Meet Anthony J. Clark | AvNerd & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anthony J. Clark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anthony J., where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I spent twenty-years growing up in the Air Force, so that’s always a wide question. However, I was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, where our first base was at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. From that point, we’ve been stationed at Columbus Air Force Base, and Joint Base Andrews/Ft. Belvoir. I’ll always be a DM[V] guy, though!

Living at multiple bases with my parents, watching my dad be sent off to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, whilst always staying involved in some aspect of aviation, I credit my upbringing as a military kid to where I am now as an entrepreneur and aviation professional. Also, I’d be remiss if I did not shine a bright light on my ma, who made sure everything was intact while my dad served in various countries. Spouses truly are the backbone in a military family. I take great pride in it all.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What I am proud of was creating my own platform. A platform to showcase my own artistic appreciation, but also other interests such as aviation, architecture, technology and more. It was time for me to create my own space with hopes of inspiring someone else. It took quite some time to get to where I am currently.

About three years ago in a coffee shop in Boulder, I began to strategize on what I wanted to do, such as designing a logo, brand development, trademarks, and copyrights, etc. Either before or during that timeframe, I had already been involved in projects with The Boeing Company/Jeppesen, Emirates Flight Training Academy, and Bose Aviation. So, albeit the initial energy to start everything and maintain that energy was a struggle at first, I didn’t lose sight of my appreciation for photography and becoming an entrepreneur.

If the world doesn’t take away anything else from me, I hope people understand how imperative is for me to always serve as conduit for aviation education, to be a Black business owner, and jack of many trades. To know that The 16,000 Studio is a space for me to express myself in all that I do. In addition to The 16,000 Studio, I have the exciting and fortunate pleasure of starting a new role at the United Airlines Flight Training Center in Denver, which is an amazing opportunity for me to further my involvement as an aviation professional, but also in an uncanny way, add excitement to ability to balance the airline industry, my business, and graduate studies. I like to have multiple wheels rotating.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, if anyone visits me, they obviously enjoy going on adventures. Throw on some boots/sneakers and let’s GO! The first place would have to be drinks, preferably at Death & Co., or a new place I enjoyed, Enigma Bazaar. –
Little itinerary:
– Drinks: Death & Co., Terminal Bar, Raices, The Clayton Hotel, Fort Greene Bar, or a new place I recently enjoyed, Enigma Bazaar.

– Food: Barcelona Wine Bar, Fish N Beer, Welton Street Café, Mimosas, Queen of Sheba, Super Mega Bien, Stoic & Genuine

– Visit/Hang: Museum of Contemporary Art / Redline Contemporary Art Center. Hiking is always on the table, breweries. Depending on the time of the month, I would invite them to an event one of my favorite DJs – DJ Big Styles puts on with his team called Cuffin’, a multi-city R&B gathering for people who love music, good vibes, and life. Other than that, if they’re up to go flying, or just jump out of their comfort zone, I’m here for it all

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to personally give a shoutout to my ma – Antoinette Clark and dad – Anthony Clark. My grandmothers, Ruby Williams and Glenderine Wimberly. Additional thanks to The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP), Vanessa Blacknall- Jamison (Aunt V), J.C. Buck; United Airlines Flight Training Center; American Association of Black Aerospace Professionals (AAAE); Outdoor Afro/Brotherhood of Black Outdoorsmen, great friends at The Boeing Company. Every person and organization have invested time into my growth at some point and time in my life.

Website: https://www.the16000.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runway16000/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Runway16000

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The16000Studio/?ref=page_internal

Brand Identity: https://maeve.ch/the-16000-studio-ltd/

Image Credits
Copyright © 2021 The 16,000 Studio, Ltd. All rights reserved.