Cameron McRae Makes His Mark on Kinston Community
cameron mcrae, chamber of commerce, community involvement, culture,
Congratulations, Cameron McRae. He is the 2008 Kinston-Lenoir County Citizen of the Year.
The award was presented in November 2008 by the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce to recognize what McRae has meant to this community. He has been an integral part of Kinston-Lenoir County since he and his family moved to Kinston in 1980.
That year, McRae founded Tands Inc. and opened his first Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits restaurant on West Vernon Avenue in Kinston.
Twenty-eight years later in 2008, Tands debuted its 42nd Bojangles’ franchise. The company now employs 2,000 people throughout eastern North Carolina.
In addition, McRae has also served in a leadership capacity in numerous professional organizations that promote and support the restaurant industry.
As for his community involvement, he is known for his high energy level and commitment to the success of the programs with which he is involved.
He is a member of the eastern North Carolina Executive Committee of the Boy Scouts of America and is on the board of trustees at Lenoir Community College.
He is also a board member of the Kinston Rotary Club and the Kinston Business and Tourism Committee, and a member of the Crossroads Long Range Strategic Planning Project for Lenoir County.
Furthermore, his individual companies have raised or donated thousands of dollars for area charities and worthwhile organizations throughout the years, as well as sponsoring numerous local baseball, soccer, softball and basketball teams and community events.
McRae is also majority owner of the Kinston Indians, which is the smallest professional baseball market in the United States. He has kept the team in Kinston, despite the many business opportunities to move the team to other cities.
McRae is also a longstanding board member with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Global TransPark Authority.
Story by Kevin Litwin
