding and the greasy dark imps of Satan were gonna spontaneously appear and drag me to hell. Seriously… listen to “Fight Fire With Fire”… after the deceivingly “nice” sounding intro. That’s scary stuff for a 14-year-old preacher’s kid in the early 80s.)
7. What has been your most meaningful accomplishment so far? — My legal assistant Claire and I have worked together for nearly a quarter of a century. After all that time working with me, she has STILL not stormed into my office and screamed, “I Quit and You Suck!”
8. What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far? — Being this handsome. People see how handsome I am and just assume that I must be a dumb rock musician. It’s not fair.
9. What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years? — No matter how much you plan or look ahead, something unexpected is around the corner. It may be great… it may be not-so-great. But, something you never saw coming awaits you.
10. You’re happiest when… — My boys come home to visit.
11. Do you have any pets? — A cat. He’s black and he’s terribly ungrateful. Even though I saved him from the shelter, he still claws up the carpets and pukes on the furniture.
12. What is your biggest pet peeve? — Camping in the left lane. I consider that a breach of the social contract. If you are in the left lane and getting passed on the right, be a good human and MOVE TO THE RIGHT LANE.
13. If you were stuck on an island, what three things would you bring? — I’ve watched enough “Alone” to know that if I were stuck on an island, I have virtually no chance of surviving, no matter what three items I bring. So, I would just bring my three favorite albums (Miles Davis “Kind of Blue”; Bob Marley “Legend”; and Bela Fleck “UFO TOFU”) and waste away to some great music.
14. Do you have a favorite quote or favorite line from a movie? — “I’m the Dude. So that’s what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.” If you don’t immediately recognize that quote, then I have no use for you. Be better.
15. If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would play you? — I don’t know… somebody bald, kinda short and little pudgy… maybe Emilio Estevez (not back in the Breakfast Club days, but how he looks now… but shave his head).
16. What TV show/movie are you ashamed to admit you love? — I’m just gonna say it. I loved the Twilight series. The movies… not the books. Actually, the first book was cool, but the others were trash. Team Edward all day.
17. Do you have any creative outlets or interests? — I only practice law so that I can fund my music habit. I’ve been a musician for most of my life. And although I can’t perform like I used to (because of issues with my ears), I’ve moved more toward recording.
18. What’s a cause that you are passionate about? — Helping younger musicians learn to play and perform.
19. What’s something that you’ve always wanted to try or learn? — Skydiving. Free falling thousands of feet must feel absolutely incredible. I can’t even imagine. But, I think my skydiving window has closed. At this point in my life, I’m pretty sure I’d just throw up and pass out.
20. Is there anything else interesting/fun/ surprising you would like to share not covered in any of the questions above? — No. I think I’ve probably already over-shared.
