McKlarney, who was selected to direct the Pearisburg, VA-based Industrial Development Authority one-and-a-half years ago, recently took time to reflect upon his experiences at BSC. “Several of my friends from high school had attended Bluefield State and they enjoyed the experience,” he noted. “That heightened my interest in the College. I met (engineering technology division chair) Frank Hart and he encouraged me to enter the civil engineering technology program.”

McKlarney credits BSC’s faculty with teaching “real world” solutions for engineering challenges. Among his most challenging and relevant classes were those directed by the late (civil engineering technology professor) John Duffy. “Professor Duffy’s engineering economics and construction materials classes were difficult, but later proved very helpful,” McKlarney commented.

Following his graduation from BSC in 1994, McKlarney landed a job with a firm now known as John Chance & Associates in Houston, TX. His duties included surveying off-shore and gas line locations. Soon thereafter, he received a call from Hart, advising him of a job in Giles County. “Frank learned of a job with American Electric Power and contacted me. I got the job as an AEP landfill inspector in Glen Lyn, VA for a year before accepting a position as town engineer in Pearisburg,” McKlarney explained.

Moving upward through county administration, McKlarney served as Giles County’s Assistant Administrator and Public Service Authority Director and more recently as County Administrator, before being promoted to the position of director of the County’s Industrial Development Authority. “I seek to recruit business and industry to the county, work to develop the infrastructure of the county’s industrial parks, and cultivate positive public relations,” he said.

McKlarney, whose younger brother (Sean) is a computer science major at BSC, appreciates the opportunity to maintain contact with his alma mater. “Frank stays in touch,” he said. “Recently, I asked him about several of the students who graduated with me, and he knew where they were working and the positions they held.”

Before turning his attention to a deskful of work, McKlarney said, “As I work with graduates from Virginia Tech and other large universities, I realize I received more ‘hands on’ education than they did. Everything I learned at BSC has had a practical application in my career.”

September 30, 2002