This past week, Glenn Sears, the director of the Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council for the 5.5 years, announced his retirement.

Sears is a 30 year veteran of John Deere and served as a county commissioner for one term.

While he served as a commissioner, he had a vision that in order to attract business to the county, there needed to be a full-time body dedicated to aggressively and systematically pursuing economic development opportunities and letting national economic players know about Rockdale's many attractive qualities.

Sears, who only ran for one term, stepped in to run the economic development corporation after the first full-time director Mike Lott left. Sears served 5.5 years and departs his position on Dec. 31. During his time as a corporate executive, Sears, with his big smile and affable grin, was a great representative of Rockdale County and helped retain and expand businesses such as Hillphoenix and bring business like Corrugated Inc. to the area.

He plans to spend more time with his grandchildren and wife and more time on the water, fishing.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Glenn Sears and we wish him well on his new family-inspired position.