Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sean Clark. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sean, thanks for joining us today. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?

As President of the Hibernian Society, I ask my friends and family to volunteer to throw the best party all year in Salt Lake at the St Patricks Day Parade and Siamsa! This year it will be on Saturday, March 16. My grandfather used to say “many hands make light the work” and it is way more fun to have 2 hour shifts and make sure everyone has time to enjoy the party as well as help host it. I feel great about involving people though because we really do have so much fun and everyone has a good time and wants to do it again next year.

Sean, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My family has participated in the St Patricks Day Parade since its inception. I was carried as an infant during the first one that the Hibernian Society organized back in 1977. One of the founders, John Welsh, tapped me on the shoulder after the parade in 2009 and said they needed some younger people to start getting involved in the planning and organizing of the parade and the Hibernian Society in general. I helped as a volunteer and became the President of the organization in 2020.

The Hibernian Society of Utah is centered on the preservation and celebration of an irish culture and heritage. The St Patrick’s Day Parade and Siamsa at The Gateway on the Saturday before St Patricks Day (this year March 16) is our marquee event but we also host a volunteer appreciation party (for all the volunteers that put on the parade and Siamsa!) an Irish poetry night, a picnic with the Ulster Project, and a Samhain (Halloween) celebration.

All of our events are so much fun but if you have never been to the parade, put it on the calendar and join the fun!! This is a free event for our community and cherished by the Irish and all those that just like to wear green and celebrate the Irish on St Patricks Day! After a parade featuring Irish families, commercial entries, church and school groups, bands, dance companies, and some eccentric groups…we host a Siamsa, or traditional Celtic family festival, with Irish food and drink, Irish music and dancing, and all the craic!!

In my professional life, I am a sales leader on the Psychiatry team at CHG Healthcare. CHG is the leader in placing all kinds of healthcare clinicians in temporary or permanent positions throughout the country and internationally as well.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2020 we were scheduled to go on ABC4 Good Things Utah to promote our parade and Siamsa. We ended up using our segment to announce that it was cancelled.

Leading an organization that is funded almost entirely by putting on events created some challenges. We discovered the power of Zoom meetings and hosted an Irish poetry night early in the pandemic about hope and it was so beautiful.

In 2021 we did a completely virtual St Patricks Day celebration attended by over 5000 people!!

And in 2022 when we were back in person, we did about triple our record sales in food and beverage as people returned en mass to celebrate with us!!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

The Hibernian Society has built its reputation through consistently delivering a great time at St Patrick’s Day. Personally I feel like I help build that brand by being a friendly, welcoming Irishman always willing to share a story over a pint of Guinness!!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Irishinutah.com
• Instagram: Irishinutah
• Facebook: Hibernian Society of Utah
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-clark-8996a09?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app