Mark received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in political science and Master of Arts with honors in political science, emphasizing public administration, both from the University of Florida in 1980 and 1982, respectively. Mark went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law, where he served as Associate Editor of the law review, graduating cum laude in 1987. Before engaging in the practice of law, Mark served in the U.S. Marine Corps, worked as a Planner for Hillsborough County, and was Planning Director for the City of Oldsmar, Florida. In 1989, Mark achieved membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
Mark is Board Certified by The Florida Bar as an expert in City, County and Local Government Law. Board certification is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar, and recognizes an attorney's special knowledge, skills and proficiency, along with professionalism and ethics in practice. His experience includes eminent domain litigation, land use, zoning, mediation, governmental and administrative law. Mark also received the highest peer review rating of AV published by the Martindale-Hubbell attorney directory. Along with his representation of property rights and land use matters, Mark has represented hundreds of private property owners against various condemning authorities around the state. Prior to starting his firm, Mr. Bentley served as in-house counsel to Radiant Oil Company of Tampa, Inc., now known as The Radiant Group, LLC, a regional Amoco Oil marketer, and its related corporations. Mark was also a shareholder with the GrayRobinson firm in Tampa.
Mark is very active within the community. He was Chairman of the Ybor City Development Corporation Board of Directors from 2001 to 2002, which is a non-profit organization established by the City of Tampa to coordinate redevelopment in Ybor City's Historic District, and Mark is still very active with this organization. Mark is also a member of the Board of Directors of Central Park Village Youth Services, Inc., which is also a non-profit corporation assisting in providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged children.
Mark is also very involved in the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association and received the Suncoast Section's 2006 Distinguished Service Award. The award is given to individuals who have had an outstanding career in planning and have made significant contributions to the planning profession.
