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Paul Clark has devoted his four-decade career to banking and, in effect, Northeast Ohio.
Previously with National City Corp., Clark could have faded out from the banking scene when the legacy Cleveland company merged with PNC Financial Services in 2008 in the wake of the subprime mortgage crisis. Instead, he joined the Pittsburgh-based bank as president of Northern Ohio and the Cleveland region, a role securing him a place among this market's most well-known bankers.
Crain's sat down with Clark to talk about his reflections on an atypical year in an otherwise familiar region that has seen a Republican National Convention, a veritable Cleveland renaissance kick into high gear and a president-elect that invites uncertainty in every nearly every business sector.
Novelty doesn't come as often for a banking veteran like yourself. Looking back on 2016, what's surprised you?
Really, it's how far our community has come. Unprecedented public and private partnerships are driving historic momentum here, and as a result, I think we're building a foundation for more success. There's the planning, preparation and flawless execution of RNC week alone, which changed the narrative of Cleveland. And PNC played a big role with that, as did many others, and we're all continuing to reap the benefits of that work.
Right, PNC was part of the RNC host committee. That's obviously not something that happens to everyone every day. What's something that you learned in being a part of that?
Cleveland has truly differentiated itself from other...