Maxine Clark

Maxine Clark founded Build-A-Bear Workshop® in 1997 and led the company as "Chief Executive Bear" until her departure in June 2013, when she stepped down to focus on public education and initiatives supporting women and minority entrepreneurs. During her tenure, she also served as chairman of the board of directors starting in April 2000. Before founding Build-A-Bear, Clark was the President of Payless ShoeSource, Inc. and spent over 19 years at the May Department Stores Company in various capacities, including marketing, product development, and merchandise planning and research.

Clark authored "The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart" in 2006, drawing on her experiences to provide insights on starting, running, and marketing a business. During her career, Clark has been recognized for her ability to identify and capitalize on retail trends and consumer desires. By 2006, Build-A-Bear Workshop expanded to over 300 locations globally. Her contributions to the retail industry have been acknowledged through numerous awards, including induction into the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame in 2006 and being named one of The 25 Most Influential People in Retailing by Chain Store Age in 2008.

Since stepping down from Build-A-Bear Workshop, Clark launched Blueprint4SummerSTL, a mobile app to help families find summer activities for children, in 2015. She is the Managing Partner of Prosper Women’s Capital, an organization dedicated to investing in women-owned businesses in the St. Louis area. Her current project, Delmar DivINe—a multi-use real estate development—is set to open in Spring 2019. Additionally, Clark serves on several influential boards, including Teach For America, Washington University in St. Louis, and the National Board of PBS, contributing her extensive experience and insights to various sectors.