New Stokes official looks forward to economic challenges

Even with economy's downturn, development director says that deals are going to be made

DANBURY (Winston-Salem Journal) - Stokes County's new economic-development director has direct experience with the challenges that face those who run a business.

"I know what it feels like to try to make a payroll work," Alan Wood said.

Wood, who will start Monday, has been working in Lenoir as the senior development manager for the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission. With the commission since 2004, he was part of the team that recruited Google to build a $600 million data center in Lenoir.