Dirck Clark, chief strategy officer for St. Joseph-based Heartland Health/Mosaic Life Care, has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Missouri’s largest statewide employer advocacy group. In this role, Clark will lead the Missouri Chamber over the next two years and direct its 20-member staff and resources to build the organization’s presence and effectiveness in the political and legislative arenas.

“Dirck Clark is an extremely active and engaged member of our board and we are excited about the energy he brings to his role as Chairman,” said Dan Mehan, Missouri Chamber president and CEO. “He will play an important part in setting the goals and strategy for our organization to take our work to the next level. With Clark at the helm, Missouri employers can be sure their interests are well-protected and their concerns will be heard by lawmakers.”

Clark replaces past Missouri Chamber Chairman, John Hancock, who has completed his two-year term. Hancock is the director of training and recruiting at Prime, Inc., Springfield. Clark has served on the Missouri Chamber Board of Directors since 2001, and has been directly involved in setting policy and agenda priorities as head of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Public Policy Council during that time.

“We are at a point with the Missouri Chamber and our state where we need vision and leadership to transcend political cycles,” said Mehan. “Clark is ideally suited to help position the Missouri Chamber as the guiding force for economic and jobs growth for the next decade and beyond.