LANSING,
Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of state Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Keith Creagh as director of
the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and state Department of
Environmental Quality's Policy and Legislative Affairs Director Jamie Clover
Adams as MDARD director.
"Keith
is a natural choice to become our next DNR director," Snyder said.
"He has a strong understanding of Michigan's conservation, economic and
environmental needs, vast experience and ability to bring people together, and
a love of our state's great outdoors that will make for a seamless transition.
"Michigan's
food and agriculture industry is one of the most important to our state's
economy, and Jamie has the experience, knowledge and skills to provide the
necessary leadership to assure Michigan food and agriculture continues to play
a prominent role in our state's economic recovery. She will be an excellent
director for MDARD. I thank them both for their willingness to serve."
Creagh
has extensive management experience, including policy development, strategic
planning and operational leadership. He has served as MDARD director since
January 2011, and was director of industry affairs for the Neogen Corp. after
serving for 30 years within the state department of agriculture. He holds a
bachelor's degree in forestry from Michigan Technological University and is an
avid outdoorsman.
"I
am honored to serve as director of the Department of Natural Resources and to
work with such a dedicated group of professionals," Creagh said. "I
will strive to uphold the department's great standard of excellence and build
upon its past successes. As a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, I understand the
importance of the state's natural resources to Michigan citizens. Hunting,
fishing, camping, hiking and other outdoor pursuits are not just hobbies in
this state. They are a defining part of who we are as Michiganders."
Gordon
Guyer, former director of both DNR and the Department of Agriculture, called
Creagh's appointment "outstanding."
"I've
had the privilege of working with Keith both as Ag director and as a Neogen
board member. He is uniquely qualified for this position and I can't think of a
better fit to take the helm at DNR," Guyer said. "He has a tremendous
ability to take a tough issue and build consensus. Keith's passion for our
natural resources, tourism and agriculture industries will help us revitalize
and reinvent Michigan."
Clover
Adams replaces Creagh, after having served as the state Department of
Environmental Quality's Policy and Legislative Affairs director since 2011.
She
said it's a great opportunity to support the governor's agriculture agenda.
"I
am honored to serve the people of Michigan and am anxious to get to work to
meet Gov. Snyder's goals for agriculture," Clover Adams said. "We
will strive to double our exports, work to significantly increase farm
verifications and help grow the value chain from farm to fork."
Clover
Adams has decades of experience both in working with the agriculture industry
and in legislative policy development, notably serving as secretary of the
Kansas state Department of Agriculture from 1999-2003. Before joining DEQ, she
was deputy chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, and
served as director of the Senate Majority Policy Office before that. Clover
Adams was raised on a farm in Michigan, and holds a master's in public policy
from Georgetown University and a bachelor's in general studies from the
University of Michigan.
"Jamie
has great vision and leadership capacity," Creagh said. "Her
experience makes her well suited to become MDARD's next director."
Note: both of these positions are very important for Rogers City and Presque Isle County.
Creagh
fills the vacancy of outgoing DNR director Rodney Stokes, who was recently
named by Snyder as special adviser for city placemaking, where he will work to
help cities become more vibrant and inviting by enhancing their existing
resources.
Both
appointments are effective July 9.
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