I am not exactly sure how it happened, but we covered a lot of ground in 2025.

Family came first, all 20 of the immediate ones in Mexico and once in Colorado. Logistical miracles happen because of LOVE.

Travel as usual was intense. THE USA showed me 15 states. The world filled the calendar as well. I started in North America and ended the year in Europe with back-and-forth stops in Asia and Africa along the way. Each place showed the art and carried a lesson, a conversation, or a reminder that the world is bigger than whatever problem sits in front of us on a given day.

This was also a year of hard loss. We said goodbye to close friends, mentors, and people I worked alongside for years. My closest partner and confidant, Russ Burns, passed to the heavens, and Lori Healey, Cowboy Jeff Groom, Bob Stern, and Frank Gehry. Their absence is real, and their incredible influence on me remains. 

The year had a scary and painful start with economic turmoil, confusion and making sense of the USA’s place in the world but ended strong as we made giant leaps in AI and mission critical and energy driven projects with a conviction towards a future modern world where cancer is cured and breakthroughs in healthcare become commonplace, the USA leads as an exporter of information, prices of goods and services goes down, education becomes more democratic and accessible to all and access to everything will get to us faster and cheaper. Clayco will be humans working with AI to solve our clients’ most complicated problems. 

Clayco made strong leadership evolutions with Anthony Johnson, Ryan McGuire, Justin Lienemann, Shawn Clark, andMichael Fassnacht stepping in, and Ryan Abbott, Mike Pierle, and Steve Sieckhaus helping guide the rocket. Tom Carnahan joined our advisory board to help guide the rocket launchers. This leadership team has proven we can take onbig issues, find creative solutions, outwork the competition, and pivot quicklyto what’s next.  Emily Boyle has transitioned to “Chief of Staff” for me with the retirement of Nancy Russel after 40 years so Em has 34 years to go! 

Bob Clark Beyond has really become mission-driven and will be the home to our family philanthropic work with a vision and strategy focused on art, science, education, economic development, and leadership, especially in government. 

I am grateful for many things in 2025, but I am also ready to see it in the rearview mirror. A bright pipeline of opportunities is ahead, and the new year starts at a full gallop.

Happy New Year. And hurry up every chance you get.