LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has announced a shakeup in his cabinet.

The whole thing was triggered by the departure of Rodney Stokes, director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The governor’s office announced on June 21 that Stokes would become the governor’s special advisor for city placemaking. Stokes will work with cities on projects such as ensuring the availability of quality green space and enhancing recreational opportunities.

He was one of Snyder’s first appointees after his election in 2010. Stokes started out at the DNR in 1977 and held several positions there, including chief of the Parks and Recreation Division. He also held leadership positions at the Detroit Recreation Department and Gainesville, Fla., Recreation and Parks Department.

Stokes will begin his new job July 9. Replacing him at the DNR will be Keith Creagh, who up until now has served as director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) in the Snyder administration. Snyder announced this appointment June 25. Taking the slot at MDARD will be Jamie Clover Adams, who has been working at the state’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

“Keith is a natural choice to become our next DNR director,” Snyder said. “He has a strong understanding of Michigan’s conservation, economic and environmental needs, vast experience and ability to bring people together and a love of our state’s great outdoors that will make for a seamless transition.

“Michigan’s food and agriculture industry is one of the most important to our state’s economy, and Jamie has the experience, knowledge and skills to provide the necessary leadership to assure Michigan’s food and agriculture (sector) continues to play a prominent role in our state’s economic recovery. She will be an excellent director for MDARD. I thank them both for their willingness to serve.”

Before joining the MDARD in January 2011, Creagh worked as director of industry affairs at HACCO, a subsidiary of Neogen, a Lansing, Mich.-based diagnostics and logistics company. Creagh helped facilitate international registrations for food safety and animal health-related products.

Before that he spent 30 years working at the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

“I am honored to serve as director of the Department of Natural Resources and to work with such a dedicated group of professionals,” Creagh said. “I will strive to uphold the department’s great standard of excellence and build upon its past successes.

“As a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, I understand the importance of the state’s natural resources to Michigan citizens. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and other outdoor pursuits are not just hobbies in this state. They are a defining part of who we are as Michiganders.”

Rounding out the personnel changes will be Adams, a native Michigander who holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s from Georgetown University. She served as secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture from 1999-2003 and, since 2011, has been legislative affairs director at DEQ.

Before joining the DEQ, she was deputy chief of staff to state Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-17th) and served as director of the Senate Majority policy office before that. Both Creagh and Clover Adams will start their new jobs July 9.