Mark Lenz

Mark Lenz
Co-founder
Vice President of Systems Support

• Integral in pioneering rent-to-own (RTO) industry core software 
• Instrumental in software conversion of 1,440 retail stores
• Early adopter of Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Co-founder of High Touch

Fulfilling the purpose for which he was created…that’s the daily pursuit of Mark Lenz. If this sounds like a page form a bestselling book, it is. It’s also a way of life for Mark, and among his many purposes is finding new solutions in the technology industry. In a market where short-term needs often drive progress, Mark is focused on building long-term relationships. When Software as a Service (SaaS) met with resistance in the early 1980s, Mark and fellow co-founder Dave Glover felt strongly that with a few adjustments, the monthly software subscription would provide a strategic framework for partnership with High Touch clients. As a result, SaaS became widely successful for the company and groundbreaking for the industry.

The affinity of SaaS was the ideal manifestation of Mark’s desire to build customer relationships.  He also feels a strong responsibility to High Touch employees. It’s not unusual for him to stop by people’s offices and ask if there’s anything he can do for them. Mark has always been the guy with the latest new device or pieces of hardware, exploring modifications to share with High Touch clients.

All but five years of Mark’s career have been spent at High Touch. Prior to that, he worked as a programmer for a small office equipment firm following graduation from Wichita State University with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science. Over the years he’s been on the front lines of custom software development, coding, installation, training and staffing the hotline. He has served as Vice President of PRO/Store Development and Vice President/Director of Current Systems Support. He also serves as High Touch board member and secretary.

It’s impressive that through the founding of High Touch, the years of growth and achievement and a quarter century of innovation, Mark still is most content to know that a customer’s problem has been solved or an employee has achieved a goal. Among his proudest achievements is the creation of this unique, employee-owned company that feels more like family than a job.

“We didn’t want to sell a million copies of any software, but we did want to know our customers by name, and to have them consider us strategic partners with their business.”