Clay graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering degree and joined SSR which was then a single office firm of 50 people in Nashville, TN. His early career focused on mechanical design for healthcare facilities across the Southeast and Southwest parts of the country. Clay joined the team moving to Houston, TX in 1984 to open what was then SSR’s first branch office, and managed the office until 1996 before returning to Nashville. He is a registered PE in 7 states, and specializes in in mechanical engineering, including heating, ventilating and air conditioning design for major healthcare and institutional facilities. Clay is currently Senior Principal for SSR’s Healthcare, Commercial and Higher Education markets. Clay serves on several national healthcare related organizations and industry committees, including the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) and the Facility Guidelines Institute FGI) Health Facilities Guidelines Revisions Committee. Clay co-authored ASHE’s Health Facility Commissioning Guidelines and the subsequent Handbook. Clay is a frequent speaker at industry events and is recognized for his knowledge of the healthcare market and emerging trends in facility design, construction and management.