a snowy mountain tops with a meteor in the sky

Rising into the Unknown

Life is a journey, let’s chase the summits and relish the adventure all along the way.

latest adventure posts

Recent Feature: Crain’s Chicago Business

Since returning stateside, I had the opportunity to speak with Crain’s Chicago Business magazine about some incredible projects and experiences I’ve been a part of. Crain’s has always been one of my favorite business sources to read interesting analyses, commentary, and features. During our conversation, we spoke about what prompted me to make a call to the White House before the Expo, a scar I have that turned me from a child to an adult, and an exciting client Clayco is constructing rocket test facilities for. I also shared some of the key turning points that shaped my career path and how I operate in business today.

Healthy People, Healthy Planet – Minnesota Expo 2027

I am excited to work with my co-chair Marc Lore and the rest of the team for the Minnesota Expo 2027. The experience of leading the U.S. Delegation at Expo 2020 Dubai gave me great insight into the importance of these gatherings for American business interests and our global diplomatic relationships. I’m proud to join in and help reshape this campaign to host the first World’s Fair on American soil in nearly 40 years. The theme of the Expo is “Healthy People, Healthy Planet,” and will be the first to focus on bringing together health and wellness issues and innovations from as many as 170 countries.Well-being is more important now than ever before, and I’m happy to be part of the effort to bring this Specialized Expo to Minnesota. The goal is to generate engagement with governments, businesses, academia, and consumers to create impactful opportunities and solutions for our communities and the world.

Theaster Gates’ Arts Incubator Breaks Ground in Grand Crossing

Theaster Gates’ Arts Incubator broke ground in its largest project to date at the former St. Laurence Elementary School on May 3rd. This is the start of the process to convert it into an arts and creative incubator on Chicago’s South Side. I am extremely proud that the Clayco Foundation has committed $1 million to help develop this state-of-the-art 40,000-square-foot innovation hub for local artists and entrepreneurs.

Diving Into Contemporary Art at the CAM 2022 Gala

Clayco is always proud to partner with organizations that highlight quality contributions in their communities, which is why we sponsored the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) 2022 Gala in St. Louis this past weekend. I was excited to attend the event and celebrate the CAM’s dynamic range of exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives, and collaborations including its current exhibitions by Martine Gutierrez, Alia Farid and Gala Porras-Kim. Photo by: CAM STL

Building Chicago Back Better

After serving as the United States Commissioner General for the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, my focus and dedication to the Chicago community are stronger than ever! I was honored to introduce Mayor Lori Lightfoot at the City Club of Chicago on April 19th as she discussed her outlook for a strong economic recovery.

In Memory of Gyo Obata

I am saddened to learn about the passing of my friend, the gifted architect Gyo Obata. The son of renowned painter Chiura Obata and floral decorator Haruko Obata, he was born in San Francisco in 1923. Gyo was one of the most influential architects of our time, and a great inspiration to all who knew him. He co-founded HOK (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum) and designed many buildings of international acclaim, including the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, and Sendai International Airport in Japan (among many others).

ADVENTURE

Building Buttercup

a fence in a field with trees in the background

I can’t describe the powerful emotion I felt at this moment, for everything lost and gained in my whole life. It was a spiritual experience, from my heart.

ADVENTURE

Climbing Capitol Peak

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Adventure

Adventure is in my DNA

Ever since I read the stories of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, I’ve looked at all of my life as an adventure. Listening and learning from my father was amazing story in history over the course of 40 years taught me that adventure was in my DNA at conception.

I’ve always been able to keep calm and have a level head and every situation I can remember. The only exception of this rule is that I don’t believe a person should not panic if they’re drowning. I would definitely drown panicking.

Beyond that all of life’s twists and turns good and bad ecstatic or heartbroken all add up to the different color crayons in your crayon box. That was a quote from my dad upon hearing some shocking news about my own colorful life.