Northeast Ohio Regional Library System
Calendar of Events - Northeast Ohio Regional Library System
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Julia Shaheen is the Literacy Manager at Stark Library where she oversees the Ready for School program. Through this program, staff visit parents and caregivers to help prepare families for school. She oversees library literacy efforts by providing staff, parent, and educator workshops. She is an Every Child Ready to Read and Reimagining School Readiness trainer presenting workshops throughout Ohio. She provided storytime and other programming in both in-person and virtual capacities. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Education as well as several certificates in reading and early literacy education. She has presented at numerous regional, state and national conferences. She also presents for local schools and organizations and represents Stark Library on radio and television programming.
Presenter: 
Holly Klingler is an innovation trainer and facilitator with over 15 years of experience training staff on creative thinking and problem solving. With a design sprint certification and certified in project management from Google, she empowers teams to rapidly transform problems into prototypes. Holly's practical strategies blend design thinking and sprints, helping libraries innovate quickly and successfully. Holly is also a certified nonverbal analyst with over fifteen years of experience in body language training. Her expertise covers a range of applications, from customer service to conflict management, helping attendees communicate more effectively in both professional and personal settings.
Vicki Hillman did not have your average start in libraries. She obtained her BS in Athletic Training from Wilmington College in 2001. From there, she went on to have a 15-year career as a Paramedic. After having her 2 kids, she decided to leave the world of EMS and started working in libraries. She was hired at Huron Public Library as the Children’s Assistant and after several years, moved up to Head of Customer and Tech Services. She has enjoyed 10 years at Huron Public Library.
Rebekah Hire-Santoro is the Head of Marketing and Emerging Technology at Huron Public Library in Huron, Ohio. She graduated from Elmhurst University with a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies. Before beginning her library career in Ohio, she worked at an arts non-profit in Colorado for five years where she honed her marketing and communications skills. She then began her true passion in working for libraries in 2023.
Jennifer Buch has worked in libraries for 18 years but has been visiting them since she was born. Her love of books and reading started with being read to by her parents and grandparents and being able to read to the audience at her kindergarten graduation in her pink gingham dress. Rarely is she without a book to read. Libraries are about more than books, and helping patrons connect to what they need has become one of her greatest joys. Before becoming a librarian, she was a teacher of middle school age humans. 
Marilee Fini, M.A. CCC/SLP is a certified and licensed Speech Pathologist in Cleveland, OH running her own private practice, MLF Speech Therapy where she sees children and adults. She is also a professional speaker and has been presenting for over 24 years. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Lakeland Community College where she teaches Public Speaking. Currently, she speaks for corporations, in healthcare and for other organizations on effective communication, Public Speaking and motivational topics. As a kid who stuttered, she couldn’t imagine being a speaker or a Speech Pathologist! In her presentations, she shares a message of discovering an “overcomer mindset” and being able to do things you never thought were possible! 
Ned Parks has had a rich and varied life that has taken him from police officer to helicopter pilot to successful entrepreneur with management and leadership positions in the journey.
Melissa Lattanzi, Continuing Education Coordinator, Northeast Ohio Regional Library System
Rachel Stevenson is a programming librarian in northwest Pennsylvania. She credits her ability to create fun programs for adults to her years as an event planner for colleges and universities. She received her MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Goucher College where her thesis focused on programming in museum libraries. She has presented at the Pennsylvania Library Association's annual conference and at other conferences in Pennsylvania as well as teaching classes to librarians in New York.
Nick Tanzi is the Assistant Director of the South Huntington Public Library. He is an internationally recognized library technology consultant and the author of the books Making the Most of Digital Collections Through Training and Outreach (2016) and the coauthor of the Best Technologies for Public Libraries: Policies, Programs, and Services (2020). Nick is a past column editor for Public Library Magazine’s “The Wired Library," and his work on the intersection of libraries and technology has been featured in publications including Computers in Libraries, Library Journal, and Marketing Library Services.
