UTICA, N.Y --The nation's most popular 15K road race has a new president. 

Albany native Mark Donovan has been named as the third president of Utica's Boilermaker Road Race. 

Donovan takes over for Tim Reed who retired last year after holding the position for ten years. 

The position was created in 2007 to oversee operations like corporate sponsorship, security, along with health and wellness initiatives. 

Donovan will serve on the Boilermaker committee immediately but won't exactly play a large role entering this year's race. 

"We're in a pretty good position.  But, what I'll be doing with the team, after this year's event, is really sit, soak up where they are. They've got tremendous ideas, and then we go out and engage," said Boilermaker President Mark Donovan. 

Donovan has lived and worked in the Mohawk Valley for more than 23-years and has substantial marketing experience. 

This year's Boilermaker Road Race is Sunday, July 8th.