Steve Clark named CEO of Dallas-based PLA

Steve Clark, founder and former CEO of Fort Smith-based Propak, has been named CEO of Dallas-based PLA, the pallet-management and supply chain logistics company that bought Propak in June 2022.

Clark’s move to the top job is part of a PLA leadership transition and “comes at a time of increased demand for the company’s integrated pallet and logistics service offerings,” the company said in a Wednesday (March 20) press release. Kyle Otting was the previous CEO.

“Steve’s experience building out innovative reverse logistics, 3PL, and freight capabilities uniquely positions him to lead PLA during this exciting phase of growth,” Wade Glisson, partner at Silver Oak, said in a statement. “We look forward to leveraging his unique skill set to realize the full potential of PLA’s service offering.”

Founded in 1989, PLA is an umbrella for eight pallet, lumber and logistics companies – Pallet Logistics of America, Pallet Repair Services (“PRS”), Pal-Serv, Propak, Taylormade Pallet & Logistics, Valley Pallet, Willamette Valley Lumber, and Yancey Pallet. The company has 75 U.S. facilities and more than 1,300 customers.

“Our focus remains on supporting the needs of our customers as they continue to grow in this rapidly evolving market, and I’m honored to lead such a talented team of industry experts into the future of the pallet and logistics space,” Clark said.

Propak, founded in 1999 by Clark, offers third-party logistics, reverse logistics, warehousing, transportation, and freight brokerage. The company in June 2022 had 1,700 employees at more than 60 national locations. The PLA acquisition included Clark having a board seat with PLA. Prior to being named CEO, Clark was listed as the PLA chief innovation and strategy officer.

Clark, a member of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s 2023 C-Suite class, told Talk Business & Politics he will continue to work primarily from his Fort Smith office. He also said his focus in the new role is to ensure PLA is on top of new and emerging technologies.

“As you know, the supply chain is evolving at an incredible pace, so we’re working to ensure that the Fortune 500 companies that we serve all over the U.S., … we support their state-of-the-art materials handling and product distribution,” Clark said.

Clark said he did not seek the job, but the “situation presented itself, and it was very intriguing to me. It was another piece of the puzzle in the supply chain and another intriguing chapter in my story.”

“Also, I can tell you, it would not have been appealing if the (PLA) team that is in place was not of such high quality. They are a first-in-class team. That made it an easy decision,” he said.

Clark is also the founder of Rogers-based Firebend, a technology company that markets itself as an “incubation hub of technology talent.”

He also founded The Unexpected Project that has helped coordinate with and fund global artists to bring murals and other forms of art to downtown Fort Smith.

PLA is owned by Evanston, Ill.-based Silver Oak Services Partners, a private equity firm founded in 2005 that invests in service businesses with $15 million to $150 million in revenue. Silver Oak has raised more than $1.1 billion in capital since 2005.