DES Celebrates W. Mark Clark: Over Forty Years of Human and Social Service
Pima Council on Aging President & CEO, W. Mark Clark.
Older individuals and their families in Pima County have had better aging experiences thanks to the partnership between the Pima Council on Aging (PCOA) and the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). This month, we join PCOA President & CEO, W. Mark Clark, in celebration of his retirement from 10 years of service with his organization and over 40 years helping individuals thrive.
As President & CEO of PCOA, Mark partnered with DES to provide older adults with case management and supportive in-home and community services such as transportation, family caregiver support, health promotion, disease prevention, legal assistance, and nutrition programs including home-delivered and congregate meals. “People come up to me all the time and tell me what a difference we’ve made in the lives of somebody they love,” said Mark. His time with PCOA was the pinnacle of a long career helping vulnerable people and communities work through challenges they faced in everyday life.
Mark turned an undergraduate degree from Northern Arizona University and a Master's in Social Work from Arizona State University into a robust human and social services career. Interestingly, Mark may have family roots that trace back to human services with DES. Over the years, he has continued collaborating with DES in various roles.
Mark went from volunteering with Terros Health as a drug and crisis abuse counselor in the 1970s to executive leadership roles in behavioral health, aging, human services, housing and faith-based organizations in more recent years. Mark jokes as he reflects on how his career has evolved. “I started my career talking to parents about their challenging children, and I’ve ended my career talking to children about their challenging parents,” he said.
“Mark has been a fixture in the human services community for decades,” said Rebecca Clayton, Assistant Director of the DES Division of Aging and Adult Services. The relationship he and PCOA have built with DES has been invaluable for the aging community. “Mark’s background and understanding of how the greater aging network functions and the connection points that many aging adults could have to multiple state and non-state entities will continue to inspire innovative strategies to support aging Arizonans,” she said.
Join us in celebrating W. Mark Clark, not only on his retirement but for his numerous accomplishments, commitment to social work and the positive impacts made throughout his meaningful career as a partner to assist older Arizonans.
To find home and community-based services through your local agency on aging, visit the Area Agency on Aging DES webpage.