For someone who once dreamed of joining a CSI team, Clark Gress’s journey into financial services has been anything but typical.
A Central City native, Clark’s path wound through a series of pivots before he landed on a sports management degree that ultimately shaped his professional life. Along the way, he’s built a career defined by hard work, dynamic roles, and a commitment to fostering strong relationships—both with clients and colleagues.
Clark originally came to Lincoln to study forensics at Nebraska Wesleyan University—at the time, one of just a dozen schools in the nation offering that focus. But because Wesleyan didn’t provide the criminal justice major he needed, he switched gears. After dabbling in psychology and political science, he found his footing in sports management, which led to a four-year stretch with the Lincoln Saltdogs—first behind the scenes, and eventually as a team announcer.
“I was leading a double life,” Clark recalls. “I worked at Union Bank & Trust until 3:30pm, then I’d head to the Saltdogs from 5 to 11pm.”
While his time with the Saltdogs was exciting, UBT is where Clark really began to build his professional acumen. He started as a teller, and was managing a branch just two and a half years later. Over nearly a decade at the bank, Clark gained invaluable experience in retail banking which serves him well in his current role at Haberfeld.
“UBT gave me a solid foundation for my role as an Account Executive,” Clark says. “With my background in banking, I can easily develop effective strategies for banks and credit unions. These financial institutions are at the core of their communities, and we’re helping position them for long-term success.”
Clark joined Haberfeld in May 2021, thanks to a connection with Danielle Stahlnecker, his former UBT manager. Today, as an AE, he thrives in a fast-paced, ever-changing role that allows him to impact entire teams at client institutions.
“UBT was something different every day, but my AE role is that—and more,” he tells us. “It’s such a dynamic position. I get to support frontline staff, branch managers, and everyone in between.”
Clark prides himself on building relationships quickly and leaning on his team to deliver results. “I’m good at getting to know clients,” he explains. “And I trust our internal teams to help create success stories.”
One of those teams is the Haberfeld Data Team, whose behind-the-scenes insights play a critical role in strategy. “It would take me a long time to generate what they do very quickly,” Clark admits. “They make me look like an expert when they do all the hard work!”
He also credits the Creative Team for consistently delivering standout work. He points to a recent campaign for Seneca Savings, designed by Karrar Salloom, which included a playful, colorable ice cream cone that customers could share on social media.
“We have so much talent,” Clark says. “Our clients trust us with the opportunity to help them grow, and we don’t take that lightly.”
Outside of work, Clark is all about family, baseball (ask him about the Mets!), and the Huskers. He and his wife Kaitlin have three sons—Reece (13), Bentley (10), and Greyson (7)—who share his passion for the game. This past summer alone, the family attended around 150 youth baseball games, traveling as far as Wisconsin and Kansas.
Their love for travel goes beyond baseball. While they’ve cruised together, Clark and Kaitlin’s favorite trip so far has been their 2023 adventure to Ireland. Highlights included the Dark Hedges in County Antrim (aka the King’s Road in Game of Thrones), the Cliffs of Moher (the Princess Bride‘s “Cliffs of Insanity”), and Dublin—where his rental car got booted for missing a $7 parking payment.
“We didn’t have a tap-to-pay card that was required,” Clark laughs. “I figured were leaving in 45 minutes, so that wouldn’t be a big deal. It was!”
In true Gress fashion, Clark brings the places he visits to life—brick by brick. He’s built over 25 LEGO® sets featuring iconic stadiums and historical landmarks, each one a testament to his love of architecture and history. But if you ask him, his favorite creation by far is Citi Field in Queens. He has caught Mets games in Denver and St. Louis, but Clark is still holding out for the ultimate experience: seeing them play in New York.
From major and minor league ballparks to Irish road trips to assisting community FIs across the country, Clark brings passion, adaptability, and a strong work ethic to everything he does. No matter where his life and career take him, Clark will always be all-in, a trait that benefits Haberfeld, our people, and our clients at every turn.
