Employee Owner Spotlight: Jennifer Clark

Employee owner name: Jennifer Clark

Department/Job at Work: Director of Human Resources / Marketing

Number of years working at Bark: 12 years

Hails from: upstate New York

What did you for work do before you worked at Bark Frameworks?

After getting my degree in Art History, I worked briefly for a landscape architecture firm in Boston. I moved to New York a while later, and started working at ARTnews magazine (at the time, in midtown Manhattan). I was there for about a decade, in the Advertising and Marketing department. It was exciting being at the intersection of fine art and business in New York, and I became a lot more familiar with the art world in general. I got to use my own art photography in a lot of our marketing initiatives, and really developed my writing/editing skills. I worked with an exceptional team of women in that department — though we’re all doing different things now, we still keep in close contact!

My first years at Bark Frameworks, I was working directly for our founder [and then-CEO] Jed Bark. I was the company’s first Marketing hire, doing things like product photography, social media, web content, advertising/partnerships — even product research and development. When the company became employee owned in early 2017, I started my Human Resources role. I had come to know the employees through my marketing work, so it kind of seemed like a logical pairing (even though the work is very different!).

As part of her Marketing work, Jennifer takes photographs of both our processes and  finished frames, in our 27,000-square foot facility in Long Island City.

What is the biggest challenge in your area of work at Bark?

I think initially, it was daunting taking on Human Resources. I really wanted to learn and present well, so I could give the company’s employees the type of manager they deserved. I studied a lot, took Management classes, and applied for and won a mentorship through the Society of Human Resource Management. Eventually, I took and passed the certification test [for my SHRM-CP certification]. At the suggestion of our previous CEO, Karl Thorndike, I also joined an in-person Toastmasters club at Long Island University (this was pre-pandemic!), where I focused on public speaking and speech writing for three years. Between that, and just knowing the company and our people better each year, I feel much more confident now.

On a more day to day basis, it can be challenging to “switch gears” constantly, between HR and Marketing. Switching from something like working on a detailed spreadsheet for our ESOP — that requires total focus — to something like moving around our studio taking photographs of frames, can be a bit jarring. My brain needs time to catch up!

What do you like best about working at Bark?

I would definitely say the people: our talented team! Though some have come and gone over the years, I’m proud to say we have quite a few folks who have worked at Bark Frameworks for decades! It’s always really exciting to hear their stories. Likewise, it’s really rewarding to get to know newer staff members, and to see employees grow and develop their skillsets — and sometimes change roles — over the years. We’ve had people move from our delivery team to our woodshop; or from Production to Design. It’s an added bonus to be able to see the fine art many of them produce outside of work, as well!

I also love seeing all of the original artwork that comes through our shop. There are often artists I studied back in my art history classes; it feels like things have come full circle.

A selection of profiles and finishes from our archive.

Name a particularly memorable framing job you worked on:

More than any one frame in particular, I just love when our artisans get creative with designs and finishes. We have an array of profiles based on 17^th c. Dutch frames – I love that we’ve researched things like historic framing styles, and that our millers can bring them to life! Likewise, the finishes our shop can execute are amazing – anything from a subtle casein wash, to 23kt-gold gilding, to paint tones mixed to match the color of the artwork under its glazing. I’m always so impressed by what we can do, and by our unwavering attention to detail.

How has your life in- and outside of work changed as a result of the recent pandemic?

The pandemic definitely changed life – and business — for the entire world! I think the biggest thing I picked up during that time was long walks. I’ve always loved the outdoors (I grew up in the countryside), and I’ve always exercised. During the pandemic, my indoor gym sessions turned into long walks. It’s so calming and peaceful, I still walk on weekends when I can — I walked 18.5 miles last weekend! I’ll listen to podcasts or audiobooks, call my family, or just enjoy the surroundings. It’s great for mental health. Maybe some day I’ll get a dog to walk with me!

What does being an employee owner mean to you?

Changing to an employee-owned structure in 2017 allowed us to keep the same talented specialists who had been maintaining our rigorous standards of preservation framing work for decades. I see our company as akin to a non-profit or museum: we are helping to preserve the safety of artworks that will outlast all of us, and will enrich future generations. Our kids and grandkids (and their grandkids) will inherit the works we archivally frame. You can’t put a price on that. We need to be here, doing this work – it has so much value. I’m really grateful we found an alternative to just selling the business to the highest bidder!

As an ESOP, we really reap what we sow in terms of our hard work, and our dedication to the field. Our efforts directly affect our gains (or losses) – we are accountable to each other. We all take great pride in what we do! It’s also very fulfilling to collaborate with the staff on ways to make the company better.

Jen and art installer Chris Ream bartend during one of the annual staff art shows the company mounts each year, put on in conjunction with the LIC Arts Open.

Are you an artist?

I am not sure I’d call myself an artist per se, but I’ve made art in one form or another ever since childhood — I come from a line of artists and architects. I practiced fine art photography in my earlier years. I also am a big appreciator (and practitioner) of both dance and creative writing, other fun outlets for personal expression!

Any outside hobbies/interests you have when you’re not making frames?

Outside of Bark, I enjoy animals and nature, seeing friends and family, standup comedy, basketball (NBA or WNBA), yoga, and exploring new places to eat and drink around the city. I love to travel as well – Mexico, Italy, and the Czech Republic are a few favorite places I’ve visited! I also volunteer each summer with an arts non-profit working with children, as well.

I like to learn and try new things – in the last decade I’ve done everything from swing dance lessons, to bowling leagues, sign language classes, cooking classes, darts, to book clubs, etc. It’s always fun to meet fellow New Yorkers and learn something new!

Thank you, Jen!