Change is underway in the upper ranks of Georgia's state-run industrial recruitment and economic development agency.

Gov. Sonny Perdue announced recently 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 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 Perdue as head of GFC in 2004. To the new position with GDEcD, he is expected to bring his 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.

Stewart has been director of the GFC 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 the 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.

He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, holding a law degree 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. He lives in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta.