BVEP’s Executive Director Clark Krause is a barbecue fiend. Cherishes sharing a chairlift ride or a mountain bike trail with a friend. Like his dachshund-poodle mix—nicknamed “The Sergeant”—Clark wants to be friends with everybody. He’s had a storied career building connections with all kinds of people, starting in his first role with Ford Motor Company in the automotive industry to his later work in Utah’s ski industry. From there he turned his talents toward 5 years as the Economic Development Director for Cedar City located in the Red Rock country of Southern Utah. Clark then moved to New Mexico to become President and CEO of the New Mexico Partnership, an organization charged with leading the state of New Mexico’s economic development efforts. During his New Mexico tenure he led a team that attracted over 60 new companies and 15000 jobs to the Land of Enchantment. Clark first found himself in Boise for a weekend during his six-year stint in New Mexico. After a Sunday night on 8th street, the downtown bustling with families hanging out with their dogs and kids, the city got stuck in his head. Years later, when the position opened up at Boise Valley Economic Partnership, Clark leapt at the chance. Since 2010, Clark has become a driving force behind the Boise Metro’s ongoing success, attracting over 40 new companies and over 13,600 new high paying jobs, serving on dozens of national sales missions promoting the region, and making Idaho a top contender for economic development projects across the nation. He serves on the board of Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area and Southwest Mountain Biking Association, with a love for the Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area and longstanding friendships with its stewards. When he’s not out making Boise a better place to live, he’s on a lifelong quest to discover the planet’s best donuts, pizza, and BBQ, especially after a long mountain biking trek with his partner Shelley.