Oswego County Opportunities, the community action agency for Oswego County, has a new leader. Board president Jill Lyon announced Kevin Dean has been named the agency’s executive director.
“The OCO board of directors selected Kevin Dean based upon his more than 20 years of experience in roles focused on improving lives through health, education and economic programs, values that align closely with OCO’s mission,” said Lyon.
Most recently working in Foreign Service with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Dean brings a wealth of domestic and international experience in community action.
After undergraduate study at the University of Iowa, he attended Georgetown University where he earned a master’s degree in foreign service and began his career with the State Department and later, USAID. When USAID ended as part of the reduction in workforce action, Dean had to identify his next chapter of life. That’s when fond memories of Oswego County resurfaced.
“It’s kind of strange story,” he said. “When I was 19, I was a member of a marching band which traveled all over the country. The best competition I ever went to was in Oswego. We were so warmly welcomed. The Knights of Columbus Council organized an elaborate turkey dinner for all 128 band members and our travel team — almost 200 people. A free home-cooked meal on the road was a real treat. More importantly, they sat and talked with us, it was such a gracious act of hospitality. No one else ever welcomed us that way. It stuck with me and since then I have had a soft spot in my heart for Oswego.”
While searching for career opportunities online, he saw that Oswego County Opportunities was looking for an executive director. He saw it as a perfect match for his experience and ideals and a chance to return to a place with fond memories.
“Coming to OCO is a natural transition,” said Dean. “Community action agencies like OCO are the model that USAID was working to establish all over the world. We sought to develop non governmental organizations with partnership between local governments and community members, private sector buy-in and support that are capable of receiving and using public funds for public benefit while seeking private funds through service delivery or donations. This has a much larger impact than government grants alone. I was part of establishing organizations of this type in six different countries.
“I believe there is a moral imperative to fight poverty and OCO’s programs are focused on exactly that. I was also impressed with the trust and respect that the community has for OCO and the work that it does. Community members that I spoke with were instantly positive when it came to OCO. It shows that OCO programs are addressing real community wants and needs and are provided in a way that is respectful and high quality. It’s a testament to Diane Cooper-Currier and her team.”
