Patrina Clark
Board Chair
Dr. Patrina M. Clark is a dynamic facilitator and speaker, a trusted government consulting advisor on a broad range of human and organizational performance challenges, and an expert in public sector leader development.
As the President and Founder of Pivotal Practices Consulting (Pivotal), Dr. Clark has led the firm to national recognition as a top provider of exceptional services to government agencies. Recognition includes the Minority Business Development Agency’s (MBDA) 2017, Professional Services Firm of the Year, the Central Region National Minority Supplier Diversity Council’s Top 100 MBEs (Minority Business Enterprises), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) 2016 Small Business Achievement Award.
Before launching Pivotal, Dr. Clark served with distinction for 25 years in five federal agencies – U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), Federal Election Commission (FEC), Department of Navy, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Dr. Clark’s last federal position was Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) for GAO. A career member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), Dr. Clark received numerous awards and commendations during her government career, including the Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Medal and a Hammer Award from the Partnership for Reinventing Government.
Since moving to the private sector, Dr. Clark has continued to receive recognition and accolades for her exemplary professionalism. In 2016, she received the SmartCEO Brava Award and was inducted in the Class of 2016 Enterprising Women of the Year Awardees. In 2015, Dr. Clark was awarded the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce (PGCOC) Entrepreneur of the Year Award and was also a finalist for Business Woman of the Year Award.
Active in the federal community, Dr. Clark is the President of Executive Women in Government (EWG), Vice Chair of the Senior Executives Association (SEA) Professional Development League, and Vice Chancellor of the African American Federal Executives Association (AAFEA). Dr. Clark is the creator and moderator of the LinkedIn group “Public Service Excellence,” which has more than 4,000 members. She is a contributing author to the ATD Public Manager Journal. Dr. Clark also served as a Presidential Rank Award Board Member for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in 2014 and 2016.
Dr. Clark earned her doctorate in Human and Organizational Learning at The George Washington University, where her dissertation explored the social identity and self-efficacy of female law enforcement leaders. She has also completed graduate studies and programs at Harvard, Cornell, Georgetown, and the University of Maryland.
Dr. Clark is an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Emerging Leaders programs. Other professional affiliations and certifications include: Human Capital Institute Human Capital Strategist; HR Certification Institute Senior Professional in Human Resources; SHRM Senior Certified Professional; and NeuroLeadership Group Results Associate Certified Coach.
She joined the Board in 2022.
Eric Jones
Vice Chair
Eric Jones is a seasoned political strategist with two decades of experience advising businesses, campaigns, candidates & non-government organizations. For the last two years, Mr. Jones has served as the VP of Government Affairs, DC-Commercial for the Apartment & Office Building of Metropolitan Washington (AOBA). In his role, Mr. Jones is responsible for representing the organization and its membership before the executive & legislative branches of the District Government. In addition, Mr. Jones also represents the AOBA before community groups, citizen/civic associations and as their representative in various trade associations as well as on the board of several organizations.
Prior to his work at AOBA, Mr. Jones spent almost 13 years as the Associate Director of Government Affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Metro Washington. ABC of Metro Washington is the pre-eminent advocate for fair and open competition and the merit shop philosophy, and the premiere construction association in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.
Prior to his work with ABC of Metro Washington, Mr. Jones ran his own consulting firm specializing in small business, non-profit and political consulting. He is also a former Congressional Staffer, Consultant to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and At-Large DC City Council Candidate (2014). Mr. Jones continues to serve as a trainer/coach in the areas of campaign management and political strategy. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the DC Jobs Coalition, a four-time Mayoral Appointee and a past member of the Board of the Premier Community Development Corporation (PCDC), the DC Democratic State Committee (DCDSC) and the DC Young Democrats (DCYD).
Jones holds B.A. from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and a M.S. from the New England College of Business and Finance and a graduate of the McKinsey & Co Black Executive Leadership Program. Mr. Jones also serves as a Mentor, is active in the Morehouse College Alumni Association Washington DC Chapter and the Washington (DC) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated.
He joined the Board in 2022.
