Clay’s path to telecommunications design is as circuitous as some cabling routes. He got his start in sound engineering as a technical theater major, which led to gigs in background and studio editing for ABC and Disney. During the Hollywood writers strike, his side work managing restaurants became a full-time career. Seven years later he switched to supply chain logistics for retail. From there he returned to the performing arts as an integrator of large lighting systems at theaters and events centers. This led to work at an architectural consulting firm that specialized in performance venues. He came to TEECOM with the drive to apply his real-world expertise to engineering design.

Clay’s other hobby is motorcycles. He has two: a cruiser and a sport bike. “It’s like having a pickup truck and a convertible,” he explains. Clay and his dad are fans of land speed racing, so they take their bikes to the Bonneville Salt Flats when they’re open for riding. The flats are the perfect place for a ten-mile speed test. The overall goal for most people is to reach 200 MPH, which, Clay says, is obtainable but difficult. So far the fastest he’s managed is 189!

Clay and his wife are big outdoor enthusiasts. They love to hike, camp, and go on brewery tours. The recent arrival of Baby Miller slowed them down a bit, but they’re looking forward to introducing the newest member of their family to their favorite hiking place: the Columbia Gorge. “There’s nothing like the Columbia Gorge in the world,” says Clay. “It’s like its own little Grand Canyon.”

Go Grill

Basically, Clay is a meatatarian. Fruit and veggies don’t do it for his taste buds. He prefers meat cooked over a fire and grills as much as he possibly can, even in the Pacific Northwest winter. He has a five-burner gas grill and a Kamado Egg barbecue cooker. Favorite cuts of meat include ribs and tri-tip, and he loves to experiment with dry rubs, sauces, marinades, and smoking.