By Shaun Savarese Of The Record Staff (Dunn)

LILLINGTON - Dozens of teenage college students and a handful of interested others made their way to Red Mulberry Way in Lillington yesterday (11-1-17), hoping to find their calling.

More than 20 employers and community partners took part in the Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) Harnett Career Fair Wednesday morning in the college's Health Sciences Center.

CCCC career development specialists Sonya Hayes, Mary Parker and Ashley Allen signed in students and other job-seekers as dozens milled into the reception hall.

The career fair was geared toward CCCC students and alumni, and open to the general public. There was no charge and no preregistration.

Black's Tire & Auto was on site, offering free oil changes for a career fair-wide 50/50 raffle. Assistant Store Manager of the Powell Avenue, Dunn, location, Tabitha Reardon, was joined by Hodges Chapel Road Store Manager Steve Mills and Small Fleet Director Jerry Ingram.

Mr. Ingram said the company has grown in the state from seven stores to 50 stores in North Carolina. Black's Tire & Auto Services has more than 80 total locations, and was on site to intrigue attendees into a career in distribution, delivery, mechanics and sales.

"We sell tires. But a lot of people sell tires," Mr. Ingram said. "We sell service."

"You have to do events like they because these are you neighbors, customers and business partners," he said. We want to be a good neighbor ... part of our success is being part of our rural community."

First-year CCCC students Brittany McNeill, Mikayla Knight and Dashawna Mitchell said they would enjoy working in customer service with Blacks Tire & Auto because they "like helping people." Ms. McNeill is studying human services technology, Ms. Knight nursing and Ms. Mitchell social work. All three are from Lillington.

Also located in Lillington is the North Carolina Judicial Branch Guardian ad Litem Program.

Allison S. DeLong, the program's district administrator, said she was onsite seeking community volunteers.

"A lot of people here are in fields that being involved in Guardian ad Litem, as a volunteer, would be a resume builder," she said.

The program is accepting 20 applicants for its January training session. First-year medical assistant students at CCCC, Tayana Johnson, Monica Shehan and Melissa Smith, were all interested as they approached Ms. DeLong's table. "We represent children involved in juvenile court -- at no fault of their own," Ms. DeLong said. "We train community volunteers to investigate the circumstances of a child's involvement in the court. ... We advocate to the court as to what we feel needs to happen in the child's best interest."

Career Fair Participating Agencies

• Alcohol & Drug Services
• Black's Tire & Auto Services
• Campbell University
• CCCC Veterans Upward Bound
• District 11 Guardian ad Litem Program
• Fayetteville Police Department
• Godwin Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• Golden Years Nursing Home
• Great Clips
• Harnett County Department of Social Services
• Harnett County Emergency Medical Services
• Harnett County Human Resources
• Harnett County Public Library
• Harnett County Schools
• Harnett Health System
• Kelly Service
• Liberty HealthCare Companies
• NC Department of Public Safety Adult Corrections
• N.C. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• SAFE of Harnett County
• Southeastern Building Products
• Telamon Corporation
• The Staffing Alliance
• United Parcel Service (UPS) of Southern Pines