Marcus Purnell

Marcus Purnell was raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland by a determined mother and a resilient grandmother. He attributes his survival and early development to their unwavering love and the village that helped raise him. Grateful for the strong women in his life, Marcus also honors the influence of male mentors who challenged him to grow, lead, and serve with purpose.

At 17, Marcus enlisted in the U.S. Army to fund his college education. While serving in the Army Reserves, he attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta, where he was mentored by civil rights leaders, political figures, and cultural icons. Influential figures such as Former-Late Mayor Maynard Jackson, Dr. Hosea Williams, DJ Ally Pat, businessman Mr. Don DeChebert, and Professor Deshouzah Shepperd instilled in him the value of mentorship and community upliftment.

A pivotal relationship was created with Mr. Himmelfarb, a successful entrepreneur. It was he that taught Marcus’s key lessons about money, leverage, scaling, and decision-making that shaped his financial philosophy, which he continues to use today!

Today, Marcus serves as the Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Coach for Operation HOPE, which is powered by The UPS Foundation. He empowers businesses, families, and individuals to prepare for emergencies and recover from disasters with resilience and clarity. His mission is to ensure that communities are ready before disaster strikes, which positions families and businesses to recover and rebuild stronger and faster!