Episode 100: Friend and Mentor with Dave Clark
Today Brad speaks with his longtime friend and mentor Dave Clark. They met in 2009 during one of the most challenging periods in Brad’s life. Not long after, Dave offered Brad the opportunity to start his own business and, in 2013, the pair founded AFT Construction.
Dave is involved in a number of ventures outside of construction, including serving as CEO of Main Street Ingredients (MSI), a manufacturer of ingredients for use in ice cream, frozen desserts, cheese, bakery items, nutritional beverages, and confections.
He has also worked for Kraft Foods and is partnered with sports nutrition brands Soul & Science and Kill Cliff.
Listen in as Dave and Brad go down memory lane to speak on the various personal and professional obstacles that they have had to overcome through the years, from economic setbacks during the Great Recession to Dave’s battle with cancer.
Dave also touches on his love for people and how this passion influences his style and decision-making framework as a serial entrepreneur.
Topics Discussed:
[02:42] When Dave began his professional career in Arizona
[10:51] How to maintain positivity as an entrepreneur and leader
[14:37] How Kraft’s R&D develops ideas for products
[18:00] Partnering with other big food brands such as Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever
[26:47] What inspired Dave to establish MSI
[32:34] Moving to Arizona in the 2000s and meeting Brad
[42:49] Brad’s personal challenges in 2011 and finding success in business
[54:38] Dave’s work with Kill Cliff
[01:00:57] Soul & Science’s products
[1:08:11] Looking forward despite battling with cancer
[1:18:37] What Dave does for fun
Connect with Brad Leavitt:
Key Quotes by Dave:
You don’t [build companies] by yourself; you do it with people. It’s not only about finding opportunities but finding and putting the right staff in place to get the job done.
You always look at what your company value is but you also look at what lies ahead of you. If you have a path to really get into bigger things, you first have to find a way to get to that next step.
You have to be your own advocate, but you also have to listen and learn. You can’t be a know-it-all.
