Clark Takes Over As Chamber Chairman

By Cassandra Gainer

With a career behind him that jumps from the farm in Redfield, N. Y., where he grew up_a place he describes as “very small, with a population of about 300”_ to a stint as a Russian linguist for the National Security Agency, to the challenges of forming a one-man law practice last year in Ellicott City, Dwight Clark is confident he can meet the demands of his new post as chairman of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce.

He admits that the responsibilities of the position coupled with the demands of his new business seemed daunting at first, but Clark insists that his decision to accept both challenges was the right one.

“As the old adage goes,” he said, “it couldn't be a worse time but it couldn't be a better time either.”

Clark is no stranger to providing leadership in Howard County. Active in Chamber business for over five years, and a member of the board of directors for four, Clark filled many roles including chair of the legislative committee, vice president of governmental affairs and vice chair of the board of directors. Clark first became involved in the Chamber of Commerce in 1995 after forming the law firm, Clark, Rappaport and Skalney.

“When I opened the office with Susan Rappaport and Paul Skalney, we decided from day one that the best way to get our name out there was to get involved in the Chamber of Commerce,” Clark said.

In 1999, Clark left the firm to work independently, but he did not leave the Chamber of Commerce behind. In fact, he was approached about serving as chairman of the board. Clark knew he was prepared for the job.

“My position of chair of the legislative committee was close to as demanding as being the chairman of the board of directors,” Clark said. “It's a pretty good stepping stone to becoming chairman of the board.”

Clark is now building on his own Chamber experience to develop plans for the organization's future. With the recent development of Vision 2003, a map for the Chamber's future, and the creation of three strategic initiatives focusing on technology, alliances and leadership development, Clark says the Howard County Chamber already has a healthy start in the new millennium.

“What does concern me is becoming stagnant,” Clark said. “Like any goals that you set and any timeline that you set the goals to, you always have to be updating and looking beyond.”

To Clark, looking beyond also includes looking past the borders of Howard County.

“In order to survive economically as a community_you know, a nice place to live, to work_we need to look at things from a regional level.”

With Howard County's unemployment rate at just over one percent, Clark knows many local businesses are faced with the difficult task of hiring staff from a population that is nearly fully employed. Often they must turn to areas outside of Howard County to meet their needs.

“Regionalism became a buzzword about two years ago. But the fact is these businesses need to have employees,” Clark said. “We need to look outside Howard County. The question is, are these people employable? What about education and transportation?”

These are questions that Clark posed to Chamber leaders at a late June retreat in Ocean City.

“The retreat was a great success. The board and staff developed strategic plans for the continuing journey in fulfillment of our vision,” Clark said. “The Chamber will provide the highest level of benefits and services to our members and to the community, a diverse community and membership that cuts across generations.

“I try to be a mediator and try to get people with diverse views and opinions to express those and not ask them to change or be someone that they're not, but to listen to everyone and keep an open mind,” Clark said. “Whatever is said about me personally, I want it to be said that I brought together a phenomenal group of people to run the Chamber and created an organization that is not only viable for the present but that also has a vision for the future.”