Lanier Technical College Selects New Vice President of Economic Development

--By Staff Writer on --

After an intensive and thorough search, Lanier Technical College has selected Tim McDonald as the new Vice President of Economic Development. His duties encompass leadership, business development, and training opportunities in the areas of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Ammonia Refrigeration, Manufacturing Development, American Heart Association, and Continuing Education. Mr. McDonald assumes the Vice President duties on Oct. 2, 2012.

Currently McDonald serves as the Dean of the Dawson Campus, one of five at Lanier Technical College.  He will continue to serve as the Dean of the Dawson Campus until a new campus leader is chosen.  Said McDonald of his stewardship as Dean, “Being Dean of the Dawson Campus is one of the best experiences of my whole career.  The opportunity to meet and work with the local communities has ensured the success of the Dawson Campus. The help and interest of all of the communities that make up the greater Dawson Campus area is why the Campus is so successful and so respected, no question about it. I will miss the daily interaction.”

McDonald served as the Dawson Campus’s Dean for three years.  Prior to assuming the Dean’s role,

McDonald taught Machine Tool Technology at the Oakwood Campus for 25 years.  He also worked as a machinist with Windsmith, Inc., now Peerless-Windsmith, Inc., and Chandler Equipment Company.

For almost four decades, Russell Vandiver, President of Lanier Technical College, held the VP position now occupied by Tim McDonald.  Said McDonald, “President Vandiver hands off a great system with a superb legacy of training performance and business partnership. A great team of highly skilled professionals drives the well-known performance, partnership, and quality of Lanier Tech’s Economic Development Department. I am humbled to be part of the Lanier Tech Economic Development team.”

President Vandiver related, “I charged the search committee of four Vice Presidents find the very best candidate for the role of Vice President of Economic Development.  This important leadership position brings more jobs, more awareness to our communities, and more business partnerships to our North Georgia communities and to Georgia.  I am delighted that the search committee found the right person for this important VP leadership position already at the College.”

McDonald has over 28 years in Machine Tool Technology.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University and is earning an MBA at Brenau University.

For more information about Lanier Technical College please visit the college’s website at www.laniertech.edu or call Lanier Technical College at 770-531-6300.