a group of people wearing hard hats and jackets

Business Lessons from a Founder

I have worked with and learned from amazing people on my journey – let's build together.

My Experience

When I was appointed by the White House as United States Commissioner General of the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, I was given an amazing opportunity to serve in a completely different way than what I am used to. I showcased the diversity, culture, and values of America while standing with friends from countries that love freedom from around the world. During my time at the Expo, I engaged and collaborated with a new family of team members. We worked diligently together as colleagues, explorers, and adventurers in a hopeful and diplomatic spirit.

Leaders

The Expo’s core message of “Connecting Minds and Creating the Future” could not have been more spot-on. I collaborated with groundbreaking innovators as we examined issues of sustainability, mobility, opportunity, and so much more. We engaged in a lively, spirited, and diplomatic way to examine hopeful solutions to our planet’s most pressing problems.

Pavilions

Expo 2020 Dubai changed how I see the world by gaining insight into each nation’s message and attributes. Some countries focused on politics, policies, technologies, and partnerships, while others were dedicated to tourism and investment opportunities. Even though each pavilion was represented by people from various backgrounds, we often found that we had more similarities than differences.

170 N. Green Street - Fulton Market Acquisition

Clayco’s development arm, CRG, and Shapack Partners recently acquired the former Bridgford Foods site in Fulton Market. I am excited to see how this partnership will redevelop the property into one of Chicago’s most iconic projects – featuring 350,000 square feet of office, 250 apartment units, 150 hotel rooms, and 40,000 square feet of retail. Clayco, CRG, and Shapack Partners collaborated with stakeholders, Alderman Walter Burnett, and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development to make this vision a reality. Construction could begin as early as fall 2022.

Topping Out The Standard at Columbia

I always love seeing the progress our teams are making on the ground, and I am excited that The Standard at Columbia in South Carolina is soon to be topped out! The 17-story, 443,000 square-foot housing tower downtown has taken a major step towards completion. The Standard will offer a mix of studio and one-to-five bedroom units and will be the only new high-rise in the market.

Karis Cold Storage

The Sunshine State may be heating up, but our Karis Cold Storage project in Daytona Beach is committed to keeping it cool!Karis Cold Storage is on a 68-acre industrial park in Daytona Beach, Florida. Clayco and Lamar Johnson Collaborative were selected as the design-build team for this food and beverage facility – and we understand that sometimes the best beverages are served cold.

Business

The concept of earning is an instinct of mine

My first job was stamping cans at a little grocery market in exchange for candy at about 10 years old. The concept of earning was an early instinct of mine.

During my teen years, I had a car wash on my home driveway, after which I started doing small painting and odd jobs at neighbors’ homes for extra money, but mainly to avoid mowing my own yard by paying the kid down the street to do it. I could make more money doing the other jobs, which allowed me to pay him very little to do something I didn’t want to do that was much more time-consuming. Looking back, that was an entrepreneurial experience.