Beverly Hills : Maple Center Head Quits

Jack Armstrong, director of the Maple Center, has announced that he will resign Dec. 1.

Armstrong, 48, has been the chief administrator for the nonprofit counseling center for four years, overseeing the center’s expansion and move into new offices on Wilshire Boulevard.

Armstrong announced his decision in a letter to the center’s board of directors. He said he intends to pursue a lifelong dream as a voice-over announcer doing radio and television commercials, videos and training films. He said his new career will allow him to work from home so he can spend more time with his school-aged children and allow his wife to return to work.

A search committee headed by board Chairman Lester Stein will begin looking for a replacement.

The counseling center offers nearly 20 programs including academic tutoring for elementary students and counseling for nearly 400 people per week. The center, which has an annual budget of nearly $900,000, employs a professional staff of 12 psychologists, social workers and counselors and about 70 interns working toward state licensing requirements.