CLIFFORD M. CLARKE, MBA, PMP, CISM, CEGIT, CRISC, CSSGB
Clifford M. Clarke is president of C2 IT Advisors, a strategic information technology advisory firm providing consulting services in the areas of strategic planning, project management, policy development, and broadband deployment. He served as the Chief Information Officer for Public Technology Institute, Washington, DC. He has served as Executive Director in the Office of Information Technology for Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, IN, and as Chief Information Officer/Chief Technology Officer for the City of Fort Wayne, IN.
PTI is a technology organization created by and for cities and counties to identify opportunities for technology research, share solutions, and develop best practices that address the technology management, governance, and policy issues that impact local government. While with PTI, Clarke helped over 100 government CIO and IT Directors secure their Certified Government CIO; or Certified in Government Technology Leadership badge, and worked with several municipalities to improve their strategic goals. Ivy Tech Community College is one of the nation's largest singly accredited state-based community college systems. At Ivy Tech Community College, Clarke helped the college meet record enrollment by having the needed equipment in place and then adjusted to shrinking enrollment by promoting a centralized operational model for increased efficiency. The city of Fort Wayne is the second-largest city in the state of Indiana. During his tenure with the city, he was able to develop and implement a workable and living approach to Information Technology strategies and standards versus the typical strategic plan that generally becomes shelf-ware shortly after being published. This approach has translated into millions of dollars of cost savings and or cost avoidance. He brought business best in class practices, applications, and infrastructure to the Fort Wayne city government further improving efficiencies and customer satisfaction. An advocate for clear open, communication Mr. Clarke opened new and or improved older channels of communication to all audiences. As a certified project management professional and student of Six Sigma, Clarke introduced and promoted the creation of baselines, the use of metrics, business intelligence, dashboards, and project performance reviews to avoid the “set it and forget it” approach in project implementation what he calls the Ronco method.
Before joining the City of Fort Wayne, Clarke was Assistant Vice President at Lincoln Financial Group, serving in the Technology Services Group. In that role, he was responsible for aligning strategic business technology decisions with current and emerging technologies. He also managed the relationship between several business areas and Lincoln’s technology vendors. Prior to Lincoln Financial Group, he worked with K&K Insurance, SLE Worldwide, an AON company, and General Motors Corporation where he developed applications with EDS.
Educational Experience
Clarke holds both an MBA, with concentrations in Human Resource Management and Entrepreneurship, and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Data Processing from Indiana Institute of Technology. He is a Certified Project Management Professional, a Certified Information Security Manager, a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt, Certified in the Governance of Enterprise Information Technology, and Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control.
Mr. Clarke also has significant formal training in Six Sigma from both the City of Fort Wayne and Lincoln Financial Group, business and servant leadership from Leadership Fort Wayne, and the Dooley Group’s Leadership Learning Forum.
Leadership Experience
Clifford Clarke has over 30 years as a corporate and entrepreneurial leader. He is passionate about the community. His focus areas in issues of diversity, equity, and has led or served on numerous community boards including Leadership Fort Wayne, Metro YMCA, WBNI Northeast Indiana Public Radio, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Northeast Indiana just to name a few. Clarke currently serves on the board of directors for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, Three Rivers Federal Credit Union, and the Fort Wayne Black Chamber of Commerce. He served as chapter president for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Theta Upsilon Lambda chapter, and is an active member of the Civil Air Patrol the United States Air Force Auxiliary. Clarke demonstrates his passion for the next layer of leadership by mentoring and working with youth or professional programs. Additionally, Clarke teaches IT subjects at local institutions of higher education.
Personal Notes
In 2021, Clarke received the Diversity Vanguard Award from his alma mater, Indiana Tech. In 2008 he received the Distinguished Leadership Award from his peers in the servant leadership community. In 2009, Clarke became a formally published author by contributing to the book "CIO Leadership for Cities & Counties: Emerging Trends & Practices". Clarke enjoys travel especially when it involves exercising his instrument flight rule pilot’s certificate, and life-long learning by visiting historical and cultural sites.