INDIANAPOLIS – 23 July 2025 – EmployIndy is proud to announce the appointment of Ken Clark as our new Executive Vice President of Operations, effective July 1, 2025.
Ken brings a wealth of operational expertise and most recently served as EmployIndy’s Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration, where he led core internal functions and helped ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization.
“Ken has been a key leader at EmployIndy, and we’re thrilled to see him take on this expanded role,” said Marie Mackintosh, president and CEO of EmployIndy. “His operational acumen and dedication to expanding opportunity make him the right person to help drive our mission forward.”
With deep roots in Indianapolis and a steadfast commitment to public service, Ken is uniquely positioned to lead EmployIndy’s operational strategy and oversee the programs and initiatives that strengthen our community partnerships.
“I’m excited to step into this new role where I can use my strengths in operations to serve not just our team, but the broader Indianapolis community,” said Ken Clark. “Working alongside our partners, I’m eager to help turn our shared vision into action and ensure more residents have access to meaningful career pathways.”
As Executive Vice President of Operations, Ken will play a critical role in advancing EmployIndy’s mission to create high-quality workforce solutions that expand access and opportunity for all residents and meet the evolving needs of employers across Marion County.
Posted on July 7th, 2025 in
Success Story When Melissa “Mars” Anderson-Wust, a recent graduate of Avon High School, applied to a competitive position at a Central Indiana nature park, she was hopeful that the opportunity would be her first step towards building a career as a wildlife educator or naturalist, something she’d been interested in from a young age. But when they opted to move forward with another candidate, she was left wondering how she might start building her career without prior professional experience in parks and recreation.
“When I learned about the Indy Parks Corps Training with YES Indy, I was so excited and applied immediately,” Mars said. “I was hopeful that this would be a way to gain certifications and experience to help me stand out when applying for jobs at parks in Indy.” Mars was accepted into the program, an EmployIndy led 13-week paid cohort-style training that included phases focused on job readiness, earning industry certifications, work experience (WEX) internships, and job placement assistance. As a part of EmployIndy’s Coaching + Training efforts, YES Indy provides the personalized guidance and support that is essential to helping individuals choose the right education or training paths and persist through to completion.
After completing the initial training phases of the program, Mars was paired with Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) for her month-long WEX internship, where her love for animals and work ethic helped her excel as she learned how IACS protects and promotes the health, safety, and welfare of pets and livestock in Marion County.
After completing the full program, Mars described herself as “ready.” And IACS agreed. Having had Mars as an intern, they moved quickly to hire her full time into an Adoptions Counselor role, where she monitors and evaluates animal behavior as well as assists clients who are looking to adopt.
“Working with animals can be a difficult job, making it difficult to hire people here,” said Colleen Walker, Public Information Officer at IACS. “But having candidates with experience, like Mars, is incredibly valuable. Experienced candidates often integrate quickly and previously having her here as an intern made the decision to hire her an easy one.”
In 2024, 10,923 individuals in Marion County enrolled in coaching and training through EmployIndy programs—gaining the skills and support needed to find employment and succeed in the workplace. Additionally, EmployIndy and our YES Indy network of community-based organizations (CBO) helped 275 young people, who were disconnected from education and employment, earn certifications in advanced trainings.
To learn more about job readiness and training opportunities with YES Indy, visit yesindy317.org. Interested in connecting with job ready candidates? Reach out to businesspartnerships@nullemployindy.org to get connected.
