Ronda Clark
Ronda Clark is a dedicated training specialist and mental health professional with a passion for empowering individuals and strengthening organizational culture. Currently serving as a Clinical Training Specialist at Centerstone in Richmond, Indiana, she plays a pivotal role in shaping workforce development through new hire orientation, clinical safety training, and instruction in areas such as trauma-informed care and Motivational Interviewing. Guided by a deeply held belief in person-centered care, Ronda is committed to helping both clients and professionals reach their fullest potential by aligning personal values with meaningful, purpose-driven work.
With a career spanning more than a decade across multiple phases, Ronda brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work. She began her journey in the mental health field in the 1990s during the early rise of the person-centered care movement, later stepping away to focus on her family, including raising a daughter with special needs. This experience enriched her understanding of care systems from both professional and personal perspectives. Upon returning to the field in 2014, she became a catalyst for change, focusing not only on training but on transforming workplace culture—prioritizing psychological safety, consistency in messaging, and the development of strong, values-driven teams.
Throughout her career, Ronda has worked extensively with at-risk youth and vulnerable populations, designing and facilitating programs that promote self-efficacy, healthy boundaries, and leadership skills. She has also incorporated creative approaches such as music and storytelling to help individuals process trauma and share their experiences. Known for her belief that influence is more powerful than authority, Ronda has successfully cultivated environments where staff feel supported and empowered—many of whom have gone on to become leaders themselves. Her work reflects a lasting commitment to creating positive change, one person and one moment at a time.
• Recovery Works Certified Motivational Interviewing Trainer
• Certified Welle Trainer
• NAPPI Trainer
• Ashford University- M.P.A.
• Taylor University- B.A.
• Golden Key Honor Society
• Lifegate Ministries
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to choosing influence over power and position. From my very first day back in the field, I focused on the felt culture of the organization, not just the people we were serving. I concerned myself with connecting people with the values of the organization and their own personal values through the training platform. I didn't forget anyone I encountered along the way. I lifted people up and spoke truth to power when I had that platform. What wound up happening was creating a workforce that was strong and felt safe, and as a result, the numbers and productivity started to increase without effort. It's incredibly important for the people on the other side of our doors to feel safe, but it's just as important for the people doing the work to show up and feel safe. I've always chosen to look myself in the mirror rather than compromise my values for position. I built trust through consistency, messaging the same values every single week during new employee orientation. Leadership got to hear me, but more importantly, they got to know me and see me, so they trusted me. I have a full cycle story of what happens when you use influence to impact the felt culture right where you're standing, one person at a time.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was a warning that “everyone looks out for themselves,” which ultimately pushed me to take a different path—choosing to lead through influence, trust, and intentional culture-building rather than fear or self-protection.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Take it one step at a time, stay committed to continuously growing your skills and mindset, and focus on building influence and meaningful connections rather than relying solely on positional authority.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, a whole lot is changing in this field. I'm still doing new employee orientation training, although it's changing. We merged with a larger company, and the staff representative group I was leading in Indiana is on hold at the moment. It's kind of like starting over because of the emphasis on a new set of values. I'm in a season where I have to see my way through differently. I've decided to grow my skill set beyond my current knowledge and I'm involved in a project management course. It challenges me to see the details and spend time with them because I'm such a big picture person. I'm sitting with my current reality in a different way. To see your way through, you have to expand your vision, your mindset, and your skill set.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are safety, consistency, and staying true to who you are. I believe it's incredibly important for people to feel safe, both the people we serve and the people doing the work. I've always chosen influence over power and position because I wanted to be able to look myself in the mirror. I believe in connecting people with organizational values and their own personal values. Consistency has been key for me, messaging the same things every single week so people got to know me and trust me. In my personal life, I believe in pursuing the little pursuits that bring you joy and staying true to who you are. I think everything has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and accepting that is powerful. Music has helped me weather seasons and know what time it is. I believe in being open because we can do more than we ever thought we could. I also value gathering with like-minded people and spending time with friends and family. Even in difficult transitions, I try to realize the opportunity in change and know that I'm not done, that there's something new on the horizon.