Bob Clark — full name Robert G. Clark — is an American entrepreneur, civic leader, philanthropist, and art collector. He is the founder and executive chairman of Clayco, one of the largest privately held real estate development and design-build firms in the United States. He and his wife Jane co-founded The Clark Collection, a contemporary art collection dedicated to elevating emerging artists of color, and Bob created Bob Clark Beyond — a platform exploring mentorship, inspiration, and what it means to build a life that matters.
Bob grew up in Bridgeton, Missouri, just outside of St. Louis. He wasn't the kid who loved school in the traditional sense. What captured his attention was what was happening outside the classroom window — including the construction of the Ozark Airlines headquarters. Throughout the 4th grade, he watched that job site like it was a movie, then snuck over after school to see it up close.
His father, Harold Clark, owned a commercial painting business and noticed his son's fascination. Harold gave Bob books on architecture and took him to job sites. That spark set the foundation for everything. Bob attended Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, before briefly attending college — an architecture program he left after about five weeks to build his own businesses.
In 1978, at 19, Bob became a partner at Machine Maintenance and Equipment Company (MMECO). In 1984, he sold his stake and started Clayco in St. Louis. As he wrote on the company's 40th anniversary: "I was ambitious and had big plans, but with no real idea about how I was going to actually accomplish them. I didn't have many resources, any education, or experience. What I lacked in those things I gained with common sense, being kind, creativity, and unbelievable passion."
Today, Clayco employs over 4,000 people in 45 cities across North America with $8 billion in revenue in 2025. The Clayco enterprise includes subsidiaries spanning design, engineering, real estate, and construction. It has been named among Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators and ENR Midwest's Contractor of the Year.
In 2010, President Obama appointed Bob to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House. In 2021, President Biden selected him as US Commissioner General at Expo 2020 Dubai — the senior US government representative at the event — where he oversaw programming highlighting American innovation in space exploration, sustainability, technology, and cultural diplomacy.
Bob has been a consistent civic voice in St. Louis — advocating for economic development, downtown revitalization, and stronger private-sector engagement in city planning. When the 2025 St. Louis tornado struck, Clayco took a major role in the recovery response.
Through the Clayco Foundation, Bob has raised over $12.4 million for RVCL research — a rare and devastating genetic disease — including a $4.1 million gift to Washington University School of Medicine in 2016. He endowed a $500,000 scholarship for underrepresented students at Penn State's Department of Architectural Engineering, and gave to the Savannah College of Art and Design, which named a National Historic Landmark building Clark Hall in his honor.
Bob and Jane co-founded The Clark Collection, focused on emerging artists of color whose work engages art as visual and social activism. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2023 — an honor he has described as reflecting everything he stands for: celebrating differences that make communities great and creating belonging for people from all walks of life.
Bob Clark Beyond is Bob's next chapter. As he has written: "I've spent most of my life building companies, communities, relationships, and opportunities... This next chapter is about building lives, not just buildings." His platform focuses on mentorship, inspiration, impact, and business — and on five key areas: art, science, education, economic development, and leadership in government.
Bob Clark (Robert G. Clark) is an American entrepreneur, civic leader, and philanthropist best known as founder and executive chairman of Clayco — one of the largest privately held design-build and real estate development firms in the United States. He co-founded The Clark Collection (a contemporary art collection focused on emerging artists of color) and created Bob Clark Beyond, a platform dedicated to mentorship, inspiration, and impact.
Bob Clark grew up in Bridgeton, Missouri, just outside St. Louis. He attended Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, and later started Clayco in St. Louis in 1984. Clayco's headquarters is now in Chicago, but Bob has maintained deep ties to the St. Louis region throughout his career.
Bob Clark founded Clayco in 1984 in St. Louis, Missouri, starting with two people and no outside investors. The company has grown into one of the largest privately held design-build and real estate development firms in the United States, with over 4,000 employees, 45-city operations, and $8 billion in revenue in 2025.
Bob Clark has received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2023), the NAACP Commitment to St. Louis Award (2007), the Focus St. Louis 'What's Right with the Region' Award (2007), an honorary Doctor of Engineering from Missouri S&T, and an honorary degree from the University of Missouri System (2023). He was appointed to presidential roles by both President Obama and President Biden, and was named among the St. Louis Influentials by the St. Louis Business Journal from 2005 to 2011.
Bob Clark Beyond is Bob Clark's personal platform for sharing ideas on mentorship, inspiration, business, and impact. He describes it as his next chapter — building lives, not just buildings. It covers leadership, entrepreneurship, the arts, philanthropy, and civic engagement, and is built around his five focus areas: art, science, education, economic development, and leadership in government.
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