ST. LOUIS, MO Clayco announces the hiring of Sandra Marks as Senior Vice President-Office of Government and Community Affairs.

In this role, she will address external areas of outreach, alignment of community resources, and impactful improvement of the design and construction industry - locally and nationwide. Internally, Marks will focus on talent management and development, including mission, vision, and culture. She will also play a critical part in strategic planning for the entire Clayco enterprise, including Forum Studio, Concrete Strategies, and Ventana.

"Sandra will be our senior management member responsible for improving a diverse, agile, and sustainable corporate culture, but more than that, she brings a strong track record of experience bringing new thoughts and processes to the industry and developing strong community outreach and partnerships," said Kirk Warden, Clayco Executive Vice President and Partner.

Marks will continue to operate and own Marks & Associates, a firm she founded in 1986. Marks & Associates has been a leader in the development of minority businesses and community MBE/WBE programs nationwide, and more recently she has been offering direct supplier and workforce diversity program management. Marks' unique perspective on diversification as a means to impacting cultural norms creates a more vibrant and productive community and industry, one that will complement Clayco's integrated philosophical approach to solving complex project requirements.

"My one personal client that I will continue to support through Marks & Associates will be BJC and their Campus Renewal Project," said Marks. "Clayco can provide a platform for me to positively affect our entire industry. I have a no-nonsense, pro-business development, performance and accountability approach that can be applied across the country on any project I encounter."

Marks & Associates will continue to provide the same services. Cozy Marks, Sandra's husband and partner, will manage the day-to-day business and oversee the work of its team of consultants. She will continue to have an integral role in the strategic direction of the firm, as Cozy focuses on operations and systems to support its growth in new geographic marketsleveraging the experience of its consultants and internal staff. Currently Marks & Associates has two executive-level associates and their employees, along with five of its own employees who manage diversity programs or provide diversity program support services to corporate ownersprimarily in the private sector.

"We will be able to continue to provide the great services we're known for, but also we can research and develop some of the industry tools and products that compliment those services," said Cozy Marks. "We can reach a much larger market now, and that is very exciting."