Director of EBCI Natural Resources and Construction, Forrest Parker (left), speaks as Chamber Executive Director, Matt Pegg (right), looks on.

“There isn’t a single better way to get involved with local businesses than to host a Chamber on campus. With Oconaluftee, seeing really is believing!” said Business Community Liaison, Holly Krake. With this in mind, Krake planned out hosting the local Cherokee Chamber of Commerce for their monthly meeting in March 2011.

The day got off to a great start as members of the SGA greeted visitors and assisted in parking.  “The cars just kept coming and many had never been to center before” said student Jamal Lattimore of the SGA. In total, over 40 community members, local government leaders, and business owners visited the center.

Executive Director of the Chamber, Matt Pegg, was really pleased with the meeting. “We had a great turnout, the food was excellent, and it felt really good to be in this nature setting. I don’t get to get out from behind a desk as much and this was perfect”.

The positive impacts from this event were immediate and measurable as well. “As part of my welcome, I asked who had never been to center before- over 75 percent of the room raised their hands. But the very next day I was fielding calls and emails from employers wanting to use Oconaluftee students” Krake said. Three new businesses are now employing Oconaluftee students as a direct result. Oconaluftee is looking forward to hosting again in the future.

The Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center is associated with the National Forests of North Carolina and currently serves 68 students.  The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.  The Agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to State and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. For more information about OJCCCC, visit oconaluftee.jobcorps.gov . For more information on the National Forests of North Carolina, visit fs.fed.us