Early Life
Robert Clark was born on January 30, 1959, in Bridgeton, Missouri. His interest in construction began at age 13 when his father gave him a book on building. He attended Parkway Central High School. Clark's early career included a partnership at Machine Maintenance and Equipment Company (MMECO) at age 19.
Rise to Success
In 1984, Clark founded Clayco, a real estate development and design-build firm, in St. Louis, Missouri. The company has grown to be one of the largest privately-owned firms in the industry. Clayco's projects include the Washington University School of Medicine and several Amazon e-commerce centers. In 2023, Clayco generated over $5.8 billion in revenue.
Key Business Strategies
Clayco offers comprehensive services including architectural design, engineering, construction, and real estate services. Clark's company focuses on maximizing revenue from every opportunity through a strategic approach called construction revenue engineering. This involves analyzing project scopes, budgets, and timelines early to efficiently allocate resources and avoid low-return engagements.
Philanthropy
Clark and the Clayco Foundation have supported numerous causes, including a $4.1 million donation to Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine for RVCL research and a $500,000 scholarship in Penn State's Department of Architectural Engineering to support diversity. Clark is currently launching the Clark Family Foundation.