After graduating, Clay moved to Tyler, Texas as a Process Engineer for Howe-Baker Engineers (later CB&I). He worked for 12 years in the process design of syngas and hydrogen plants before moving into engineering management. At the end of 2010, Clay was a founding member and the Process Manager of JV Tyler Engineers, a new startup EPC engineering office. He later joined KP Engineering as the Manager of Process Engineering, working there for 5 years. Clay had the opportunity to serve as the Vice President of Engineering for Lauren Engineers & Constructors, expanding his responsibilities to all engineering and design disciplines at multiple office locations while establishing a new office in Tyler. Unfortunately, Lauren ended up a casualty of the pandemic and industry downturn. Clay was instrumental in facilitating an opportunity for the engineering staff to join Samuel Engineering. Clay currently serves as the Director of Texas Operations for Samuel, providing the execution of full EPC projects for the refining, midstream, renewables, and power industries. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Alabama, Colorado, and North Dakota, a member of AIChE, a life member of the Arkansas Alumni Association, and serves on the Advisory Board for the newly established Jasper Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Tyler.

Clay and his wife Veronica have lived in the Tyler area since graduating and have two sons that are also a part of the University of Arkansas. Ryan graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in May 2020, and Justin will graduate with a B.S. in Computer Science in December 2022.

Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers, 2020.