Saturday, May 14, 2011

Self-Proclaimed 'Media Whore' Mark Chauppetta

*This is an article I published on http://Eventlevel.com earlier this week. It is about a fascinating man I had the privilege to interview due to the radio work I do at that same site. I wanted to share an example of the work I do outside of Chief 187 Chatter as well as bring Mark Chauppetta's story to a wider audience.*


If you haven’t heard about Mark Chauppetta you may be living under a rock. From a widely publicized MMA fight to a documentary about prepping for the fight as a forty-year old man, and a book chronicling his most incendiary cases as a Private Investigator that landed him on the Howard Stern Show recently, Mark is indeed everywhere. Handsome, rugged, strong, and unassuming, Mark Chauppetta is a cross between everyman and a superstar. He is media savvy, a member of the media with his own successful radio show, a well-respected PI and a sought after character for reality television. Mark Chauppetta is several personas in one man and his story is fascinating.

A “pretty good wrestler”, Mark Chauppetta did okay in school but wanted to escape his hometown. So, as a young man, Mark Chauppetta left his birthplace in Massachusetts to chase stardom in California. He did some acting but nothing came of it so, being resourceful and following his incessant curiosity, Chauppetta contacted a private investigator and began working as an apprentice. Admittedly not a natural in this line of work, Mark learned on the job and honed his skills as a P.I. Eventually he found his way back to his native Massachusetts. There he worked with another established P.I. and accrued the necessary 5,000 hours needed to earn his own license as a gumshoe. He hung a shingle and work started to come in. Chauppetta, often distracted with ways to find his niche in the world, did well in his chosen profession, but always dreamt up ways to find recognition. He considered and began a run for local office, but realized it didn’t fit with his brash personality, and ultimately lost the bid. This path led him to radio work and a host of connections to the newsmakers and actors of the day. When reality television was in its infancy Chauppetta tried to parlay his talents and career into this new direction, and, although many were interested, no project ever came to fruition.

Meanwhile, Chauppetta reached for the golden ring, got married, and started a family. In 1995 his twin sons, Andrew and Troy, were born with the devastating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a degenerative muscle disorder that causes the breakdown of muscle tissue over time. The steady deterioration and ultimate terminal prognosis of the condition not only took an emotional toll, but a financial one as well. At a time when many men are nursing a beer belly and buying a shiny red convertible, the then 40-year-old Chauppetta decided it was time to take his shot at raising money and awareness to his boys’ (then 14) plight by using his flair, wrestling/fighting background (he dabbled briefly in MMA), and ‘bring it on’ attitude to take part in a charity match to raise money for DMD and to help spread awareness. He gave himself three months to train and to re-sculpt his body from 192 pounds to a lean 175, ideal for his 5’7” frame. Working with Mike Varner, a local promoter who was a guest on Chauppetta’s radio show and issued the challenge and money, Mark trained hard for his fight. As a former wrestler and one time fighter Chauppetta knew what was needed to prepare for the event. A documentary about the match and the preparations that went into the event were chronicled in A Father’s Fight. Working his every angle, Chauppetta even secured the opportunity to train in Las Vegas in the legendary Randy Couture’s gym. The MMA/fighting career was never the goal; raising awareness about his sons’ DMD, staying in shape, and keeping himself in the limelight was. The movie contains several well-known big name MMA stars including Bas Rutten, Forest Griffin, Joe Lauzen, and Tito Ortiz as well as Sinista 1. It is engaging, exhilarating, and poignant, and brash, just like Chauppetta himself.

Fighting has given way, once again, to Mark’s love of media. Promoting the movie, networking, and keeping himself in the public eye have led to more opportunities and offers. In addition, Chauppetta realized his untapped source of marketable information was tied to his life as a private investigator. Knowing the insatiable appetites of Americans who love a cheater’s story, he compiled years of cases into several tantalizing stories of adultery in a satirical book he titled, Happens All the Time: Cheating in the Good Ol’ USA. True to his nature, Chauppetta donates half of his proceeds of this book to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. His recent visit to the Howard Stern Show proved to be another savvy move indicative of the good decisions Chauppetta has made in his life. The segment went well and stirred up a hornet’s nest of interest connected to his involvement in Scientology cases in the past.

Until his boat comes in and provides the consistent national exposure he’s after, Chauppetta will expertly navigate the rough waters of near fame. From public speaking engagements to self-publishing movies and books, and from radio work to television reality shows, Mark Chauppetta is knocking on the door of fame and is proving that he can roll with the punches, land on his feet, and survive until the rest of America takes notice!

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