Boilermaker Road Race selects Donovan as new president

UTICA, N.Y. — The Boilermaker Road Race has announced Mark Donovan as the new president of the nonprofit organization that organizes the event.

Donovan, a graduate of Le Moyne College and an Albany native, has lived and worked in the Mohawk Valley for 23 years, the organization said in a news release.

He replaces Tim Reed, who stepped down from the position last September after having served in the role for 10 years.

Donovan, 55, calls it an “honor and a privilege” to have the opportunity to lead the Boilermaker organization.

“I relocated to the Utica area in 1995 when it was in the throes of losing three major employers with the departures of Chicago Pneumatic, Griffiss Air Force Base and Lockheed Martin. Amidst those turbulent economic times, I witnessed the Boilermaker experience serve as a rope for the community to hang onto and rally around,” Donovan said in the release. “Family members, friends, neighbors, and local companies all poured their hearts and souls into making Boilermaker Weekend an enduring community event with worldwide appeal. I draw my inspiration from the founders and stewards who have set a very high bar and positioned the organization to be much more than a race.”

Donovan is looking forward to providing participants with a “one-of-a-kind experience,” whether they’re runners, volunteers, sponsors, or community members.

“I eagerly accept the challenge to carry the organization’s momentum forward as we continue to enhance the experience of Boilermaker Weekend and further develop activities, events and partnerships dedicated to the health & wellness of our community,” said Donovan.

“When I started the race 41 years ago, my goal was to change people’s lives in a positive way. We are very excited to have Mark join us and I’m confident he will carry this mission forward,” Earle Reed, founder of the Boilermaker Road Race, said in the release. “The race has always been our what, but not our why.”

About Donovan

Donovan’s career has focused on sales, marketing, and general management leadership roles within several industries. Most recently, Donovan served as COO of the Mele Companies Inc. of Utica.

Earlier, after spending over a decade in commercial insurance, he relocated with his family to New Hartford where he began working in the medical-device field with Utica–based ConMed Corp. (NASDAQ: CNMD).

During his more than 20 years at ConMed, Donovan held several positions, culminating with his role as vice president of gastroenterology, cardiology & critical care and global corporate marketing.

In that role, he was responsible for about $110 million in global sales, more than 100 employees, and “refining” the company’s global branding efforts, the release stated.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com