I’m Jordan Clark, and I serve as the Director of Business Development for Wake Forest Executive Education. I was born and raised in Central Florida, and after three decades of heat, I was ready for “real seasons.” My wife and I relocated to the Queen City in 2023 and haven’t looked back!
Inevitably, when I introduce myself here at a networking event, the response is something like, “Oh, Wake Forest… So you drove here from Winston-Salem?”, but Wake Forest University has had a footprint here for over 30 years, and it’s much deeper than the 80-mile drive. Between our School of Professional Studies headquartered in Uptown, the new School of Medicine at The Pearl, and the thousands of alumni who live in Charlotte, Wake Forest is an integral part of the region’s higher education offerings and economy.
In my role, I focus on non-credit programming for working professionals. Whether it’s through our open-enrollment workshops or custom engagements with organizations, our goal is to bridge the gap between academic expertise and industry needs. Our faculty are always eager to get back into the field and directly impact the career paths of the people moving this region forward.
Throughout my career, particularly while working in the talent acquisition space, I’ve learned that the biggest challenge for organizations isn’t recruiting talent; it’s keeping it. There is a massive opportunity through Executive Education to impact the employee experience across organizations in all industries by increasing competencies in leadership while also providing skill-building in areas like data analytics, finance, and marketing.
Beyond the great weather, in my opinion, Charlotte is a haven for young professionals. It’s one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, has a nonstop flight anywhere you’d want to go, and is a one-day drive from pretty much anywhere in the eastern or central time zones. A city with this much going on can feel overwhelming if you don’t have a way to plug in. For me, the CLT Alliance has been the perfect “one-stop shop” for networking, professional development, and philanthropy opportunities.
My advice to YPs in Charlotte is if the thought of networking events makes you uncomfortable, just rip the Band-Aid off and go to a few. You’ll be surprised at the friends, business connections, and opportunities you’ll uncover simply by showing up (the hardest part) and having conversations with people, and I say that as a self-proclaimed introvert.
When I’m not working, I’m doing my more important job as a husband and father—and moonlighting as a mediocre golfer. Therefore, my “Charlotte gem” for you all is Middle James in Pineville. It’s a rare find with great food and drinks and plenty of outdoor space for kids to run around. It’s dog-friendly and has a par-3 course and driving range where I can squeeze in some much-needed practice time. We’re definitely “brewery people,” and fortunately, the Queen City has no shortage of those to explore!
Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn, reach out to me at clarkjo@wfu.edu, or find a time to meet for coffee.
