St. Louis businesswoman Maxine Clark is one of those people. Read the full story here. Now, she's working to renovate and invest in the Delmar Boulevard area Clark then went on a search to find another idea that would rekindle her love for the business. St. Louis Raising Capital Maxine Clark put up her own capital to launch the mega-successful Build-A-Bear retail chain. Maxine Clark. Rob Wild Back To Top. Maxine’s energy and commitment to education are unequalled. While driving around the West End neighborhood, where the Build-A-Bear Workshop founder opened up a KIPP school, she took a right turn instead of a left. Maxine is also a Managing Partner of Prosper Women’s Capital, a St. Louis based fund created to invest in women owned businesses in the St. Louis area and a member of the Board of Advisors of Lewis & Clark Ventures, a St. Louis based private equity firm. Building on a legacy of generous support to Washington University in St. Louis, Maxine Clark and Bob Fox pledged funding for a new forum facility and policy-related programming at the Brown School. In 2 008, Maxine Clark was named one of The 25 Most Influential People in Retailing by Chain Store Age; in In 2008, Maxine Clark was named one of The 25 Most Influential People in Retailing by Chain Store Age; in 2006, she was inducted into the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame. Those are the primary objectives of the Clark-Fox and Build-A-Bear Foundations. She lived a happy life in St. Louis with her parents and two younger sisters, Gloria and Shirley. Founder; CEO. In addition to members, CREW-St. Louis presented its fifth annual Woman of Influence Award to Maxine Clark. Along with her husband, Bob Fox, the foundations have already helped change the St. Louis education landscape. CFA Society of St. Louis. The former Chief Executive Bear will outline her latest career as a real estate developer, ardent supporter of education, and investor in women and minority-owned businesses. Stay Connected TFA is committed to expanding opportunity for all children. Born the oldest of three little girls, in St. Louis, Oklahoma on October 27, 1931, Maxine was the daughter of Mac and Muriel Stubblefield. Driving Directions Looking for Maxine Clark in Missouri? FORTUNE -- Maxine Clark, the 63-year-old founder of Build-a-Bear, was always a shopper, even as a kid.So it made sense that she would wind up in retail. Al Mitchell Board Member. Please fill out the form below to send an email. Email. She and her husband, Bob Fox, are founding donors of KIPP Inspire Academy, and Maxine is chair of the charter school advisory Board of Trustees. Maxine is one of the true innovators in the retail industry. She visits two schools in St. Louis every week to help further her understanding of education in the St. Louis region. She drove past the building that once housed a St. Luke’s Hospital and then a Connect Care, on Delmar. For Faculty and Staff She and her husband Bob Fox are founding donors of KIPP Inspire Academy and Maxine is the former chair of the charter school advisory Board of Trustees. We carried on our tradition of honoring members for putting our mission into action. In recognition of their commitment, the Brown School Policy Forum was renamed the Maxine Clark and Bob Fox Policy Institute. Maxine Clark’s latest venture got started with a wrong turn. Maxine was named one of the Wonder Women of Toys by Playthings magazine and Women in Toys, and was also one of the National Finalists in Retail for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2004. While driving around the West End neighborhood, where the Build-A-Bear Workshop founder opened up a KIPP school, she took a right turn instead of a left. Maxine is widely recognized for her business accomplishments and has received numerous distinguished awards. CONTACT CONTACT. Maxine is a Founding Managing Director of Prosper Women’s Capital, a St. Louis based accelerator for women led businesses and on the Board of Advisors of Lewis and Clark Ventures. Given her grand vision for the company, she knew she’d need help from investors to reach her goals. It closed in 2014. Prev Next Home In June 2013, Maxine stepped down from her Chief Executive Bear role to apply her entrepreneurial skills to her passion for improving K-12 public education and encouraging and investing in women and minority entrepreneurs such as Goldie Blox, myEDmatch.com, Wondermento and St. Frank. In addition to her seat on the Build-A-Bear Workshop Board, Maxine is a member of the Board of Directors of Footlocker, Inc. and Gymboree. As one of her nominators, Rob Wild, said, “I cannot think of a person who is more committed to improving the quality of life for the children of St. Louis than Maxine Clark.” Maxine has been an important leader in the education reform movement