Senator Mark Hollo

Mark Walter Hollo is a Republican member of the North Carolina Senate representing the 45th district, which includes all of Catawba County and part of Caldwell County. Born on July 24, 1958, in Litchfield, Illinois, Hollo relocated to North Carolina in 1990 and has become a prominent figure in both healthcare and state politics.

Hollo maintains residence in Conover, North Carolina, with his wife Barbara, to whom he has been married for 40 years. They have two sons and four grandchildren. His career has encompassed service as a healthcare provider, military veteran, state legislator, and community leader. In December 2016, Governor Pat McCrory awarded him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in recognition of his service to the nation, state, and community.

Education

Hollo earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University in 1980 and graduated from the Physician Assistant Program at Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University in 1983.

Political Experience

Hollo has served in the North Carolina House of Representatives for three separate terms. He was first elected to the House in 2004, defeating Democratic nominee Joel Harbinson, representing the 88th district from 2005 to 2007. Following redistricting, he represented the 88th district again from 2011 until 2013, and subsequently the 73rd district from 2013 until 2015. During his tenure in the House, he held leadership positions including Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Policy Committee, and Chairman of the Legislative Ethics Committee.

Hollo successfully transitioned to the North Carolina Senate, earning election to represent the 45th district. He currently serves his first term in the Senate after previously running unsuccessfully for the 42nd district Senate seat in 2018 and 2020.

In the private sector, Hollo co-owns a medical practice with over 40 employees, including physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. He holds professional memberships in the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Additionally, he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force Reserve and worked as a physician assistant at various medical facilities throughout his career.