Ashland University graduate named to Crain's Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 list
Even though Kory Clark only saw playing time in eight games for the Ashland University football team for various reasons, including a knee injury, longtime Assistant Coach Tim Rose said he appreciated the speedy wide receiver/defensive back’s positive attitude and saw his potential beyond AU.
“He had a great spirit and was upbeat,” Rose said. “You felt the future was going to be bright for him, which it has been as this award shows.”
Crain’s Cleveland Business publication recently recognized Clark, a 2015 AU graduate with a finance degree, by naming him as one of its 40 Under 40 honorees.
The best and brightest professionals doing great work in Northeast Ohio are recognized annually in Crain’s 40 Under 40 after a selection process that starts with 250-plus candidates, according to Clark, who said his manager was happy to nominate him after the two talked about the possibility of him being named to it.
“I believe I was selected in this year’s class because of the impact of the work I’ve done and continue to do in my previous and current role,” said Clark, who has been with Key Bank since 2021. “I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to help people both in my career and through the nonprofit work I’m involved with and that’s exactly what Crain’s looks for – a well-rounded candidate doing great work for both their community and careers.”
Before becoming a relationship manager, CDLI (Community Development Lending and Investment), at Key Bank in 2022, Clark was a portfolio manager, CDLI.
From his time at AU on the football team and in the classroom, Clark said he developed the relationship building that has helped him succeed in his career.
“When you are able to work in a team and build relationships with people who have a common goal it gives you the confidence to go out and do the work that we all believe in,” he said. “That foundation was really set in stone during my days as a collegiate athlete.
“Outside of relationship building, I think AU helped just by providing me with a great education,” added Clark, a star student and athlete (football, basketball and track and field) at Nordonia High School in Northeast Ohio.
In addition to playing the sport he loves, Clark said spending time with his teammates on the road and in Convo, as well as being able to learn and connect with advisers and mentors on campus, are the things he appreciated most about his time at AU.
“It was an opportunity to play football at the next level while also earning a great education,” Clark said about why he chose to attend Ashland University. “The other part of that was on my visit and the time my family got to spend with the coaches made them feel like we would be a family.
“Once I was on campus and I felt like the team was actually a family, I knew I made the right decision,” Clark added. “I also was really excited to be part of the finance program AU had to offer and was able to build great relationships with my classmates, advisers and a few of the professors during my time there.”
Obviously, building great relationships has carried over into his career with the 40 Under 40 honor, which could very well be the start of many more awards to come for Clark in his career.