Clayton Warnke

Clayton Warnke serves as the Associate Director of Membership Development at the IRI, where he connects with prospective members to help them discover the value of joining IRI’s community of innovation leaders. In this role, he works closely with executives across industries to understand their priorities and demonstrate how IRI’s programs, research, and peer networks can advance their innovation goals.

Before joining IRI, Clayton built a strong background in membership development and government relations, where he supported strategic engagement initiatives and strengthened partnerships across sectors. He joined the National Association of Manufacturers in September 2023 as Manager of Member Engagement before transitioning to IRI’s membership team in July 2025. A graduate of Clemson University with a B.A. in Political Science, Clayton enjoys hiking, music, and trying new experiences—most recently, skydiving.