Under the Hard Hat with Louie Sarracino

At Clark, we are proud to be made up of individuals from a variety of backgrounds and talents. Our “Under the Hard Hat” series is designed to showcase the diverse perspectives of the dedicated men and women who make up the Clark team.

We recently sat down with Louie Sarracino, a vice president who joined Clark in 2020, to learn about his background, his role at the company, and his outlook on the Life Science & Mission Critical market sectors.

What are your responsibilities in your role?

I have the opportunity to help develop and grow a new strategy for the Life Science & Mission Critical market sectors at Clark.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in New Mexico and spent 20 years in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area.

My family and I moved to Northern Virginia in 2012, which is where my wife is from originally.

Most of my immediate family still resides in the Southwestern United States.

What occupies your time outside of the office?

Whether it’s traveling or our Friday movie night tradition, I’m spending time with my wife of 16 years, our two daughters, and our mini-goldendoodle.

I enjoy giving back to the community and coach a 12U Loudoun County softball team and a Loudoun County basketball team. My 12-year-old is on the softball team and my 10-year old is on the basketball team.

Who has been your strongest influence on your life?

The strongest influence in my life has been my mother. She worked endlessly to raise me as a single mother and demonstrated that a strong work ethic will always prevail.

When I was 18 years old, she loaned me money for work boots and made me get out of bed everyday so that I would be the first person at the gate of the construction site every morning until I got hired. On the fourth day of demonstrating commitment, the Superintendent hired me on the demolition crew. To this day, 32 years later, I still live by heart, determination, a strong work ethic, and the mantra - "all in". This life lesson is being passed along on to my kids to help them shape who they will become.  

What brings you to Clark?

Clark is a proven builder with national reach, so the company is positioned to respond in areas that are poised for exponential growth. Clark also attracts and develops some of the best talent in the country. In my new role, I’m looking forward to hiring and developing new members of our team to help meet the demands of the Life Science & Mission Critical market sectors.

I’m also excited about being able to leverage Clark’s company-wide resources to develop comprehensive client solutions. Tapping into the specialized expertise of Clark’s subsidiaries opens up opportunities to deliver a unique level of service. 

Can you tell us a little bit about your professional background?

Since joining the industry close to three decades ago, I've been fortunate enough to oversee the development and delivery of complex infrastructure projects in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Southwest regions of the country. Projects have ranged from ground-up data center construction for technology companies to laboratory fit-outs for biotechnology companies. 

I most recently spent the last seven years of my career with a large general contractor where I oversaw operations on some of the most complex technology infrastructure projects in the Mid-Atlantic.

You have extensive experience in the construction of laboratories and research facilities. Where do you see this market headed?

The Life Sciences market has seen substantial growth due to COVID-19. Currently, nearly 90% of our pharmaceutical products are imported from outside the country. Pharmaceutical companies are working to bring drug and drug supply chain capabilities back to the United States.

How are demands on data centers changing today?

Data center providers have experienced unprecedented growth in 2020. The increase of people working from home has resulted in more online collaboration, video conferencing, and data than previous years of sustained growth. Data center market projections through 2022 are led by telecommunications, cloud and IT services, banking and insurance, and manufacturing. Over the next few years, we anticipate growing demand for 5G, artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicles.

The projected growth will require cutting-edge computing sites for global connectivity. The market outlook to 2025 and beyond is stronger than ever, with major investment firms  flooding the market with investment capital.

What are some of the unique challenges of building a high-tech facility?

Building a data center takes a lot of coordination with several stakeholders, and ultimately requires quick deployment of large-scale construction techniques. The trend in today’s market requires advanced equipment procurement and offsite fabrication. Good design management practices are vital to this process to ensure customer cost and schedule goals are met.

How can Clark meet the needs of these growing markets?

Clark’s extensive experience in construction supply analytics and on-time project delivery have positioned the company to build these highly technical facilities. This experience will be critical to successfully responding to the fast-paced demand of these markets. The specialized expertise of Clark’s subsidiaries, such as S2N and C3M, gives us a differentiated suite of services to meet the requirements of each project. Ultimately, we can help customers and supply chain partners achieve their goals as needs evolve.