Mark Waier

Principal & Strategic Advisor

Mark Eric Waier is a Principal & Strategic Advisor at Daley Strategies who helps organizations turn complex ideas into funded, approved, and implemented projects. With more than two decades of executive leadership experience spanning strategic communications, public affairs, government relations, business development, and stakeholder engagement, Mark is known for helping clients navigate political complexity, build stakeholder consensus, and deliver transformative initiatives that create lasting public value.

Throughout his career, Mark has worked at the intersection of government, business, and community, advising public agencies, private developers, nonprofit organizations, and executive leadership on some of California's most visible and consequential initiatives. Whether advancing major infrastructure investments, economic development strategies, airport modernization, destination development, or public-private partnerships, he specializes in aligning diverse interests around a common vision and moving ambitious projects from concept to completion.

Mark's career is defined by measurable results. He helped secure a permanent home and millions of dollars in public funding for Happy Trails for Kids through strategic engagement with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He played a leadership role in advancing approvals for Los Angeles International Airport's Automated People Mover and Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility—cornerstone projects of one of the nation's largest airport modernization programs. Today, he serves as a strategic advisor on the modernization and expansion of the Palm Springs Convention Center and its surrounding connectivity improvements, helping build the stakeholder support, funding partnerships, and public momentum necessary to deliver one of the Coachella Valley's most transformative civic investments.

At Daley Strategies, Mark advises clients on complex infrastructure, aviation, tourism, hospitality, economic development, transportation, and community revitalization initiatives. He develops communications strategies, leads stakeholder engagement, supports business development, advises executive leadership, and helps organizations navigate the political, regulatory, and community dynamics that often determine whether projects succeed or stall.

Prior to joining Daley Strategies, Mark served as Director of Communications for Los Angeles World Airports' Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP), overseeing communications for the multibillion-dollar initiative that includes the Automated People Mover, Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility, Intermodal Transportation Facilities, and related improvements transforming access to Los Angeles International Airport. He led executive communications, media relations, public outreach, construction communications, and stakeholder engagement while coordinating with contractors, developers, regional agencies, elected officials, and community organizations.

Before joining Los Angeles World Airports, Mark spent nearly a decade in executive leadership at Metrolink, where he directed marketing, revenue growth, strategic partnerships, and digital innovation for Southern California's regional commuter rail system. He led the implementation of one of the transit industry's earliest and most successful mobile ticketing platforms, managed marketing initiatives supporting more than $90 million in annual revenue, and developed strategic partnerships with organizations including Uber, Lyft, Amtrak, JetBlue, FlyAway, and major Southern California professional sports organizations.

Mark also served as Chief Executive Officer of a privately held real estate investment trust responsible for a commercial portfolio exceeding $145 million across the United States and Europe. There, he oversaw acquisitions, leasing strategy, asset management, organizational operations, financial performance, and long-term investment planning, giving him firsthand insight into the priorities and challenges facing private-sector clients.

Earlier in his career, Mark represented Loyola Marymount University in state and federal government relations, advocating before policymakers and helping secure federal funding for institutional priorities.

Mark believes that the most successful projects are built long before construction begins. They are built through trust, thoughtful engagement, transparent communication, and the ability to unite people around a shared vision. That philosophy has made him a trusted advisor to executives, elected officials, developers, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies seeking to deliver projects that are not only technically successful, but also broadly supported by the communities they serve.

Mark has received numerous professional honors throughout his career, including six Grand Prize Awards from the American Public Transportation Association for excellence in marketing and communications and recognition as one of Advocate Magazine's Top 40 Under 40.

He earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in History, from Loyola Marymount University. His legal education, combined with executive leadership experience across government, infrastructure, real estate, and economic development, enables him to provide strategic counsel on the complex issues shaping today's public and private sectors.

Outside of his professional work, Mark is passionate about architecture, real estate, art, music, and design. An avid traveler and lifelong explorer, he enjoys experiencing new places through their people, food, culture, and built environment—and is always looking for his next adventure, whether discovering a new city, experiencing live music, or heading to the mountains to snowboard.