Celebrating Dennis. Supporting the Trades.

In memory of Dennis Clark

Dennis began his career as an electrician in his early 20s, kicking off a lifelong love of building things and building relationships. After the family moved to Oregon in 1993, Dennis ran his own electrical contracting business before becoming a building inspector for Polk and Marion Counties.

While he enjoyed inspection, Dennis eventually went to work for the state of Oregon at the Building Codes Division where he was the training coordinator for anyone seeking electrical, mechanical, plumbing or structural inspector certifications. If there was anything he liked more than working as a trade professional himself, it was mentoring young people with passions similar to his own. While at BCD, Dennis was also the Assistant State Electrical Chief, for which he wrote policy for the Oregon Electrical Code and advised the governor and various entities on construction issues. When he retired in 2021, the state training center in West Salem was named in Dennis’ honor.

In many ways, his life was just getting started. Never one with the patience to sit still, Dennis often expressed concern for the future of the industry and was actively trying to find ways to drive enthusiasm in the next generation of professionals and increase gender equality, including creating more opportunities for women in the inspection field. And so even though he is gone, his work continues. From journeyman to master electrician to inspector to educator, Dennis dedicated his 40 year career to elevating and promoting careers in the trades. This scholarship continues his legacy of mentorship and passion for an industry he loved.