Governor Robert Bentley today announced the appointment of Greg Canfield as the new Director of the Alabama Development Office. Currently ADO Director Seth Hammett is returning to his position with PowerSouth Energy.
Greg Canfield began his career in business with the Fortune 500 Company, Purolator Corporation. He later became the Southeast Regional Sales Manager and then Regional Administration Manager with responsibility for the corporate regional budgetary process. Canfield entered the insurance and financial services field in 1991 and opened a small business in 1993 marketing insurance services to businesses and individuals. After selling his business in 2008, Canfield joined J.H. Berry Insurance in Birmingham, AL.
Canfield was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in November 2006 to represent Jefferson and Shelby Counties. Representative He has taken an active role in local and state economic development activities. As President of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce in 1997, Greg Canfield launched the Business Development Committee that went on to recruit investment in commercial properties and businesses in the community. In 2000, serving as President of the Vestavia Hills City Council, he was instrumental in the development of the City’s first long-range economic and land use plan that became the basis for future business development activity in that City. “Greg is a salesman at heart and will be a tremendous asset to the Alabama Development Office. He knows both large and small business, having worked for Fortune 500 companies and started a small business from the ground up,” said Governor Robert Bentley. “As a long-time leader in one of the economic centers of Alabama, Greg has been deeply involved in significant job recruitment efforts at both the state and local level. I am pleased that he is willing to serve in this important role, and I look forward to continuing to work with our entire ADO team as we put Alabama back to work.”
Governor Bentley also added, “I want to thank Seth for his outstanding service. I asked him to join my administration to make sure we had a smooth transition on the economic development projects that were ongoing and to initiate a strategic planning process that will help guide our work in this area in the future. He has accomplished both goals and I look forward to working his him in the future as he returns to the private sector.”
“I am very excited Governor Bentley is giving me the opportunity to build on Alabama’s legacy as one of the most desirable states in which to locate business and industry,” said Greg Canfield. “Now, more than ever, we must elevate Alabama as the preeminent State for business and job creation. This is Alabama. Let’s do business.”
Alabama Development Office Director Seth Hammett said, “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve Governor Bentley in the Alabama Development Office. His mission to create jobs is one that the staff at ADO takes seriously. I have a lot of respect for Greg Canfield and will help him in any way I can as he leads this important state agency.”
Canfield is expected to begin his duties at ADO on or before August 1, 2011.