The Lumber River Council of Governments (LRCOG) is pleased to announce that LRCOG Board Member and Lumberton City Councilmember Owen Thomas and LRCOG Executive Director David Richardson have both been elected to statewide leadership roles within the North Carolina Association of Regional Council of Governments (NCARCOG) during the December 14-15, 2023 meetings.
LRCOG Board Member Owen Thomas has been elected to serve a two-year term, starting January 1, 2024 as Vice Chair of the Forum of the NCARCOG. The Forum is an advocacy organization for the statewide councils of government and consists of board member representatives from each of the council of governments across the State of North Carolina. In this capacity, Mr. Thomas will help to shape and lead statewide advocacy efforts on behalf regional councils to help improve the lives of all North Carolina residents. Mr. Thomas says “I am delighted to have the opporunity to further the work and assist in raising the profile of the exceptional work that council of governments are doing statewide and especially the exceptional work that is being performed by the Lumber River Council of Governments.” Mr. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
LRCOG Executive Director David Richardson has been elected to serve a two-year term, starting on January 1, 2024 as Vice Chair of the North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Government. The NCARCOG is the statewide assoication of the sixteen regional council of governments in North Carolina. In this role, Mr. Richardson will help to develop and implement the long-term strategic agenda for the work of NCARCOG. He will also guide the advocacy efforts on behalf of regional councils of governments. Mr. Richardson stated, “It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to help guide the statewide work of regional councils. This will also provide an excellent opportunity to highlight the innovative solutions and programs that the Lumber River Council of Governments provides to our region and the significant positive impacts that our organization has on our communities.” Mr. Richardson holds a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in Biochemistry, a Master of Business Administration, and a Juris Doctor from Campbell University.
The LRCOG provides an array of programs and services to member governments located within its region: Bladen, Hoke, Richmond, Robeson, and Scotland counties. It serves as an administrative and service delivery arm for federal, state, regional, and local programs of its member governments.
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