Senior Marketing Manager at USAA
Air Force football player helps USAA reach out to America’s military.
By Warren Duffie

Many big corporations offer attractive benefits to transitioning veterans: Higher salaries, 401k plans and other investment options, and opportunities for faster promotion.

However, Don Clark chose his current company based on its mission of serving military personnel and their families.

“I wanted to work for a firm defined by its commitment to its members, not just stockholders,” said the former Air Force first lieutenant. “Working at USAA allows me to be part of a bigger cause – serving the military community. I love that I can still be around the military culture, and it makes for a rewarding work atmosphere.”

On the Job
A full-service financial services and insurance company offering banking, investments and financial planning, USAA has catered to military personnel and their families for more than 86 years. Clark, 28, is a senior marketing manager for acquisition strategy in USAA’s marketing department. He helps create and implement large-scale advertising campaigns to attract new members and introduce current ones to new products and services.

Clark’s accomplishments have been impressive. In 2008 he played a key role in unveiling one of USAA’s largest marketing blitzes – encompassing print media, direct mail, radio, and the Internet – which was seen by millions of people. He also designed a successful campaign to encourage USAA members to tell relatives and friends about the benefits of membership.

“I love working in marketing,” said Clark. “It’s such a dynamic, exciting field – especially with the emergence of Web 2.0 (increased use of Internet technology in all facets of our lives) and social media.

“The military really prepared me for this type of work,” he continued. “I learned to work with diverse groups of people and help the team perform well. Being a veteran, I also hope to betterunderstand the needs and sacrifices of our members, so USAA can better serve their needs.”

The Company
USAA was formed in 1922 by a group of Army officers that was having difficulty getting insurance. The officers pooled their resources to form an association so they could self-insure. From that small beginning, USAA now spans 6.5 million members across the world, mainly present or former military personnel and family members. It’s only logical that USAA’s work force reflects its membership. The company has about 22,000 employees, and an estimated 11 percent are veterans.

USAA recruits for a variety of skill sets — information technology (IT), human resources, and marketing, to name a few. But its biggest need is customer service representatives — the people you speak to when you call into the bank or make an insurance claim. The basic qualifications for a CSR position are either one year of customer service, one year of college credits, or completion of a military service obligation.

Benefits include a pension plan, medical and dental coverage, and 401k with a company match. Also, USAA’s San Antonio headquarters boasts three gyms and various sports leagues — creating an atmosphere of camaraderie similar to the military.

“My transition to USAA was very smooth,” said Clark. “I was nervous, but the fact that there are so many veterans here placed me at ease quickly.”

In Uniform
An Indiana native, Clark was recruited by the Air Force Academy to play football.

“I looked at a couple of other schools, but the Air Force gave me the chance to serve my country and be part of a cause greater than myself,” said the former halfback. “I also liked the idea of being able to play Division I football.”

A starter during his junior and senior years, Clark graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s in management. He was assigned to the academy as a graduate assistant football coach to help manage coaching and recruiting. A year later, Clark was assigned to Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., working with a 50-person team tasked with planning and implementing a program to enhance and extend the lives of F-16 engines.

The Transition
During that time, he earned an MBA from the University of Oklahoma. Seeking a new challenge, Clark made the difficult decision to leave the military to enter the civilian work force.

“I partnered with several recruiting firms,” he said. “They lined up interviews for me with several companies. I liked USAA because of the numerous opportunities for growth and advancement. Whether you’re interested in operations, finance, marketing or technology, USAA has so many business units that you can chart a fantastic career.”