We recently had the chance to connect with Mark Thimmig and have shared our conversation below.
Mark, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Yes — without hesitation.
I bring disciplined execution, real-world operating experience, and the ability to navigate complex, capital-intensive environments where energy, infrastructure, and finance intersect. I’ve consistently stepped into situations that required accountability, judgment under pressure, and long-term thinking, not just vision, but follow-through. I understand how to build credibility with partners, investors, and governments, and I’m willing to make hard decisions, take responsibility, and stay engaged when things are difficult, not just when they’re easy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Mark Thimmig, Managing Member of Mindstream LLC – Mindstream Energy. We’re building an energy-backed digital infrastructure platform focused on one core idea: the future of compute is constrained less by technology and more by access to reliable, low-cost power.
Mindstream Energy partners with energy producers to convert natural gas into predictable, off-grid power for Bitcoin mining and modular data centers. By aligning compute infrastructure directly with energy supply, we reduce exposure to grid congestion, improve operating predictability, and deploy infrastructure faster and more efficiently than traditional data center models.
What makes Mindstream unique is our disciplined, infrastructure-first approach. We’re not chasing speculative growth or hype cycles. Instead, we focus on modular deployment, project-level risk isolation through SPVs, and capital structures designed to support durability and long-term value creation. Our work spans U.S. operations and select international initiatives, where energy availability, geopolitics, and digital infrastructure demand intersect in meaningful ways.
At its core, Mindstream Energy is about execution, building real assets at the intersection of energy and technology, with the discipline required to scale responsibly.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
I learned the most about work from Wayne Huizenga and Steve Berrard during my time at AutoNation. Being part of the team that helped grow the company from roughly $250 million to over $20 billion in just three years was a masterclass in discipline, execution, and accountability at scale.
Wayne taught me how to think big while staying relentlessly focused on results, and Steve reinforced the importance of operational rigor, capital discipline, and building systems that can scale under pressure. That experience shaped how I approach leadership today, move decisively, respect capital, and execute with urgency when opportunity presents itself.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me humility, patience, and discernment in ways success never could. Success can reinforce confidence and momentum, but suffering forces you to slow down, examine your assumptions, and understand what truly matters. It teaches you who you are when momentum disappears, resources tighten, and outcomes are uncertain.
Most importantly, suffering taught me responsibility, how to lead when there’s no applause, how to make decisions without perfect information, and how to stay committed to people and principles even when the cost is personal. Those lessons don’t come from winning; they come from enduring and continuing to show up when it would be easier not to. Impossible is only one point of view!
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
I rely most on the wisdom that comes from my faith in God. When decisions are complex or the path forward isn’t obvious, I try to pause, pray, and seek guidance beyond my own instincts or experience. That perspective keeps me grounded, reminds me of my responsibilities to others, and helps me lead with humility rather than ego.
I’ve learned that my best decisions aren’t made in isolation; they come from aligning my actions with principles larger than myself, especially during moments of uncertainty or pressure.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I tried to live and lead with integrity, that I was faithful to God, devoted to my family, and committed to doing what was right even when it was difficult. I hope they remember that I worked hard, treated people with respect, and used whatever influence or opportunity I had to build things that mattered and to help others along the way.
If my story reflects consistency between what I believed, how I treated people, and how I showed up when it counted, that would be enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mindstreamenergy.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markthimmig/
Image Credits
Mindstream Energy
