CCR sold but will stay in Tarboro

W. TERRY SMITH

A Tarboro business that began at a kitchen table 21 years ago has been sold to a Michigan cultural resources firm.

Coastal Carolina Research Inc. (CCR) a cultural resources management firm in Tarboro, has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Commonwealth Cultural Resources Group Inc. (CCRG).

The deal was closed Nov. 1 "for a fair price," Coastal Carolina Research founder and president Loretta Lautzenheiser said.

When asked why, Lautzenheiser, 66, smiled and said, "At some point I want to retire and I want the company to continue and the jobs to continue."

She wound up dealing with a longtime colleague, Don Weir. Both are registered professional archaeologists.

"Loretta and I have served on several (professional) boards together," Weir said, "and we have talked about transitions."

With a combined staff of more than 40 cultural resource technical professionals and support staff, CCRG and CCR will continue to provide cultural resource services to government agencies and private clients throughout the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states.

"This will give us a warm weather site," Weir said. "We've had to shut down before around Nov. 15 until April because the ground was frozen where we are."

With its headquarters in Jackson, Mich., CCRG has offices in Buffalo, N.Y., Minocqua, Wisc., Golden Valley, Minn., and Belleville, Ill.

Don's son Andrew, who has a master's degree in maritime studies from East Carolina University, will be come president of the firm and his father the chief executive officer.

"I am delighted about this opportunity," Lautzenheiser said. "I have known Don for years and have always respected him. CCR will be in very good hands. I am very happy."

CCR’s office will remain in Tarboro with its 13 full-time employees. Lautzenheiser will continue as regional director.

Lautzenheiser founded CCR in 1988. It has become a leader in archaeological, architectural history and historical studies throughout the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states.

CCR and Lautzenheiser have won numerous awards for the quality of its professional projects, including an award of merit from Preservation North Carolina for its work on the archaeology of historic buildings. CCR was the winner of the Federal Highway Administration’s Environmental Excellence Award for the excavation of Eden House in Bertie County.

CCR was a founding member of the American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA), and Lautzenheiser has served on the Board of Directors for two terms in the small business category and for two terms in the medium business category. She was ACRA's president in 2003 and has served on a number of committees. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Register of Professional Archaeologist.

CCRG was founded in 1988 by Weir, manager of the cultural resources section at the engineering firm of Gilbert/Commonwealth. CCRG incorporated in 1992 and since then has grown into a full-service CRM firm.

During the 21 years CCRG has served it clients, its CRM professionals have developed technical and analytical expertise in all phases of archaeological investigations, geospatial analysis, a full range of laboratory analysis and above-ground resources studies, including National Register of Historic Places evaluations.

CCRG’s technical expertise is supported by its practical experience with large-scale project logistics, with a special emphasis on pipeline, transportation and other linear corridor projects.

Weir, CCRG’s current owner and president, has been a member of ACRA since its founding, serving on its Board of Directors from 1995 through 2004, holding the position of treasurer from 1997 through 2004. Weir has served on the Board of Directors of RPA and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

He and his wife Linda have purchased a house on Main Street.

"We are really happy here," he said. "The people are very friendly. I used to commute 30 miles each way. Now I can walk to work."

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