Forty Under 40: Clark Ellison

When Clark Ellison decided to major in communications in college, he knew he wanted to focus on the health care industry.

As executive director of development for Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas in Rogers, Ellison is responsible for public relations and marketing for the system’s hospitals, clinics, charitable foundation and volunteer services.

A big part of his job is fund raising.

“One of the reasons I do what I do is to be able to help people help other people,” he said. “To do the projects that we raise money for is really a great feeling.”

A native of St. Joseph, Mo., Ellison graduated from Central Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1988. He has lived in Northwest Arkansas for 11 years and has been in his current position, based at St. Mary’s Hospital, since 1998.

Led by Ellison, the development team at Mercy has greatly increased fund-raising activities. One such event is an annual December charity ball that netted more than $275,000 in its first four years. The money goes to projects such as Poplar House in Rogers, a free clinic.

Ellison is also a member of the Rogers Rotary and board of directors of the Jones Center for Families in Springdale.