Mark A Kern, DBA

People-Centered Leader Transforming Teams Through Strategic Leadership & Mentoring

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Category: Career

Why Your Front-Line Managers Are Failing – And It’s Your Fault

Posted on 14 July 202526 July 2025 by Mark Kern

Organizations frequently advance top performers into front-line management roles without providing the structured coaching they need, resulting in disengaged teams, stalled decision-making, and costly turnover. Common missteps—equating technical expertise with leadership ability and assuming people management comes naturally—leave new managers feeling lost. The Wake-Up Call You’ve promoted high performers into front-line manager roles and assumed…

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🚫 Stop Managing. Start Leading.

Posted on 13 July 202526 July 2025 by Mark Kern

Let’s be blunt:Too many front-line “leaders” are just glorified task managers. ✅ They chase checklists.✅ They monitor productivity.✅ They enforce deadlines.✅ They follow standard operating procedures (SOPs). But leadership? That’s a different game. Leadership is: 💬 Having hard conversations when it’s easier to stay quiet🧠 Coaching instead of controlling📈 Thinking beyond today’s metrics to build…

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Your First 30 Days as a Front-Line Manager: What No One Tells You

Posted on 12 July 202526 July 2025 by Mark Kern

Your promotion just went live. New title. New team. New pressure. The first 30 days in a front-line management role can feel like drinking from a firehose. It’s exciting—but also disorienting. You’re caught between proving yourself and figuring out what exactly you’re supposed to do. Here’s what I wish more people said out loud about…

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Managing Up: Influencing Without Authority

Posted on 2 July 202526 July 2025 by Mark Kern

Managing Up: Influencing Without Authority Leadership isn’t confined to titles or offices—it’s a daily practice of influence, empathy, and service. “Managing up” often gets a bad rap (it sounds self-serving!), but at its heart, it’s about aligning your success with your leader’s goals so everyone wins. Here’s how to turn that concept into impact—right from…

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About

Dr. Mark Kern, is a seasoned business administration professional with extensive experience bridging the worlds of federal revenue management and academia.

With a Doctorate of Business Administration from Liberty University, an MBA with a Marketing Concentration, and a BS in Business Administration with an Economics Concentration—both from the University of Kansas—Mark has built a distinguished career that combines practical leadership in large organizations with a passion for teaching and mentoring.

Currently serving in senior roles at the Internal Revenue Service, Mark leads teams dedicated to securing delinquent returns and implementing vital tax enforcement strategies. His expertise spans managing complex projects, mentoring emerging leaders through specialized programs, and driving strategic initiatives that enhance operational efficiency. His leadership experience is further bolstered by previous roles in revenue assurance and security, underscoring a career-long commitment to excellence in public service.

Mark’s multifaceted expertise, rigorous academic background, and real-world leadership make him a unique asset in both industry and higher education. He is continually pursuing innovative research, most recently exploring the dynamics of community engagement and financial stewardship within church organizations.

Whether in the classroom or at the helm of critical projects at the IRS, Mark's career is marked by a commitment to excellence, mentorship, and a strategic vision for the future.

Academic Experience

In addition to his federal service, Mark is a dedicated educator. As an Adjunct Instructor at Highland Community College, he has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of business professionals by teaching courses in business fundamentals, accounting, human resources, and personal finance.

His hands-on approach to teaching—characterized by engaging curriculum design, interactive course materials, and individualized support—reflects his belief in empowering students through knowledge.

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