Mark Arabo, a San Diego business leader who specializes in food distribution, supply-chain optimization and consumer-goods production, has committed much of his career to supporting and enhancing economic opportunities for underserved communities across California.
Born into an Iraqi-Christian immigrant family, Arabo was introduced to the grocery business at an early age. Under the guidance of his father and grandfather, he gained hands-on experience in customer service, supply-chain management and operational efficiency at his family’s grocery, Wrigley’s Supermarket in San Diego. As the family expanded its supermarket chain, Arabo developed a strong foundation in business operations and community-based commerce.
After earning his bachelor’s degree integrated marketing communications from San Diego State University, Arabo joined Anheuser-Busch’s San Diego sales team, where he led multiple marketing initiatives. In 2008, he launched a transformative project with more than 2,000 California grocers to establish the state’s largest grocery cooperative. This initiative helped independent retailers by negotiating preferential rates, incentives and rebates, which greatly improved their competitiveness in the marketplace.
Between 2014 and 2018, Arabo took on a significant humanitarian role, advocating for Christian minorities who were displaced by ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Working alongside members of Congress and the United Nations, he helped to raise awareness, secure aid and push for legislative action to support these communities.
In 2015, Arabo founded Refined Management, a multimillion-dollar consulting firm that specializes in commercial catering and corporate services for businesses, nonprofits and government-backed charitable organizations. His ability to combine his business acumen with his interest in social issues has made him a leader in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors.
His expertise and leadership have also been recognized at the state level. In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Arabo to the California Workforce Development Board, where he helped shape state labor policies and workforce training initiatives. In 2023, he was appointed to the board of directors of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which oversees the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the San Diego County Fair. In 2024, he received another gubernatorial appointment to the State Race Track Leasing Commission, which manages the operations of the Del Mar Race Track. Through these commitments and others, Arabo continues to shape economic and community development efforts in California and beyond.
As a result of his efforts with statewide policy endeavors serving underserved communities within California, Arabo was chosen as a board member of the Don Diego Scholarship Foundation which provides educational opportunities for deserving students in agricultural and rural communities.
In 2025, Mark Arabo was awarded an honorary doctorate from his Alma Mater, San Diego State University. As part of the conferral as the 68th recipient of the honorary doctorate, Arabo gave the commencement address to the 2025 graduating class of SDSU’s Fowler College of Business.