About Clark Plexico

It all started when…

As a teacher at Iranzamin, the Tehran International School in Iran, Clark Plexico taught students from over 45 nationalities. This exposure to different perspectives significantly broadened his own horizons. He lived in Iran for two and a half years, studied Farsi, and took courses in Islamic Philosophy and Middle East History at the Royal Academy of Philosophy and Tehran University. For part of the time he lived with an Iranian family and grew to know and respect Middle Eastern history and culture.

Mr. Plexico then went into international real estate with a Singapore-based company, and later started his own company based in London and Hong Kong. For another eight years he worked in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, always taking the time to learn more about the history and cultures of each country.

While living and working in the United Kingdom, Mr. Plexico earned his MA (with Distinction) in International Relations, adding an academic aspect to an already rich international and multicultural background.

After over a decade of working and living abroad, Mr. Plexico returned to the United States where he became highly involved in state and national organizations. He was elected to four terms in the North Carolina Senate and was a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Southern Legislative Conference.

Mr. Plexico was later selected to be the State President for Law & Government Affairs for AT&T. He served as Director of Political Advocacy for the nine-state region, and was the National Corporate Representative to the National Attorneys-General Association.

He later returned to his entrepreneurial roots and started International Strategies, Inc. where he was a sought out speaker for organizations, advising them on cultural aspects of conducting business globally. He also assisted organizations in developing their advocacy efforts, and advised educators on creating a more globally oriented curriculum. He led efforts to increase the state’s international presence, and was a leader and participant in many trade and educational missions throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America.

Again accepting an overseas position, he became Country Director in Uzbekistan for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) for three and a half years. He served another year as Director of Political Processes for NDI in Afghanistan. During this time he also conducted seminars and workshops for candidates, members of parliament and civil society in Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine.

For two years Mr. Plexico led the efforts of People to People International as the global advocate for 28,000 members in over 100 countries. He led the cross-cultural immersion experience to Myanmar and was the keynote speaker at the European Conference in Albania and the World-Wide Conference in Taiwan. He visited PTPI chapters in South Korea, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Switzerland, Germany, Albania, and Taiwan in addition to the United States.

Mr. Plexico later lived in Saigon, Vietnam for three years working with organizations and individuals in both leadership development and the role culture plays in business, politics and personal relationships. He then taught International Relations and Global Politics to students from around the world at New Vision University in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Clark Plexico is a founder of the Central Eurasia Leadership Alliance (CELA): a multicultural initiative, promoting regional cooperation and fostering the development of the region’s most forward-thinking leaders. He has been involved with CELA for over twenty years and has been faculty member and facilitator at the sister academies in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Mr. Plexico has worked with hundreds of emerging leaders from over thirty countries creating leadership networks throughout Eurasia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and North America.

Current and past board memberships reflect his statewide, national and international involvement: Chair of the Board for the World Trade Center North Carolina, board member of the International Affairs Council of the Triangle, Stop Hunger Now, and Duke University Fuqua School of Business CIBER Advisory Board; member of the Southern Center for International Studies and the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House).

Mr. Plexico has been awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the most prestigious and highest honor granted by the Governor of North Carolina. It is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the state through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.

Since 2021 Mr. Plexico has been based in Tulum, Mexico, and has been heavily involved in rescue and resettlement efforts for former colleagues in Afghanistan and their families. He continues speaking and participating at global forums both in the United States and abroad. He is regularly interviewed by Al Jazeera English Channel, and writes guest columns on political and cultural developments from his perspective as an American abroad.