Jared Clonch
Vice President , ORDERS Construction
MAGGIE HATFIELD TRACY A . TOLER PHOTOGRAPHY
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ?
MOVIE : “ Full Metal Jacket ”
FOOD : Ribeye
SPORT TEAM : WVU Football
ICE CREAM : Pralines and cream
Growing up in St . Albans , WV , Jared Clonch , vice president of ORDERS Construction , had a passion for building things .
“ I always worked some kind of construction project while in high school and college , whether it be for a mason during the summer or a local landscaping contractor ,” he says .
At just 16 years old , Clonch ' s first job working for BBR Drilling Company on a large retaining wall project had a strong influence on him . In this role , Clonch was taught how to be responsible for himself and his actions .
Immediately after graduating from
Clonch admires the spacious interior of Bible Center Church .
West Virginia University with a degree in civil engineering , Clonch landed his first professional position in Charlotte , NC , working for a landscape architecture and civil site design firm . He thought he was going to shift his career path to design , but he learned that even the best plans don ’ t always work out .
“ Design work did not provide the satisfaction my previous jobs had provided ,” he says . “ It was in this role that I learned just because it looks good on paper doesn ’ t mean it will work the way it is intended or can even be constructed .”
In his current position at ORDERS Construction , Clonch gets to see every side of the business .
“ The thing I enjoy most about my current position is that I get to do something different almost every day , whether that be traveling to job sites , helping our field operations work through an issue or being in the office helping with work plans , estimates or financials ,” he says .
Even though Clonch has seen much success at the age of 41 , he has still seen his fair share of challenges as well .
“ My biggest challenges have been in my personal life , and there are two distinct instances that have shaped me and my outlook — the first being the death of my wife in 2016 , and the second being my youngest son being severely affected
by autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ),” he says .
During those turning points , Clonch learned kindness and empathy .
“ In general , people are too quick to react to others in a negative way . I have no idea what is going on in someone else ’ s life at any given moment ,” he says .
Clonch also learned that there is no need to dwell on the past .
“ Bad things happen to everyone , the difference between success and failure is how you choose to move forward ,” he says .
With determination and perseverance , Clonch is proud of the fact that his personal challenges did not deter him from his professional goals .
Clonch believes he has been extremely blessed and chooses to return some blessings to others through community service and donating his time and talents to organizations aimed at helping children .
“ It is imperative that we help the future generations so that they can continue the prosperity of the community ,” he says .
Clonch serves as the board president for the Community Autism Resources and Education Systems — a nonprofit organization focused on developing support for West Virginia children , young adults and families affected by autism — and as a mentor for Education Elevators .
Looking toward the future , Clonch is focused on helping autistic children in the Mountain State thrive educationally .
“ I am working on building a campus for children with learning disabilities , particularly children affected with ASD ,” he says . “ Public and private education does not have the capacity or resources to provide some children with the proper tools to live fulfilling lives . There are very few programs in the state of West Virginia that are specifically targeted toward children on the autism spectrum . I am working diligently to increase the number and quality of these programs in the state to make sure children with autism have the best chances to succeed .” •
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