ROCKINGHAM — One of Richmond County’s own was recently recognized by Business NC as one of the state’s most influential leaders for the third consecutive year.
Gene McLaurin has been named to the magazine’s Power List for 2024. He was also on the Power List for 2022 and 2023.
“North Carolina has one of the … most dynamic economies, making this project particularly compelling and challenging,” reads the intro to the list. “Rapid growth doesn’t happen without great leadership, much of which comes from the 500 people cited in this report.”
Those named to the list come from a variety of sectors: agriculture; arts, entertainment and sports; economic development; education; energy; finance and insurance; health care; hospitality and tourism; information technology; law; life sciences; manufacturing; nonprofits and philanthropies; professional services; real estate and construction; retail and wholesale; and transportation.
It should come as no surprise that McLaurin falls under the economic development category.
He was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper in 2017 to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and became the chairman of the group in 2021.
EDPNC was formed in 2014 while McLaurin was serving his sole term in the state Senate.
McLaurin told the RO in 2021 that he was approached by then-Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker to help secure Democratic support of the public-private partnership, which was initiated by Republicans.
“I said, ‘Yes I will. I think it’s a good plan that makes sense to use private-sector practices trying to grow our state and expand,’” he told the RO.
“The group is credited with carrying out the visions of N.C. political and business leaders for attracting and retaining companies to keep the state growing,” the magazine reads. “The work has paid off with well-publicized projects in many counties throughout North Carolina.”
According to the magazine, McLaurin’s goal with the EDPNC is to create prosperity in rural North Carolina.
The previous two chairs were from Charlotte, and McLaurin said his appointment “demonstrates Governor Cooper’s strong commitment to rural North Carolina.”
McLaurin entered the business world in 1980 and spent 27 years at TOTAL and has been at Quality Oil — which has locations in Rockingham, Laurinburg, Wadesboro and Lumberton — since 2007, where he serves as president.
His first job, noted by Business NC, was delivering the Charlotte News.
He was also previously elected to eight terms as Rockingham mayor.
McLaurin’s write-up can be found on page 24 of the publication.
The late Leon Levine, a Rockingham native, was memorialized for his accomplishments in the 2023 Power List.
