The H.L. Neblett Community Center on Wednesday announced Keith Cottoner as the new executive director, starting in August. Cottoner will be taking over the position currently held by Olga McKissic.
Cottoner returns to Owensboro after serving as the Director of Facilities and Coordinator of Health Living activities for the Great Louisville YMCA. When Cottoner was in Owensboro originally, he played football while attending Kentucky Wesleyan College and earned a degree in Health and Fitness Management in 2007.
“I’m excited to learn new things, engrain myself in the community,” Cottoner said. “One of the biggest things I wanna do is help raise the future leaders of Owensboro and see what we can do to change the lives of the kids.”
He said he hopes to use some of the connections he built at KWC to help impact the children and get them more involved throughout the city. To Cottoner the most important thing is to be there for the kids in the program, help prepare them for the future, and change the narrative of kids in Owensboro.
Cottoner said he is excited to make an impact upon the lives of young people throughout the community and join forces with McKissic as she becomes the Director of the Western Academy at the Neblett Center after they construct a permanent facility for the Academy.
“I definitely prayed for someone to come in and take the reins and move the Neblett Center with continuous momentum moving it forward,” McKissic said. “I really feel that Keith Cottoner is the one.”
