For immediate release:
EDMONTON, AB, May 01, 2019 – Two new members have been appointed to the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) Board of Trustees.
James Crossman, Data Centre Design Engineer at PowerHouse Data Centre Group, and Sandra Marin, Director at Sandra Marin & Associates Inc. Coaching and Consulting, will commence their roles on May 1, 2019.
Crossman, a former shareholder and director of a medium-sized Edmonton-based engineering firm prior to assuming his current role with PowerHouse, excels at bridging communication between technical and business audiences and can effectively distill complex technical concepts. He works with multi-disciplinary teams of executives, engineers, project managers, suppliers, tradespeople, IT managers and facility operators to deliver projects to a broad range of clients. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from the University of Alberta.
“I’m incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to serve on the EPL Board of Trustees,” says Crossman. “I’ve been an Edmonton Public Library customer all my life, and have recently discovered the joy of sharing the Library with my two young children. I believe public libraries play a critical role in helping people from all walks of life succeed, and I’m delighted to be able to help EPL create new opportunities for people in this city.”
Marin has significant Board experience, including with the Human Resources Institute of Alberta and the YMCA Enterprise Centre. Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University in Ottawa, a Certificate in Human Resource Management from the University of Alberta, and a Certificate in Organizational Foundations from Queen’s University. She also holds several coaching certifications and is a member of the International Coach Federation. She coaches senior leaders, teams and individuals wanting to increase effectiveness and improve performance, and is passionate about supporting leaders wanting to create more positive and productive work environments.
”I’m delighted to be joining EPL as a Board member,” says Marin. “My love affair with libraries goes back to my childhood and continues to this day. As a human resource consultant and leadership coach, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to the Board of Trustees at EPL – the first public library in Canada to be named among Canada’s most admired corporate cultures – whose leadership and advocacy in this city continues to lead the way.”
The EPL Board consists of 10 trustees, including one member of City Council. Trustees are appointed annually by City Council and can serve a maximum of six years. In addition to governance, the Board is responsible for advocating to ensure stakeholders understand and support library initiatives. Other Board responsibilities include CEO recruitment and performance evaluation, Board policy development, ensuring compliance with financial and legislative requirements, identifying and mitigating risks and, together with EPL’s Executive Team, establishing the Library’s strategic directions.
EPL would like to thank departing trustees Nazir Mulji and Jay Ball for their contributions and commitment.
“We are excited to have Sandra and James join our Board,” said Board Chair Brian Heidecker. “We look forward to working together and helping lead EPL - the largest lender of information in town.”
“James and Sandra are welcome additions to the Board,” said EPL Chief Executive Officer Pilar Martinez. “Their diverse experience and passion for public libraries will be a tremendous asset to EPL.”
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About the Edmonton Public Library
The Edmonton Public Library (EPL) is proud to be 2014 Library of the Year, as well as the first public library in Canada to win Canada’s Most Admired™ Corporate Cultures award by Waterstone Human Capital, as of 2018! We’ve come a long way since 1913 when books were all you could find on our shelves… and we’re just getting started! Today, EPL carries everything you care about. We are Edmonton’s largest lender of all manner of information and entertainment. Our professionally trained staff take you beyond Google with the knowledge, discernment and desire to help you navigate a universe of information. The second most visited place in Edmonton, every year EPL hosts over 15.4 million in-branch and online visits across our 21 branches and website. We deliver our incredible content to you everywhere – in the library, at home or on your handheld device. Unmatched access and unrivalled value – that is today’s EPL. EPL is a registered charity and relies on donations to enhance services. Spread the words. www.epl.ca/give
For more information, contact
Benjamin Freeland
Communications Specialist
Edmonton Public Library
Office: 780-496-7055
Cell: 780-819-4337
benjamin.freeland@epl.ca
