Maxine K. Clark, Founder, CEO and Director of Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. launched the company in I997. In the beginning, Clark was just the company’s President (until 2004), but in 2000, she became Chairman as well. Prior to Build-A-Bear, throughout her three decades in the retail industry, Clark has established a strong reputation as both an innovator and entrepreneur. She was once described by Bloomberg Business Week as “no teddy bear when it comes to business.” Indeed, the company has thrived under her leadership while other popular kids’ retail stores have struggled. She makes it a priority that her customers have fun, since she finds, “that’s when they spend more money.”