The face of Lanier Technical College in Dawson County for the past three years is changing with Dean Tim McDonald's promotion to the school's vice president of economic development.

McDonald, who started his new position Oct. 2, will continue as dean of the local campus until a new leader is chosen.

He cited his local role as among the most rewarding of his career experiences.

"The opportunity to meet and work with the local communities has ensured the success of the Dawson campus," he said. "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."

President Russell Vandiver, who held the vice president position for four decades, called McDonald the "right person for this important [job]."

"This important leadership position brings more jobs, more awareness to our communities, and more business partnerships to our north Georgia communities and to Georgia," he said.

In his new role, McDonald will work closely with the north Georgia industrial community to develop programs and training intended to staff and grow industry trades with qualified technical workers.

"President Vandiver hands off a great system with a superb legacy of training performance and business partnership," McDonald said. "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."

Prior to assuming the dean's role three years ago, McDonald taught machine tool technology at the Oakwood campus for 25 years. He also holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering technology from Southern Polytechnic State University and is pursuing an MBA at Brenau University.

Lanier Tech Chairman Roger Slaton congratulated McDonald on the new job.

"I'm so very proud of my friend Tim McDonald," Slaton said. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Tim and he is certainly quite capable of fulfilling that job of vice president of economic development.

"He will do exactly for the economic development authority the same he did for Dawson County's campus, which was put us on the map."

According to Slaton, the search for McDonald's replacement will begin immediately.

"They will move fairly quickly to fill Tim's spot," he said.

Members of the DCN regional staff contributed to this story.