Mark Hainds worked for two decades as the Research Coordinator for The Longleaf Alliance (LLA) and as a Research Associate with Auburn University (AU). He resigned these dual positions in Nov, 2014, to walk the Texas-Mexico Border. His manuscript about the trek has a working title of “Border Walk”. The trek will also be featured in a full-length film on PBS that will be titled “La Frontera.” In his spare time Mark collects, eats, and sells wild fruits, berries, and herbs at the Palafox Farmers Market in Pensacola, Florida. He also owns and manages Sweetbill’s; a small company that produces specialty wood chunks/chips for grilling and smoking enthusiasts. He is a lifelong hunter, fisherman, and trapper.