Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Pardue To Lead AEDC

Barbara Pardue has been named director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (formerly Arkansas Industrial Development Commission).

Pardue, who was the director of public affairs for the Arkansas region of the Potlach Corp. since 1993, will assume her new duties in January, 1998.

She is the first woman to head the AEDC, and will be paid an annual salary of $90,969.

Pardue was selected for the post by Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. "Barbara is energetic and resourceful," he said. "Her work on the Murphy Commission will lead to a more efficient state government and her leadership has already led to industrial development in south Arkansas.

Pardue, 40, has spent the past five years handling local, state and federal legislative and regulatory relations for Potlach in addition to work in the areas of community affairs, contribution programs, strategy development and communications.

"This is a great opportunity for the state of Arkansas," she said. "I look forward to working closely with Gov. Huckabee as we develop an economic development strategy that will take us into the next century and ensure a better quality of life for Arkansan."

In 1988, Pardue went to work for Kelly Services, Inc., in Troy, Mich., as senior director of public affairs. She developed and managed the nationwide company's public affairs program. She was promoted to vice president of Kelly in January, 1989.

From June 1987 to August 1988, Pardue was press secretary for the George Bush presidential campaign and assistant convention manager of the Republican National Convention at New Orleans.

She was communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee from Sept. 1985 through June 1987, and deputy press secretary for Sen. William Armstrong, R-Colo., from March 1983 until Sept. 1985.

She was also press secretary for Frank White when he beat then Gov. Bill Clinton in the 1980 governor's race, and was press secretary and senior administrative assistant to Gov. White in 1981-82.

Pardue is a member of the Arkansas Forestry Association board and the Arkansas Council on Economic Education executive committee. She is the chairman of the President's Arkansas Advisory Committee of Winrock International and the immediate past chairman of the Southern Forest Products Association Government Affairs Committee.