Dan Clark

Dan Clark Speaker Biography

Best-Selling Author & Expert on Leadership and Business Development

As a modern day Napoleon Hill, DAN CLARK has interviewed, studied and worked with the most powerful and successful business leaders, political and military leaders, and world champion athletes of our generation, which is why companies around the globe bring Dan in for his expertise in developing emerging leaders, increasing sales and productivity, building winning teams in the midst of mergers and acquisitions, and transforming the culture of an organization from successful to significance.

PERSONAL FACTS

Dan was born in Mesa, Arizona – March 14, 1955 (Pisces); third of four children; married with four children – three grandchildren (so far). Dan was raised in a devout Christian, two-parent household by father S. Wayne Clark and mother Ruby Maughan Clark. Wayne was the oldest son of eight children who grew up on a ranch, and became an Air Force Officer, pilot, member of the House of Representatives, silver miner, cotton farmer, insurance company executive, community banker, ecclesiastical volunteer and philanthropist. Wayne passed away after a six-year battle with cancer at age 72.

Dan’s mother Ruby – is the youngest of nine children, raised by a single mom on a farm; devoted stay-at-home-mom’ and an exceptional chef, who created the successful elite ‘Ruby’s Catering Company’ featuring her nationally acclaimed cookbook Ruby’s Recipes. As of this posting, Ruby is still healthy, ‘sharp as a tac’ and living a productive life at 92 years young!

EDUCATION & AWARDS

• Dan is an alumnus of the University of Utah (1979 Psychology).
• A graduate of the US Air Force National SF at Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and Army War College National SS in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
• Earned the prestigious National Speakers Association designation “CSP” – Certified Speaking Professional.
• Inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame.
• Named one of the Top Ten Motivational Speakers In The World!
• Named An Outstanding Young Man of America.
• Received the Presidential Service Award presented by President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan.
• Received the United States Distinguished Service Medal – the highest civilian award presented by the U.S. Department of Defense.
• Received the prestigious American Spirit – the highest civilian award presented by the U.S. Air Force.
• Honored by the Los Angeles California Library Foundation as one of their ‘Distinguished Authors’ at the prestigious ‘Literary Feast.’
• Dan’s book Chicken Soup for the College Soul was #2 on the New York Times Best Sellers List for four weeks.
• Received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from National 4-H for over twenty years of service.
• Shares a Gold Record with Michael Peterson for the #5 Billboard hit: “Drink, Swear, Steal & Lie.”
• Wrote the story that songwriter Don Schlitz compressed into the heart-warming song, “The Greatest,” recorded by Kenny Rogers.
• Listed in “Who’s Who In America” and in “International Leaders in Achievement.”
• Most important and significant to Dan – he was honored and named Utah Father of the Year!

LIFETIME PATTERN OF PEAK PERFORMANCE

At eight years of age Dan was diagnosed with a malignant cancerous abscess in his throat from which he fought back and fully recovered.

As a young boy, Dan advanced to the rank of ‘Life Scout’ in the incredible Boy Scouts of America program (turning 18 years old one merit badge shy of his Eagle!)

At twelve years old, Dan appeared in a weekly CBS television series called “47 Happiness Way” directed and produced by Fred and Don Bluth – and was the voice of Rupert, in the weekly television cartoon “Dean.”

In high school, Dan was the Intermountain Moto-Cross Champion; Intermountain Alpine Ski Racing Champion; Intermountain “Gelande” Ski Jumping Champion; State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion; Four sport, ninetime Varsity Letterman in Basketball, in Football (“Sunkist All-American”); in Track (State champion in the 100-yard dash); All-State / All-Star baseball pitcher with an invitation tryout with the Kansas City Royals MLB organization.

Signed a full ride Scholarship to play football and baseball at the University of Utah – after his junior year was the projected #1 draft choice by the Oakland Raiders into the National Football League.

EARLY SPEAKING CAREER

Played American football for thirteen years until a paralyzing injury cut short his career. Sixteen doctors told him he would not recover, but recover he did, and his inspirational fight back from his injury launched his speaking and writing careers.

Sponsored into the National Speakers Association by world renown Zig Ziglar who personally mentored Dan in the art and science of motivationally teaching for 25+ years!

Served in President Reagan’s White House with Mrs. Reagan, taking her ‘Just Say No’ positive choices program to thousands of schools in all 50 states.

Soon became one of the most in-demand and popular speakers on the North American college circuit and with his background, quickly transitioned into the corporate arena as a cutting edge motivational/leadership/team building guru!

