About Us
As Co-Founder of Sandpiper Vacation Rentals, Mark Mitchell is a skilled real estate agent and broker with 20+ years’ experience managing 12 of his own properties, one of which is his Sandpiper cottage in Seaside.
A side job at first, Mark managed his time between his rental properties and his insurance corporation. As president and owner of US Benefit Consultants, Mark specialized in employee benefits, with a concentration in sports insurance; with clients including the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Thrashers, and Atlanta Hawks. For 25 years Mark excelled at both his consulting corporation and property rentals.
In 2008, Mark teamed up with his daughter, Shannon, and decided to turn his attention to property management in hopes of sharing his knowledge and expertise exclusively with Seaside cottage owners! Mark and his wife Kathleen have two daughters, Shannon and Hayley and a son, Trevor. All of whom have had a hand in the business over the years. Mark enjoys building the family business and sharing his passion for Seaside with others. In his spare time, Mark is an avid golfer, skier, and runner and participates in the Seaside Half Marathon/5K annually.
As Co-Founder of Sandpiper Vacation Rentals, Shannon is Mark’s eldest daughter and a graduate of Auburn University with a background in Mass Communications and Political Science. Shannon has enjoyed several exciting careers in television production taking her from New York to Jamaica. As a news production associate for the Today Show, she worked alongside some of the best in the business. Following her time in New York, Shannon moved back to Atlanta to work with Turner Broadcasting Systems as a producer. It was there that she earned an Emmy Award for her excellence in television production.
In addition to her media experience, Shannon also has extensive interactive marketing knowledge and website design skills gained from working with a top international consulting firm in Atlanta. In 2008, this expertise made her an invaluable resource to Sandpiper Vacation Rentals as she and her father, Mark, created a company designed with 21st Century marketing in mind. Today, the company utilizes the latest property management technology paired with social media expertise to drive rental success.
Shannon and her husband, Matt, have two children, Anderson and Sutton. Some of their favorite beach time activities include biking around town, paddle boarding, nighttime movies on the Seaside lawn, and long afternoons at the beach. Shannon is also an avid tennis player and enjoys teaching her kids how to play as well.
