Goodwin grew up in Orange County in California and started playing the drums when he was 12 years old. As he never took drumming lessons, he watched as many drummers as he could and listened to music and drums constantly.[1] Before moving to Los Angeles after high school, he played drums in several local bands. Mark joined Sick Puppies in 2003 after their drummer, Chris Mileski left the band prior to Sick Puppies moving to the United States. He met Sick Puppies in Los Angeles through a classified ad and was asked to join the band.[2] He has been the drummer of Sick Puppies since 2003, writing lyrics to a few tracks off their albums since Connect, and occasionally provides backup vocals.