Published each Thursday in Pembroke, N.C. The Carolina Indian y@icc "Building Communicative Bridges In A Tri-Racial Setting" ' - - 1 ; Volume 27, Number 5 Thursday, February-3, 2000 - ? ... 9KC Dennis Clark High Technology Company Brings Jobs to Pembroke McLean Research Corporation has recently opened their office at 306 Normal Street, Pembroke. They will entertain business leaders, members of the board of education and others who are interested in the latest in high technology on Friday, February 11 from 3-6 P.M.. At that time they will hold Open House to give the business community an opportunity to see first hand the capabilities of McLean Research Corporation (MRC). MRC is a highly technical professional services firm which is equipped to provide a wide range of services including program management, computers systems, design, integration and support, engineering services and systems analysis, Jnfornrotlcm technology and network engineering, advanced technology applications, system integration testing and evaluation, survivability and vulnerability methodologies and assessment, scientific, engineering, and technical assistance support, financial planning and administrative support, architectural and design services and instructional systems development and delivery. It is a Native American Owned Corporation and is certified by the Small Business Administration as an 8(a) company. The stated mission of the Corporation is to apply technology and management skills to win government and commercial contracts that will provide profit, training and employment opportunities forNatives. Their stated objective is to aggressively pursue business opportunities under the Small Business Administration's Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) Program; sole source and competitive contracts; strategic teaming with prime and sub contractors; and through superior performance by professional employees, cultivate a satisfied customer base which promotes the benefits of employing MRC to meet future customer needs. Dennis Clark is the Vice President of the Southern Area of MRC. A native of Pembroke, Clark is excited to be back at home and in a position to provide employment to Native Americans. "I have always said," Clark said, "that technical expertise does exist in Robeson County. It is just one of the many untapped resources here." Clark says that an additional 30 to 50 employees will be hired by December 2000. He also expects the Pembroke office to be the principal office by May. The Corporation is a subsidiary of Bethel Native Corporation, a Certified 8(a) Alaskan Native Corporation. After twenty-two years in the UnitedStatesNavy.Clarkretired from military duty in 1986. Since that time, until his affiliation with MRC, Clark was busy with aero space engineering firms, one HRB Singer in State College, PA, and the other in XEN Corp. where he began in 1988 and left in 1999 after the company had become a $ 10 million corporation. X EN was located in Alexandria, VA where Clark resided until returning home. At the present time MRC employees nine Native Americans, including Clark. Clark'sbrother.J.MichaelClark, heads the Architectural and Engineering Division of MRC. "The primary reason MRC is located in Pembroke," Clark explains is because Pembroke has been designated as an Historically Under-utilized Business Zone which means that 2-3% of federal procurement dollars will be spent in Under-utilized Business Zone areas." Also Clark stated "We wanted to afford our talented citizen^ of Robeson County the opportunity for high tech careers at home so they won't be force to leave home to make a decent living." Among other employed by MRC are Lae Ruth Sampson Alway who is financial manager; Tennille Sampson who is office manager; Brent Locklear, Engineer in training a; Tony Clark, computer network administrator and senior draftsman; and Horace Locklear, who is the State and Local Government Liaison and Marketing Entity Clark, the son of Raymond "Spotted Turtle" Clark and the late Estelle Revels Clark is married to the former Linda Locklear, daughter ofMrs. Stella Locklear and the late Barnie Locklear ofthe Union Chapel Community. They have two sons and three grandchildren. David Locklear, Principal of Prospect School, left, thanks Harold Baxley Locklear for his gift to the school, a painting of a number offamous Prospect sites. Locklear has suggested that the PTA make and sell prints of the historic painting as a fund-raiser for the school's various programs. Harold Baxley Locklear Gives Prospect School a Painting as He Announces His Retirement It's official! Harold Baxlcy Locklear, 57, has retired as an art teacher '.in the Public Schools of Robeson County "As of January 31, 2000." Upon announcing his retirement, he took the occasion to present a gift in parting, a painting or montage of a number of Prospect sites including Prospect United Methodist Church, Island Grove Baptist Church, Pros pcct School, Preston Gospel Hall, New Philadelpl.us United Methodist Church and 'New" Prospect Holiness Methodist Church. Said Locklcar in presenting the gift to Prospect Principal David Locklear, "This is something I wanted to do to repay this community and school for their many kindnesses to me as I finished my teaching career here. It is my hope that the PTA will make g prints of this painting and sell them as f a fund raiser for the school. F e Principal Locklear thanked Lock- e lear for his gift and for his "many F years of service to the school and the Public Schools of Robeson County." " The Prospect School PTA is making c plans to have prints made of the paint- a ing, then sell them as Locklear sug- r< gested as a fund raiser for the school, c More than 200 turn out for Pembroke Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner Pembroke, N.C.--"Pembroke has prospered because of excellent leadership of elected officials and dedicated citizens." Sen. David Weinstein told more than 200 in attendance at the annual banquet of the Pembroke Area Chamber of Commerce. The turnout at the James B. Chavis University Center on the UNC Pembroke campus was extraordinary despite snowy weather, according to Chamber President Don Gersh. "This Chamber has a very loyal membership, which is its strength," Mr. Gersh said. "We sold every seat in the house." The Chamber's immediate past President and Executive Director Ernestine Chavis - Bulifant was awarded the new Harry West Locklear President's Award for her contributions. Lumbee Guaranty Bank President Larry Chavis accepted the Business of the Year Award for the thriving 29-year-old bank. From assets of S670.000, the Pembroke bank has grown to more than S100 million in assets with 10 branches. Sen. Weinstein. a Lumberton Democrat who represents the Pembroke area in District 30. praised the growth of the Pembroke Area and said Robeson County has a solid economic future because of businesses like Lumbee Guaranty Bank. "Farming is declining and the textile industry has really hurt us," Sen, Weinstein said. "I believe the future of all of Robeson County is in its location next to 1-95 and U.S. 74." "1-95 is a gold mine for the county, bringing in more than $75 million in tourist business a year," he said. A retired retail merchant. Sen, Weinstein is former mayor of Lumberton and former UNCP trustee. He said he continues to support a large bond for the UNC system that will help UNCP meet its goal of doubling enrollment. "We must support the bond issue, which will bring S43 million to make this university grow and to bring more jobs and investment in Pembroke," he said. "Robeson Community College will receive S8 million in this package." Three new members of the Pembroke Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors were swom in. Dr. Kenneth Clow, dean oftheUNCP School of Business and Mass Communications, Dr. Rhonda Lowery, a physician with First Health of the Carolinas and Lucille Locklear, of First Union National Bank, are new directors. ^^ma?*wmanu>Miin>w