Innovative Business Leader Named 2020 Alumni of the Year

Nov. 12, 2020 - The Richmond Community College Foundation has named Mark Scott, president and CEO of Thermal Metal Treating Inc., its 2020 Alumni of the Year.  

Scott of Pinehurst is a 1986 graduate of Richmond Community College, which was Richmond Technical College at the time. He earned an Associate in Applied Science in Mechanical Design, which he said, “gave me a great foundation to advance my career and education.” 

Dr. Hal Shuler, associate vice president for development at RichmondCC, said Scott’s successful rise in the manufacturing field and his continued commitment to the college where his education started made him an easy choice for the Alumni of the Year Award. 

“Mr. Scott is an innovative business leader with vast knowledge of running an efficient and successful operation. Over the years, he has supported RichmondCC by serving on our Advisory Board and through scholarships, and he has also served as an adjunct instructor for the College,” Shuler said. “We are very pleased to be able to honor him with this alumni award and show our appreciation for his support.” 

Thermal Metal Treating in Aberdeen is a commercial metallurgical company specializing in heat-treating, industrial coatings, finishing and value-added processing. Scott started the company with former business partner Jerry Ritter 32 years ago and has developed it into a multi-million-dollar business that serves automotive, agricultural, military, medical, nuclear, construction and electronic industries, to name a few. 

“I am honored and humbled that the RichmondCC Foundation recognized me for this award. I realize that the award is more about the outstanding teachers, mentors and family support I have been blessed to have had in my life than what I personally achieved,” Scott said. “For as long as I have been associated with RichmondCC, I have been the benefactor and witnessed the dedication of faculty and administration to execute their mission to enhance the quality of their students’ lives.” 

Scott was born in Hunstanton, England, when his father, an officer in the U.S. military, was stationed overseas. While Scott was still very young, his family returned to the U.S. They then moved to Taiwan, Washington, D.C., and Alabama. After Scott graduated from high school, he moved to North Carolina and went to work at Clark Equipment Company in Rockingham in 1977.  

At its peak employing 1,000 employees, Clark Equipment Company engineered, manufactured, assembled and tested transmissions and axles for on- and off-highway applications. Scott advanced to a unit manager and eventually became a quality engineer and quality assurance manager.  

While working at Clark Equipment, Scott decided to enroll in the Mechanical Design program at RichmondCC to advance his career and interest in engineering. 

He continued his education at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte to earn a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology and then several years later attended East Carolina University, where he earned a Master of Science in Manufacturing Technology Systems. 

Scott has continued to expand his knowledge and experience in manufacturing by obtaining training in quality control, management, safety and regulations, marketing and sales, strategic planning, effective problem-solving and much more. 

He was president of Sandhills Toastmasters from 1994 to 1996 and was named Competent Toastmaster in 1995, in addition to serving on a number of industry specific boards. He has been a keynote speaker for the University of North Carolina-Pembroke’s Entrepreneurial Summit and the American Society of Mechanical Engineering’s Southeast Regional Conference.  

He has also given of his service to the NC Food Bank and the Sandhills Food Bank and has been the finance chairperson of his church for 15 years. 

"Mark Scott is a true RichmondCC success story and is an outstanding selection for the Alumni of Year. He applied the knowledge he gained here, continued his education, and built a very successful local company," said Dr. Dale McInnis, president of RichmondCC. "Mark has supported our College over the years, through generous gifts to the Foundation and sharing his expertise with our faculty and students."

Scott and wife Sherry, who is a nurse manager for FirstHealth Moore Regional-Richmond, have two children, son Matthew and daughter Natalie. Scott and his family enjoy traveling and have hiked 14 mountains in Colorado, in addition to many other adventures.