Clifford grew up in Wild Cove, White Bay, NL and graduated from Beothuk Collegiate in Baie Verte, NL in 1988. He graduated Electrical Engineering Technology, CONA, with the Award of Excellence in 1992.
After spending a couple of years working in engineering design and consulting in St. John's, NL and in Victoria, BC., Clifford returned to his family’s fishing enterprise in 1994. As Captain, he would expand the enterprise into new industries and pursue offshore crab, shrimp, and seal until 2002.
In 2002, Clifford became a stay-at-home dad for two years while preparing to open his first Smitty's Restaurant in Mount Pearl. Between 2005 and 2015, Clifford successfully opened and operated three Smitty’s restaurants. He currently employs 50 people and since 2013, has been a sitting member of the Menu and Marketing committee with Smitty's Canada Inc.