Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, who is leaving his post at the end of the month, has accepted a position at Burr & Forman as their managing director of economic development.
“Secretary Canfield and I have worked together for over a decade,” said Burr & Forman Partner Lee Thuston. “He knows economic development — and particularly the automotive sector — inside and out. That knowledge and his leadership will be a great benefit to our clients going forward.”
Canfield will head up Burr & Furman’s economic development team. The firm currently has a team of lawyers working on economic development in five states. Canfield is not licensed to practice law and will not be giving legal advice, the company explained in a statement.
“Our law firm has long enjoyed a reputation for results in the economic development industry,” explained Burr & Forman CEO Ed Christian. “We are thrilled to have Secretary Canfield joining us to build on that success and ensure seamless, knowledgeable service to our clients.”
“Economic expansion is good for communities and good for families. I am proud of what we achieved during my time in the public sector and look forward to continuing those efforts across the Southeast in my new role at Burr & Forman,” Canfield said.
Canfield will begin his new duties on January 2, 2024.
Canfield was initially appointed by Governor Robert Bentley (R) in 2011. He has worked with Gov. Kay Ivey since 2017. During his 12-year tenure at the Alabama Department of Commerce, the state attracted more than $70 billion in new investments and promises of 180,000 new jobs.
Canfield also initiated Commerce’s rural development strategy, participated in trade missions to 30 countries, and launched the long-running “Made in Alabama” brand. Canfield was inducted into the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers’ Association Hall of Fame and the Southern Automotive Manufacturers’ Alliance Hall of Fame.
Before he served as Commerce Secretary, Canfield served in the Alabama House of Representatives.
Gov. Ivey has appointed Ellen McNair to replace Canfield. McNair is currently for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and has decades of experience in economic development. She had worked with Ivey in the 1980s when Ivey was the number two person at the Alabama Development Office, the precursor to today’s Alabama Department of Commerce.
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