Governor Perdue Recommends Ken Stewart as GDEcD Commissioner

Governor Perdue Recommends Ken Stewart as GDEcD Commissioner

Craig Lesser to return to private sector after successful tenure

ATLANTA, GA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that he will recommend Ken Stewart as the next commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD).  Stewart, the current director of the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), will succeed Craig Lesser, who will return to the private sector after a 30-month tenure as commissioner that will end Dec. 31.

            “Craig has served this state well, raising the level that we market the state as both a business hub and tourist destination,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “In particular, Craig’s focus on dramatically increasing Georgia’s international outreach has resulted in new jobs and investment in Georgia. Ken is the right person to continue and expand those efforts, as well as GDEcD’s other programs that are growing the state’s economy.”

Stewart was appointed by Governor Perdue as head of GFC in 2004. He would bring to this new position experience in marketing the state’s forest products as GFC director, as well as his previous sales, marketing and manufacturing experience with companies such as Unisource Worldwide, Georgia-Pacific and Weyerhaeuser Company (his complete bio is below).

After being appointed commissioner in July 2004, Lesser reorganized the Department, creating a Marketing division to consolidate the agency’s varied marketing programs under one position. He also led the effort to establish a new brand for Georgia, implementing a new logo and advertising campaigns promoting Georgia as an ideal location for tourism, business and entertainment projects.

Lesser’s clear focus was on raising Georgia’s awareness around the globe. He has visited Europe, Asia, Central America, South America, Canada and Mexico, which has resulted in record numbers of new job and investment announcements.  Some of the highlights of his tenure include announcements such as Kia Motors’ new plant in West Point, Gulfstream’s expansion in Savannah and Aflac’s expansion in Columbus. Since July 2004, the state has announced 480 projects totaling 40,697 jobs and accounting for $7.85 billion in new investment for Georgia communities. Lesser has also implemented Governor Perdue’s increased emphasis on small business and entrepreneurship, support for existing industry, attracting film, television and multimedia projects, and improving the experience for tourists visiting the state.

Stewart has been director of the Georgia Forestry Commission since 2004, overseeing the agency’s leadership, service and education in the stewardship of Georgia’s 24 million acres of forestland. Under Stewart, the GFC focused it efforts on marketing existing products and creating markets for new products such as biofuels and carbon credits in world markets.  The GFC has also enhanced delivery of its services to the state, including forest protection, reforestation, forest management and urban forestry to our growing metropolitan areas in Georgia.

Prior to being named director of the GFC, Stewart served as vice president of Unisource Worldwide, Inc., where he led the company’s south-central sales and distribution division in addition to its retail and specialty manufacturing businesses.  He held several management positions at Georgia-Pacific, including director of enterprise development, senior director of strategic planning and analysis of G-P’s distribution division, and director of state and local taxes.  Stewart has also held management positions at Weyerhaeuser Company and at Mississippi Power & Light.

Stewart is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, holding a Juris Doctorate from the Woodrow Wilson College of Law in Atlanta.  He earned a B.S. in Business and a B.S. in Forestry from Mississippi State University and is a Registered Forester.  Stewart also served as a company commander in the Army National Guard.

Stewart serves on the Georgia Water Council, Georgia Land Conservation Council, the Governor’s Energy Policy Council, and Future of Georgia Forestry Study Committee.  He is the state’s representative to the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and Southern Group of State Foresters. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters and the Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) Board of Directors.

Stewart lives in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta with his wife, Linda.  They have a son, Scott, who lives with his wife, Elizabeth, in California.

# # #