Jennifer Blair is the Head of User Services and Assistant Professor at Azusa Pacific University. Her role is dedicated to the user experience, including marketing the library, and teaching. She has extensive experience teaching online courses in design and computer literacy. Jennifer holds a B.A. in Graphic Design, a M.A in Education with an emphasis in Educational Multimedia, and a M.S. in Library and Information Studies. Her experience in academic and public libraries as well as work experience in art and design allow her to employ visionary strategies to enrich progress and enhance advancement for students.
Catherine Soehner, MLS, BSN, is the Associate Dean and Executive Director of the Eccles Health Sciences Library at the University of Utah. She has 36 years of experience in librarianship with 26 of those years spent in leadership positions. Her research reflects her interests in change management and leadership with publications and presentations on systems thinking, managing change, and assessment of library programs. She has given over 70 presentations and published two books, one on effective difficult conversations and the other on strategic planning. Previously, Catherine served in academic libraries at the University of Michigan and the University of California, Santa Cruz, as well as the National Library of Medicine.
Ris Labib, Collection Development Manager, Portage County District Library, believes in the power of a good book. She has been talking with others about books -- in a professional and personal capacity -- since middle school and was even on NPR! One of the (many) books she is currently reading is “Book of Love” by Kelly Link. 
County Public Library whose areas of specialty are cookbooks, fashion & folklore, and general trivia. She is the co-leader of specialty book clubs like: Romance Book Club and Speculative Fiction Book Club. Her favorite read of 2024 was “Funny Story” by Emily Henry. 
Kim DeNero-Ackroyd has been the Deputy Director of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library for 13 years. In this role, she supervises eight public service managers directly, as well as leads all public service activities. She currently serves on as the chair of ALA’s Committee on Organization, is a member of PLA’s Continuing Education Advisory Group and is on the OLC Board of Directors. Prior to her current role, she has twice been a branch manager, in addition to other supervisory positions. In all of her positions, effective time management has been one of the critical components of success. She is passionate about helping to develop future and current library leaders.
Wendy Bartlett began her library career in 2000 as the assistant director of the Kent Free Library in Kent, Ohio. In 2006, she joined Cuyahoga County Public Library as the manager for the Beachwood branch. In 2009, she became the Fiction Buyer for CCPL, and in 2012, she became the Collection Development & Acquisitions Manager, centralizing selection for the system, launching a floating collection, and developing merchandising solutions. Prior to becoming a librarian, Wendy was the Regional Manager for the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Borders Books & Music stores.
Mary Schreiber is the branch manager of the Brooklyn Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library, near Cleveland, OH. Prior to that, she worked in collection development for 13 years as a youth and world languages materials selector. An avid reader and book evaluator, she served on the 2016 Newbery Award and the 2021 Caldecott Award Committees. Her latest book with Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited, Curating Community Collections: A Holistic Approach to Diverse Collection Development, published in 2024.
Mist Alvaro has worked in academic, public, and special libraries, but public libraries are their forever home. They worked in every possible public services department and technical services before landing their perfect gig as a cataloging and processing manager at Columbus Metropolitan Libraries. They are a member of CML's DEI Committee and are passionate about equity, inclusion, and representation in library collections. Most importantly, Mist loves answering questions!
Kristin Casale spent the bulk of her career in children's services, and is now the collection development manager at The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library.She has presented programs for NEO-RLS through the years, and is excited to present about collection development for the first time.
Gerry Vogel is assistant director of Avon Lake Public Library and a NEO-RLS trustee.
Mark Swaim-Fox, President and CEO, The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio
Presenter: Katie Jenkins, Executive Director, NAMI Greater Cleveland
Mollie Peuler is the Elearning librarian at Appalachian State University. In this role, Mollie works to curate, design, and assess online learning objects and tools that support the flexible teaching and learning of information literacy concepts. Her research interests include instructional design, design justice, and inclusive design. Mollie received her MLIS from Florida State University and a Master of Education in Training and Development from North Carolina State University.