HUD SECRETARY NAMES BURT WILKERSON ATLANTA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

ATLANTA- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steven C. Preston named Burt Wilkerson of Macon, Georgia as the Atlanta Regional Director for HUD's Region IV. Wilkerson was sworn in on June 30, 2008.

Mr. Wilkerson will be responsible for delivering the Department's programs and services to customers in the Southeastern Region. He serves on behalf of Secretary of HUD Steve Preston, with congressional delegations, local elected officials, HUD customer groups, and public and private interest groups. Mr. Wilkerson will manage the Field Policy and Management staff in the Atlanta Regional Office, as well as the Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee field offices. He will monitor HUD programs throughout the southeastern region.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Wilkerson was in private practice in Macon, Georgia. He is a member of the Macon Bar Association, State Bar of Georgia, and Bar of United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. He has practiced law since 1983 and has extensive experience in real estate, business, and bankruptcy law.

In addition to his extensive legal career, Wilkerson has a strong civic background. He is a member and past president of the Macon Civic Club. He served on many state and local boards and committees, including the Georgia Real Estate Commission. He is a past board member of the Middle Georgia Regional Library Board of Directors, the Macon Arts Alliance and the Middle Georgia Bulldog Club. He is also a member and deacon of First Presbyterian Church in Macon.

Wilkerson obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia in 1979 and his Juris Doctor from the law school in 1982.

Mr. Wilkerson is married to Julie Young Wilkerson. Mrs. Wilkerson is the Executive Director of the Cox Capitol Theater in Macon, Georgia. They have three children, John, Ben and Virginia.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov. For more information about FHA products, please visit www.fha.gov.