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

President/CEO of Dan Clark and Associates, founded by Dan in1982. Has delivered over 6000 speeches, to 6 million people, in all 50 states, in 71 countries, on 6 continents, to most of the Fortune 500, Super Bowl Champions, NASA, Million Dollar Round Table, FBI, United Nations World Congress and to our combat troops down range’ in Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe, Asia and Africa.

New York Times Best Selling Author of 35 books.

Primary contributing author to the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series (sold over 200 million copies). Dan has been published in more than 50 million books in 50 languages worldwide!

Dan’s famous story ‘Puppies for Sale’ was made into an award-winning film at Paramount Studios starring Jack Lemmon, Jesse James – musical score by Elmer Bernstein.

Featured in Entrepreneur, Inc. Forbes, Success, ESPN, Performance, Mayo Clinic, and the cover stories in Thought Masters and Millionaire Magazines. Appeared on over 500 television and radio shows, including Oprah, Glenn Beck, NPR, PBS and Voices of America/Radio Free Europe.

Created and Hosts the internationally acclaimed Podcast: “Power Players.”

INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES

As an avid golfer, playing Pebble Beach, the Old Course in Scotland and Augusta National. Racing automobiles at Nurburgring and Daytona; camels in Egypt & dog sleds in the Arctic (where Dan spent the night in an igloo at 60 degrees below zero Fahrenheit).

Racing and winning the prestigious ‘Hamilton Island’ Sailing Regatta in Australia as a crew member on the 60 ft Volvo racing yacht.

Spending the night in the ‘Birdman’s’ cell at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.

Served on the Olympic Committee and carrying the Olympic Torch in the Winter Games.

Soaring to the edge of space in a U2 Spy Plane; flying with the Air Force Thunderbirds; flying the B-1, B-2, B-52, KC-135, C-5, C-17, C-130, T-38, F-4, F15, F-16 and F-18; landing on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf; Captaining and piloting it from the Admiral’s Bridge; and taking off its deck.

Being invited aboard Air Force One – and sitting in the U.S. President’s chair in the Board Room.

DAN’S FAMILY MILITARY CONNECTION

Dan’s father, S. Wayne Clark, served in the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion in World War II flying B-17s that provided military intelligence the first accurate map of the pacific theater that brought the war to an end!

Dan’s father’s cousin Mervin S. Bennion, was the Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. West Virginia that was attacked and sunk at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. As a result of his gallantry he posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Dan’s father-in-law, Dr. Donald C. Sansom, was shot down as a nineteen year old on his very first mission in a B-17 over Yugoslavia in World War II on June 14, 1944 – and captured by the Nazis and incarcerated as a Prisoner of War for twelve months until he was liberated by General George Patton’s 3rd Army Division on April 29, 1945.

Dan’s flagship book: The Art of Significance – Achieving The Level Beyond Success (hard cover – published by Penguin/Random House) – was selected by U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh III, as one of the twelve books on his 2014 Chief of Staff Recommended Reading List.

GENEOLOGY FUN FACTS & PATRIOTIC HERITAGE

Dan firmly believes that DNA and the environment and expectations in which someone is raised is the #1 reason someone succeeds or fails:

Dan’s Uncle Ellis Armstrong was chairman of the American Public Works Association, the Commissioner of Roads under President Dwight Eisenhower who conceived and developed the Interstate System, and then the Commissioner of Reclamation under President Richard Nixon who designed and built the St. Lawrence Seaway, Hoover Dam, and Aswan Dam in Egypt.

Dan’s Uncle Lloyd Butler attended Cal/Berkeley graduating in 1950. While a member of their eight-oared crew, he won the IRA Regatta, and later was named to the U.S. Olympic Rowing Team, where he and his teammates won the Gold Medal in 1948. Uncle Lloyd was later an executive with Standard Oil Company, from which he retired after a long illustrious career.

Dan’s great uncle is J. Reuben Clark – who earned a law degree from Columbia University in New York City; became an associate professor at George Washington University; was appointed United States Undersecretary of the State Department; soon became the Assistant Solicitor to the U. S. State Department and then Solicitor General. In 1930, U.S. President Herbert Hoover appointed J. Reuben as United States Ambassador to Mexico, where he served until 1933.

COMPASSIONATE SERVICE

As a philanthropist, compassionate humanitarian and a proud patriot, Dan sits on the International Board of Governors of Operation Smile; served with three different United States Air Force Chiefs of Staff and two Secretaries of the Air Force on their National Civic Leaders Boards, and is deeply committed to supporting the Air Force Aid Society and Wounded Warriors Project.

Currently serving on the national board of ‘Hope Squads’ Suicide Prevention Coalition.