Skip to content
Contact USI

Getting to know you: Mark Logel

July 1, 2019

Mark Logel and his family, including his wife, four daughters, their husbands and Logel's five grandchildren (at the time)As a father of four girls (including twins) and grandfather to five grandsons and one granddaughter, Mark Logel, assistant director of risk management, always has something on his agenda. "I thought when our daughters moved out, we would have more free time," he says. "Life seems busier now than ever."

When he's not spending time with his wife Paula (of 35+ years) and their growing family, Logel serves on the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana's risk management committee, helps with the Y's annual campaign and volunteers at his parish. "In high school and even grade school, I always did things that were service-oriented," he explains. "I have been in the service side of business my entire career, and I think it's a proper fit."

An Evansville native, Logel attended Memorial High School and the University of Evansville, where he received his degree in business and spent nearly 29 years working in athletics and administrative services. "I stayed on Lincoln Avenue for a while," he says.

Since making the cross-town switch to USI in November 2017, Logel has been responsible for handling all University insurance that is not employee related. He's also developed a passion for playing pickleball in the Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center.

Let's get to know more about this avid volunteer and active grandpa.  

Why is it important to you to be involved in the community outside of your professional sphere?

First, you get to meet a lot of good people and develop friendships that you would not otherwise. Second, and just as important, giving back to our community is necessary if we want a strong, supportive greater Evansville area to live in, learn in and be a part of. Lastly, it simply feels good to give back while knowing you are helping, in some small way, to make a positive impact on or for others.

Mark Logel and his grandson, LeoWhat has been your biggest takeaway from volunteering at several local organizations/businesses?

The biggest takeaway I have had is learning what the needs are of our Evansville community, especially our youth, and how many good folks are already volunteering and/or financially supporting the many worthwhile causes available.

How has the advance in technology transformed your job in risk management?

While emails and electronics help in moving information faster, it's very much a relationship business. Knowing who our customers are on campus, who we work with, who we are serving, knowing who we deal with on our insurance broker side - you must have those relationships. I think it's still very much a people business. You must understand what the situations are and what the various customers are trying to accomplish in order to try and fill those needs. Email and technology do facilitate things a bit quicker, but those relationships still have to be maintained.

Eliminate one thing from your daily work schedule. What would it be and why?

The drive. My commute from my former job was five to 10 minutes depending on if I hit red or green lights, and now it's 20 to 25 minutes. What was a three-mile commute is now a 10-mile commute one way. If I could go back to a five to 10-minute commute, I would like that.

Mark Logel and his wife, Paula, with grandchildren Grace and John

Share some of your hobbies and interests.

I play pickleball typically two days a week and sometimes one day on the weekend. It's good exercise. It's similar to tennis, and you can play indoors or outdoors. I prefer playing indoors. I enjoy playing golf. I really like to fish, but I don't get the time or opportunity to do that as much.

I really like being a grandpa. Our oldest grandson, who recently turned 5 years old, is here in Evansville, as well as our granddaughter, while the other four grandsons live in Indianapolis-two each-with our twin daughters. Our youngest daughter lives in Denver with her husband.

With family in Indianapolis and Denver, how often do you travel to see them?

Quite a bit. As much as we can to Indianapolis, especially. We go out to Denver about once a year to visit our daughter as we usually see her in Indianapolis several times a year as well.

What is one place you are dying to travel to?

My wife, Paula, and I would like to go on an Alaskan cruise. It's a matter of saving the money and having the time to do that. We have been on a few cruises in the Caribbean, and we would love to do an Alaskan cruise soon.

We would also like to travel more within the States and maybe go back to Hawaii. Paula and I were fortunate to go there when I was working at the University of Evansville in athletics. The team went there for the Maui Classic in 1989. I would not mind going back.

Mark Logel (r) with longtime friend Dan Lattner at an outdoor concert in Noblesville, Indiana

What job did you dream to have when you were a child?

For several years, I thought I'd probably be a high school teacher and coach like my dad [Memorial High School, University of Evansville and Indiana Football Hall of Fame inductee Gene Logel]. He taught at Mater Dei for four years prior to teaching and coaching at Memorial High School for 34 years. As I got older, probably late high school or early college, I realized that I wanted to take more of a business route. I wanted the opportunity to be a little better off financially. I knew what my dad got paid, and as a one-income household, there was nothing wrong with that. He knew what he wanted to do professionally and what he wanted for his family, and he loved his life.

I think God has a way of helping you work things out if you allow him to. I think it is ironic, in a very good way, that my dad spent 38 years in the education and coaching fields, and I am completing my 30th year in higher education. If this higher education service career had not worked out, I would probably have looked to teaching and coaching like my dad. If I ended up coaching, it would have probably been baseball or softball.

What is a quote to live by?

The one I tend to read the most is probably, "Professionals are people who can do their job when they don't feel like it. Amateurs are people who can't do their job when they do feel like it."

Also, just treat others how you would like to be treated. Do I live up to these day in and day out? Probably not, but I keep trying.

This interview was conducted by Kaylee Johnson '20, public relations and advertising, a student worker in University Communications. Know someone the USI community should get to know? Email usi.today@usi.edu. 

 

 

Recent Stories