Transition Team Names Lunceford as President of Greater Knoxville Operations.

Business Editors

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2001

Les Lunceford has been named president of The Transition Team's Knoxville operations for the greater Knoxville area. Lunceford previously was the vice president of human resources and organizational development for Clayton Homes, Inc., and a career officer in the United States Marine Corps.

The Transition Team appointment was effective April 1, 2001.

James B. Tait, chief operating officer of The Transition Team, said, "We are extremely pleased to be able to add the leadership and management skills of Les Lunceford to The Transition Team. He's a proven senior executive with outstanding abilities based on his seven years with a nationally-known $1.5 billion, NYSE firm with 7,500 employees coupled with his 23 years in various management positions as a U.S. Marine officer. We will utilize his well-rounded experience and leadership background in achieving our growth, product development and customer satisfaction goals."

While at Clayton Homes from 1994, Lunceford served in a variety of executive positions where he initiated numerous human resource activities for four operating divisions; coordinated start-up operations of seven manufacturing facilities in four states, initiated the company's first leadership academy, began web-based training, and designed and implemented processes for recruiting, training, compensation, benefits, safety, environmental compliance, and workers' compensation, and other areas of the company.

While a Marine Corps officer from 1971 through 1994, he held a number of leadership positions managing thousands of personnel and operating budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars. He was a key member of the team which initiated the first surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence group in the Marine Corps. Lunceford also participated in a major evacuation in a war-ravaged country, provided intelligence and communications support to a 16,000 man combat unit during the Persian Gulf war, and received two Presidential Meritorious Service Medals and two Navy Commendation Medals from the Secretary of the Navy.

Lunceford is a 1978 magna cum laude graduate of East Tennessee State University with a B.S. degree in political science and general business where he completed college in three years. He added graduate courses in public administration and law from Georgetown University, University of Tennessee and Albany (Ga.) State College.

He is a member of the Down Town Knoxville Rotary Club, Toastmasters' International, Tennessee Valley Human Resources Association, and Risk Managers' Society.

The Transition Team specializes in all career management services for business and industry and also offers a myriad of human resource services including employment and staffing, employee relations, career management, outplacement, training and development, quality of worklife programs, and organization development.

NOTE TO EDITOR: For more information on The Transition Team, call Don Truza or Jim Tait at 865/694-3848 or write to The Transition Team, 9111 Cross Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37923.