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Brad Wurfel is stepping down from his position as spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation and returning to his home state of Michigan.

Wurfel, who’s worked for ODOT for the past year, has accepted a position as director of communications for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

“I’m in many ways sad to be going, but it’s an exciting opportunity,” Wurfel said, adding that his position at ODOT has “been a great job and I’ve worked with a lot of great people.”

Wurfel was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Mich., and has a journalism degree from Michigan State University. Before coming to Oregon, he worked for Michigan’s departments of education and natural resources.

His last day at ODOT is Friday.

His wife, Sara Wurfel, has also accepted a position in the state as press secretary for Michigan Gov.-elect Rick Snyder. She was director of communications for AARP of Oregon.

The couple moved to Oregon in 2004, when Brad Wurfel accepted a position as spokesman for the state fish and wildlife department. He switched to his current job in Jan. 2010.