About the Work
Mission
Embracing the power of stories to create a more inclusive world
Vision
A world where every person embraces their story.
Learn about
Mark
Telling stories is at the core of Mark Travis Rivera’s purpose in life. He is an award-winning creative entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer + Founder of The Professional Storyteller, where he embraces the power of stories to create a more inclusive world.
As a writer, Rivera’s bylines include The Bergen Record, Herald News, The Star-Ledger, Fox News Latino, and The Huffington Post. He was also a contributing author in the anthology, Crisis and Care: Queer Activist Responses to a Global Pandemic (PM Press, 2022), edited by Adrian Shanker. His debut collection, Drafts: An Imperfect Collection of Writing, was published in August 2017. He was also a contributing writer for Imagining: A Gibney Journal, where he shared his experience as a disabled choreographer and dancer.
As a stubborn and determined 17-year-old, Rivera founded marked dance project (2009-2019), and became the youngest person in the United States to create and lead an integrated dance company for disabled and non-disabled dancers. Inspired by his desire to dance as a person with cerebral palsy, he would go on to help disabled and non-disabled dancers alike find their voice as artists. As a Puerto Rican queer man, he was also one of just a handful of artistic directors of color in the disability dance field in the United States.
As an independent disabled choreographer, Mark is determined to build a bridge between the main dance field and disability dance. More recently, Mark was selected to participate in Ballet Hispanico’s Instituto Coreográfico program, becoming the first physically disabled Latinx choreographer to do the Instituto.
As a speaker, he has addressed audiences at various institutions of higher learning,
including Harvard, MIT, Rutgers, and NYU. As a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant and facilitator, he has spoken to corporate audiences virtually in the UK, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Israel, China, and India, just to name a few. His TEDx Talk, “Embracing Yourself, Embracing Your Potential,” was a smash in 2014 at Bergen Community College.
A first-generation high school and college graduate, Rivera earned his bachelor’s degree in women’s & gender studies with a minor in public relations from William Paterson University of New Jersey. In 2013, he was honored with the Campus Pride National Voice & Action Award for his work with the LGBTQ community. More recently, he won the Audre Lorde Award for Social Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Lavender Legacy Award from William Paterson.
He is a member of the WE CREATE SPACE global collective of LGBTQ+ leaders. He also serves as a Senior Consultant for Unlock Creative. He is a proud tio (uncle) to five nieces and two nephews. He was born in Miami, raised in New Jersey, and lived in New York City and the Bay Area, but now calls Atlanta, GA, home.
Mark's Core Values
Authenticity
Every day, we choose to show up, be seen, and be heard for exactly who we are, as we are—imperfect as that may be. We embrace vulnerability and foster an environment that holds space for our shared humanness. We do not hide or mask up or leave parts of our humanity or stories at the entryway, wherever we may be doing the work.
Clear Communication
Every day, we strive to be clear, consistent, and constructive in our communication. We are honest with ourselves and one another about our capacity and need for support. We believe that the foundation of all understanding is the ability to speak openly and communicate with care.
Wellness
Every day, we commit to caring for ourselves and prioritizing our wellness as we engage in the work. We cultivate the ability to show ourselves and others grace while making space for laughter, learning, empathy, and rest.
Services
At the heart of our work is the belief that stories can heal, connect, and transform. Through a range of offerings, we support individuals and organizations in moving with purpose, leading with authenticity, and creating spaces where truth can be spoken — and heard.
Our choreography services blend movement and message to create powerful, inclusive performances that tell stories, spark dialogue, and shift perspectives.
Our coaching services support individuals in uncovering their truth, clarifying their purpose, and confidently stepping into their power through guided, compassionate storytelling practices.
The Professional Storyteller’s Consulting Services pillar provides high-quality, client-centered approaches to helping our clients harness the power of stories to create a more inclusive workplace.
Mark’s presence on stage is both powerful and deeply personal. With every keynote, panel, or facilitated conversation, he brings lived experience, emotional intelligence, and a clear call to action. His talks move beyond inspiration — they invite audiences to reflect, unlearn, and lead with authenticity. Whether addressing leadership, inclusion, or identity, Mark speaks with a clarity that opens minds and a vulnerability that opens hearts.
Mark’s writing lives at the intersection of truth and transformation. Through essays, creative nonfiction, and poetry, he explores identity, disability, queerness, grief, healing, and resilience. His work invites readers to pause, feel, and rethink what they’ve been taught — offering language to the unspoken and visibility to the unseen. Whether published in print or performed aloud, Mark’s words stay with you — sharp, honest, and rooted in liberation.
Collaborators
Under each collaborator below, click the button to learn more about them.
