OUR PARTNERS
MICHAEL L. CLONINGER
Founder / Partner
MICHAEL L. CLONINGERFounder / Partner
Upon receiving his Associates degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Gaston College, Larry began his surveying career in 1984. His first surveying job was with Robinson & Sawyer Surveying in Gastonia NC. After moving through various positions with the firm, Larry completed college and was licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in January 1989. In August 1989, Larry opened his own surveying firm, Cloninger Surveying & Mapping with a commitment to providing the best land surveying services possible. He spent the next 11 years perfecting his trade and building the Cloninger Surveying reputation by providing high quality survey services to local landowners, brokers, and builders to name a few.
In 2000, Larry partnered with another local surveyor and civil engineer to form Carolinas Design Group, PLLC. He continued offering the same quality survey services under this partnership for the next 20 years. In early 2021, the opportunity presented itself to return to his roots, Cloninger Surveying. With new partners coming in, together they formed Cloninger Bell Surveying & Mapping, PLLC where Larry continues his legacy as a leading surveyor in the community.
Larry and his wife Brooks have two sons, Hayes is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and serves our country as 1st Lieutenant and Pilot in the United States Air Force. Holt, is a graduate of Campbell University with plans to follow in his father’s footsteps working along with him as a licensed professional land surveyor. Larry is an avid golfer and is a Three-time Senior Division Champion with the Gaston County Amateur Golf Tournament. Funds from the tournament go to the Cancer Services of Gaston County.
JUSTIN F. CLONINGER
Partner
JUSTIN F. CLONINGERPartner
Justin is a lifelong land surveyor that is licensed to practice surveying in both North and South Carolina. Justin began his career as a summer internship with the original Cloninger Surveying that was founded in 1989 by Larry Cloninger.
He earned his degree in Land Surveying Technology from Central Piedmont Community College in 1999 and became a Professional Land Surveying in North Carolina in 2003 followed by South Carolina in 2004. Justin worked as a surveying crew chief and cad operator for many years before becoming a licensed land surveyor. Once licensed Justin moved to Charlotte where he managed land surveying crews and drafters for a successful land surveying business for over 18 years.
When the opportunity presented itself to partner up with Larry Cloninger and move back to the Gastonia area to own and operate a land surveying business Justin jumped at the opportunity. Justin teamed up with fellow co-worker and good friend Charles Bell along with Larry Cloninger to form Cloninger Bell Surveying and Mapping. Justin is a husband to wife Kristin and father to Aiden and Alexa. Justin enjoys the outdoors and loves to spend time with his family on vacations to the beach.
CHARLES E. BELL
Partner
CHARLES E. BELLPartner
Charles Bell (Charlie) is a partner with Cloninger Bell Surveying & Mapping, PLLC and is a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in North Carolina and South Carolina. He began his land surveying career in 2004 after graduating Suma Cum Laude with Associate Degrees in Land Surveying Technology and Civil Engineering from Sandhills Community College located in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Charlie managed survey projects of all sizes at one of the largest land surveying firms in Charlotte before partnering with friends and mentors Justin Cloninger and Larry Cloninger to form Cloninger Bell Surveying & Mapping, PLLC. Responsiveness to clients and attention to detail are fundamental to Charlie’s character.
Charlie has been happily married to his high school sweetheart Alisha since 1996. Charlie and Alisha are proud parents of two children Kaylee Bell and Charles Bell, Jr. Kaylee is a 6th grade math teacher in Gaston County, and Charles Bell, Jr. is a United States Marine reservist and works full time with Cloninger Bell Surveying & Mapping, PLLC.
ABOUT CLONINGER BELL
Our founder, Michael L. Cloninger (Larry), began Cloninger Surveying in 1989 in a small office located on York Street in Gastonia, NC. The initial company has grown and seen several changes throughout the years. In 2000 Larry joined with another local surveyor to form Carolinas Design Group that operated in Gaston County until 2021.
In April 2021, Larry merged with two project managers from a Charlotte firm, Justin Cloninger and Charles Bell. The decision was made to close Carolinas Design Group and revamp the original Cloninger Surveying which is now Cloninger Bell Surveying and Mapping. As a result, the company has expanded its service area to include North and South Carolina. Many changes have taken place over the years, but one thing that has not changed is providing quality land survey services.
In April 2021, Larry merged with two project managers from a Charlotte firm, Justin Cloninger and Charles Bell. The decision was made to close Carolinas Design Group and revamp the original Cloninger Surveying which is now Cloninger Bell Surveying and Mapping. As a result, the company has expanded its service area to include North and South Carolina. Many changes have taken place over the years, but one thing that has not changed is providing quality land survey services.
With the partnership of Larry, Justin, and Charles, which forms Cloninger Bell Surveying & Mapping, we now call the picturesque Town of McAdenville, also affectionately known as Christmas Town U.S.A., our home. Our office is located at 107 Riverside Drive, McAdenville, NC.
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Office Location
Cloninger Bell Surveying & Mapping, PLLC
107 Riverside Drive.
McAdenville, NC 28101
107 Riverside Drive.
McAdenville, NC 28101
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. “ – Proverbs 16:3