Clifton Vann

Clifton Vann IV is CEO of Hyde Park Partners (HPP), the holding company for Livingston & Haven, MRO Stop, and AEG International (AEG). Clifton was named CEO in 2015 after having served in various other capacities within the company since 1982, most recently as President of Livingston & Haven from January 1999 to May 2014. Clifton was tapped to oversee the day-to-day strategy and operations of the four different HPP subsidiaries, which generate $85 million in annual sales, due to his visionary approach to the world of industrial manufacturing, technology, design and engineering. Livingston & Haven is an industrial technology provider in the Southeast U.S. that has been providing fluid power and motion control products and solutions to manufacturers for more than 70 years. MRO Stop is an online sales channel for maintenance, repair and operations products. AEG designs and manufactures alternative power generation and water filtration products and systems, most notably for jurisdictions in developing countries.

Clifton’s 38 years in the fluid power and automation industries have been propelled by his ability to dream big and motivate business leaders, educators, parents and students to reach beyond traditional borders of the mind and jurisdictions. Through AEG, for example, he is currently championing off-grid solar power solutions that are fundamentally improving the lives of people in Tanzania – in homes, schools and businesses.

Impassioned to preserve and grow U.S. manufacturing, which he credits as a major source of wealth and vital to the long-term economic success of the country, Clifton serves on several advisory boards for market-leading manufacturers, including Bosch Rexroth. Clifton was the original founder of the Energizing Africa Summit (formerly Power Africa) in Charlotte.

Clifton recognizes the importance of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education in schools in shaping the future of America’s technology infrastructure, and partners with Charlotte schools to encourage the STEAM learning model which provides youths the opportunity to learn about and work in the manufacturing industry. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Academy of Engineering at Olympic High School, and sits on the Board of Unity Charter School in Charlotte, N.C. Clifton has a B.S. in Business Administration from North Carolina State University.

In his leisure time, Clifton performs as a member of the band, Charity Case, which was formed solely to raise money for the charity, Grin Kids. Every year, Grin Kids sends children suffering from terminal illness or chronic illness and disabilities to Disney World. To date, Charity Case has raised more than $1 million for Grin Kids.


Hyde Park Partners
Livingston & Haven