in St. Louis. Maxine Clark is one of the true innovators in the retail industry. It closed in 2014. She is also a member of the Committee of 200. During her career, her ability to spot emerging retail and merchandising trends and her insight into the desires of the American consumer have generated growth for retail leaders, including department store, discount and specialty stores. The Clark-Fox Family Foundation believes in a hands-on approach when making a difference in the St. Louis community. She may be known as the founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, but she now has … In 2006, she published her first book “The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart. Maxine is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Saint Louis University as well as an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Missouri- St. Louis. We found Maxine's current address in MO, phone numbers, emails, background check reports, social profiles and more. The result: A simple shopping trip with a friend's daughter produced the idea for a single stuffed-animal factory in the St. Louis Galleria mall in 1997. Maxine is also a Managing Partner of Prosper Women’s Capital, a St. Louis based fund created to invest in women owned businesses and a member of the Board of Advisors of Lewis & Clark Ventures, a St. Louis based private equity firm. “Forest Park is basically in our front yard,” said Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop. Maxine serves on the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of Washington University and on the National Council of the Brown School of Social Work. Maxine Clark Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer, Build-A-Bear Workshop St Louis, Missouri, United States 500+ connections Sharon Harvey-Davis Board Member. St. Louis St. Louis Board Leadership Skip side nav Our Community Our Work Stories Our Team ... Maxine Clark Board Member. Today there are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide. Clark … Clark is a director of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Ms. Clark also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Clark-Fox Family Foundation, Inspirator of The Delmar DivINe (real estate initiative for community development in St. Louis), Managing Partner of Prosper Women’s Capital, and Executive in Residence of Washington University in St. Louis, John M. Olin School of Business. As one of her nominators, Rob Wild, said, “I cannot think of a person who is more committed to improving the quality of life for the children of St. Louis than Maxine Clark.”, For Students She has devoted significant time as a business leader in the St. Louis community to mentoring professionals in education and working to develop better schools for all children. MSTL Photography - New York City based photographer readily available for small events, portraits, and much more. Maxine is also a Managing Partner of Prosper Women’s Capital, a St. Louis based fund created to invest in women owned businesses in the St. Louis area and a member of the Board of Advisers of Lewis & Clark Ventures, a St. Louis based private equity firm. Maxine Clark. Clark believes the best way to help kids is to make education better and create educational opportunities in St. Louis. Maxine Clark will speak at the CREW-St. Louis (Commercial Real Estate Women) signature event. The St. Louis chapter of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) continued its tradition of honoring members with its 15 th Annual Networking Awards. Maxine Clark By CFA Society of St. Louis (other events) Tuesday, February 9 2016 11:30 AM — 1:15 PM . In 2015 Build-A-Bear Workshop was named to the FORTUNE Best Companies to Work For® list for the seventh year in a row. Awards Showcase The Mission; Members, Maxine Clark Live It We all know it’s been a rather strange, frustrating and challenging year. We will now send Clark-Fox Family Foundation updates to your email address. In 2013, Build-A-Bear Workshop was named to the FORTUNE Best Companies to Work For® list for the fifth year in a row. Building on a highly successful retail career, in 1997 she founded Build-A-Bear Workshop®, a teddy-bear themed retail-entertainment experience with over 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores and over 130 million stuffed animals worldwide. Mailing Address In June 2013, Maxine stepped down from her role as Chief Executive Bear to apply her entrepreneurial skills to her passions – improving K-12 public education and encouraging and investing in women and minority entrepreneurs. But as the saying goes, “when life gives you lemons make lemonade.” We did just that by moving forward with the 15th Annual CREW-St. Louis Networking Awards. Maxine is also a Managing Partner of Prosper Women’s Capital, a