Gordon Wenk, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, recently announced the selection of Ken McFarlane as the department’s chief deputy director.

McFarlane began working at MDARD in June 2014 as the director of strategy and business performance. He then became deputy director in February 2016, overseeing the administration and operation of the department’s Food and Dairy Division, Laboratory Division, and the Office of Organizational Innovation. 

CHANGING OF GUARD: Ken McFarlane fills the position vacated by Gordon Wenk, who was promoted to director.

Before joining MDARD, he worked in the private sector as a civil engineering consultant on public infrastructure and large land development projects in the midwestern and western United States.

“Ken has been integral in multiple enterprise-wide strategic planning and implementation efforts involving service delivery, employee engagement, sustainable operations and information technology,” Wenk says.

McFarlane graduated from Trine University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and from the University of Michigan with a master’s degree in public administration. He is a registered professional civil engineer in both Michigan and Nevada.

Source: MDARD