To a big extent, Lisa Clarke has been the name and face of the Destination Medical Center initiative in Rochester.

Now getting ready for retirement, Clarke has served as executive director of the DMC Economic Development Agency since 2014. The nonprofit agency works with the city of Rochester and others to develop and implement DMC’s mission: a 20-year, $5.6 billion development initiative designed to “position Minnesota as a global center for the highest-quality medical care and to generate high-value jobs, new tax revenue and businesses.”

Clarke led the effort to get state funding for the DMC. In 2013, a total of $585 million was allocated by state statute for the initiative, including $424 million from the state, $128 million from the city of Rochester and $33 million from Olmsted County.

Under her watch, the Mayo Clinic and private developers have invested nearly $1 billion in Rochester development projects, including two hotels, housing and the $300 million business and research complex known as One Discovery Square.

Clarke will soon hand over the leadership baton to Patrick Seeb, the agency’s current director of economic development and placemaking and former executive director of the Saint Paul Riverfront Corp. Her retirement is effective Jan. 4, 2021.

In the following interview, Clarke talks about her time with the DMC Economic Development Agency, the initiative’s formative years and other topics.