Kenneth Clarke is the project manager for Blockland Cleveland, an audacious, all-hands-on-deck, full-blown community effort to build, support and promote the city of Cleveland as an innovative technology center using blockchain technology as the catalyst. Blockland’s goal is to create a region-wide culture of innovation that will attract and retain all kinds of technology professionals and companies for decades to come. JumpStart is playing a key role in the Blockland effort by funding this new role.

As the Blockland initiative’s first full-time hire, Clarke will help develop a strategic plan for Blockland, manage the day-to-day activities and priorities of all partners and collaborators, build relationships with new potential partners and serve as the liaison between Blockland and the Toronto-based Blockchain Research Institute.

Previously, Clarke served as president and CEO of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, a unique state-of-the-art institution dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing the story of the citizen soldier. Prior to role, he served as associate vice president of fund development and marketing at Safer Foundation, an organization that helps people with criminal records gain employment, and as midwest region director of major gifts for The Ohio State University.

Ken holds a bachelor’s in English from Taylor University and a master’s in English from Miami University.