Olan Mack has been named the new executive director of the Westcott Community Center, and he’ll begin duties on May 1.

He’s quite a busy man these days, according to current director Steve Susman, and was unavailable for an interview as of press time.

Mack, a Syracuse resident, is finishing his stint as executive director of the Southside Community Center in Ithaca. When he jumps on board, he and Susman will work together for about two weeks before Susman departs and Mack steers the ship by himself.

“I wasn’t involved in the hiring process; that was up to the board,” Susman said. “I did get to spend what was supposed to be an hour with him, and it went so well that it turned into two hours. I had such a great time with him. At times, I really felt I was talking to myself because he and I think the same way.”

In Ithaca, Mack helped secure funding and grants to keep the center’s programs running. The center provides similar services as the Westcott. Mack is a graduate of Syracuse University.

Susman said there were 105 applicants for the position, out of which seven were chosen for interview. Two were subsequently picked to spend time with the Westcott’s employees, and Susman said the overwhelming response was that Mack was the right fit for the job.

“Nobody had even one bad thing to say about him,” Susman said. “The center is going to be left in good hands.”

In a few weeks, when Mack is on-deck at the Westcott, The Eagle will have a feature on him, so you can find out more about the man when that issue hits the stands.

Neil Benjamin Jr. can be reached at [email protected].