St. Louis based fund created to invest in women owned businesses in the St. Louis area and a member of the Board of Advisers of Lewis & Clark Ventures, a St. Louis based private equity firm. Ms. Clark has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Saint Louis University and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters—Education from the University of Missouri… St. Louis businesswoman Maxine Clark is one of those people. Maxine serves on the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of Washington University and on the National Council of the Brown School of Social Work. Professionally, Maxine Clark is one of the true innovators in the retail industry. Louis based fund created to invest in women owned businesses in the St. Louis area and a member of the Board of Advisors of Lewis & Clark Ventures, a St. Louis based private equity firm. Maxine is also a Managing Partner of Prosper Women’s Capital, a St. Louis based fund created to invest in women owned businesses in the St. Louis area and a member of the Board of Advisers of Lewis & Clark Ventures, a St. Louis based private equity firm. Maxine is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and holds an honorary doctor of laws degree from St. Louis University. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Saint Louis University. ©2020 Washington University in St. Louis Maxine Clark’s latest venture got started with a wrong turn. For Community Partners Maxine serves on the national Board of Trustees of Teach For America and the local St. Louis regional board, the National Board of Donorschoose.org and the KETC Channel 9 – PBS Board of Directors where she is Board Chair. Build-A-Bear Workshop; Clark-Fox Family Foundation. Maxine serves on the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of Washington University in St. Louis as well as the Board of Directors of Beyond Housing and Parents As Teachers. Campus Map. She may be known as the founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, but she now has a divine … When asked why she is so committed to creating quality educational opportunities for St. Louis children, Maxine Clark is quick to speak about the positive role her own teachers played in her life. Cumulative sales have exceeded $5 billion and over 140 million stuffed animals have been sold world-wide. In 2006, she published her first book “The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart”. Maxine Clark said fate took her by the old St. Luke's Hospital one day. A member of our team will get in touch with you soon. Clark, 63, who founded the company in 1997, said she will continue at the helm until a successor is named and will stay on to help through the transition. She drove past the building that once housed a St. Luke’s Hospital and then a Connect Care, on Delmar. St. Louis Public Radio 90.7 KWMU: Your source for regional news, in-depth discussion and national programs from NPR, APM and PRI Maxine Clark | St. Louis Public Radio skip to main content In 2005, the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies made Build-A-Bear Workshop Portfolio Company of the Year; it was named one of the International Council of Shopping Centers “Hottest Retailers of 2004” and the Retail Innovator of the Year for 2001 by The National Retail Federation. Maxine Clark was honored as Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation’s 2015 Woman of the Year luncheon on May 21, 2015, at the Hilton Ballpark in St. Louis. In 2006, she published her first book “The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart”. Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement. For Alumni & Parents, Subscribe to a Newsletter In 1997, she founded Build-A-Bear Workshop®, a teddy-bear themed retail-entertainment experience. Name. ... Brittany is an alum of Washington University in St. Louis, American University in Washington, and is a current Aspen Institute Education fellow. Gary Clark Wilford Clark Clark Clark Christopher Clark Kimberley Clark More People: 4: Maxine Clark Clark Maxine Clark Maxine Fox: 71 New York, NY Topeka, KS Saint Louis, MO More Locations: Robert Fox Clark Maxine Fox Sharon Fox: Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc: 5: Maxine Elaine Clark Elaine Clark: 60 Bentonville, AR Fayetteville, AR She has served in leadership roles with Teach For America (at the national and regional level), Beyond Housing, Parents as Teachers, Donorschoose.org and the KETC Channel 9 – PBS Board of Directors. Maxine is a member of the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Footlocker, Inc. and PBS Boards of Directors. She visits one school that is underperforming and one that is successful to gain better insight into why schools fail and how they can succeed. 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