CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG LIBRARY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- North Carolina Program Director for ParentsTogether
Ailen Arreaza is the North Carolina Program Director for ParentsTogether, a national non-profit that provides resources and community to help all kids and families thrive. Before joining the ParentsTogether team, she spent nearly a decade working on issues of equity and access for the City of Charlotte. In that role, she investigated allegations of housing discrimination and led city-wide campaigns to educate Charlotteans, particularly Latino immigrants, about their fair housing rights. Ailen is also a regular contributor to Charlotte's alternative weekly newspaper, Creative Loafing, where she often writes about issues related to social justice. She is originally from Cuba and a graduate of The George Washington University. She lives in NoDa with her husband and two rambunctious sons.
Job Titles:
- Vice - Chair of the Board
Amy Hawn Nelson is currently with the University of Pennsylvania in the School of Social Policy and Practice in the Actional Intelligence for Social Policy as the director of training and technical assistance and was formerly the director of the Institute for Social Policy. Previously Amy was the director of social research for the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, as well as assistant principal at Kennedy Charter Public School. She has been the recipient of numerous sponsored research and awards and has also authored or co-authored five books or chapters, numerous white papers and articles in publications. She holds a PhD in Philosophy, Curriculum & Instruction, and Urban Education, a Masters in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Masters in the Art of Teaching from Johns Hopkins University, and two Bachelor of Arts degrees from North Carolina State University.
She's served on the North Carolina Early Childhood Data Advisory Council since 2019 and is also a member of Arts Impact CLT. In 2015, Amy was named Charlottean of the Year by Charlotte Magazine. She lives in Charlotte with her family.
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager at Mint Hill
Anne Mavian is the Branch Manager at Mint Hill. She has been with the Library for 15 years, including five at Mint Hill. Anne's favorite part of working with CML is the diversity of staff and community because she can learn new things each day. Her favorite book is "Gift from the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Prior to moving to Charlotte, Anne was working in industrial construction as a project manager for a bridge contractor in the Detroit area. Outside of CML, Anne is Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee for the North Carolina Library Association.
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager at Cornelius
Cameron Smith is the Branch Manager at Cornelius. He has been with the Library for 22 years, including four with Cornelius. Developing new partnerships and relationships with community partners has always been an interest of his, and he enjoys the opportunity to do that at CML. A native Charlottean, Cameron enjoys history, geography and traveling. He collects old postcards and has curated a large collection over the years. His favorite authors include Megan Miranda, Ruth Ware, Peter Swanson, Alice Feeney and Lisa Unger.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Artist
Charles Thomas, an artist, educator and entrepreneur, is the Charlotte Program Director for the Knight Foundation. In Charlotte the Knight Foundation focuses on building an equitable and inclusive city that attracts and retains diverse talent, promotes economic opportunity and fosters a culture of civic engagement. Previously, Charles was the Executive Director of Queen City Forward. As a social innovation accelerator and incubator, Queen City Forward's mission is to unleash the potential of high growth, high impact social entrepreneurs in Charlotte. Charles is also a professional photographer and recently co-published a book of photography and stories with author Valaida Fullwood called GIVING BACK: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists.
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager at Matthews
Cynthia McDonald is the Branch Manager at Matthews. She has spent 13 years at the Library, including three with Matthews. Cynthia says her favorite thing about working at CML is being in her favorite place on Earth, the Library. Her staff's success, happiness and well-being are important to her as she considers them her work family. A fun fact about Cynthia is that she worked as a deckhand on a commercial shrimp boat in the Gulf while in high school. Her favorite book changes constantly, but most recently it is "The Dictionary of Lost Words" by Pip Williams.
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager at University City
Debra Sharp is the Branch Manager at University City. She has been working at CML for 10 years, with one year under her belt at University City. Debra's favorite part of working for the Library is the opportunity to help customers eliminate barriers to resources. Her favorite hobbies are traveling and gardening; she also loves historical fiction books and anything by Ruth Ware.
Dr. Ricky A. Woods is the senior minister of First Baptist Church - West where he has served since 1995. During his tenure, he also served on numerous civic engagement groups including the Task Force on Pupil Assignment for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, The Opportunity Task Force, Charlotte Pre-K Initiative and WBTV News Advisory Board. Dr. Woods is a member of the North Carolina State Library Commission appointed by Governor Roy Copper. Dr. Woods has been an avid user of public libraries since elementary school and can often be found on Thursdays in a local branch preparing the Sunday sermon.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Founder of Anaya Enterprises
Dr. Stacey Brown is the founder of Anaya Enterprises, which provides consulting services to students, their families and traditionally under-resourced communities regarding financial aid for higher education. She devotes much of her time to the community as well and has been a co-lead in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' district-wide efforts to interrupt and dismantle systemic barriers that prevent underrepresented students from gaining access to rigorous academic coursework.
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager at Pineville
Garrette Smith is the Branch Manager at Pineville. She has been with CML for just under two years, and less than a year at Pineville. Garrette's favorite book is "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu and says that her favorite part of working with the Library is the team spirit amongst staff members. She enjoys baking cupcakes from scratch. Garrette is a graduate of the University of Houston and Clark Atlanta University.
Job Titles:
- Interim Branch Manager at ImaginOn
Jesse Isley is the Interim Branch Manager at ImaginOn. She has spent 11 years with the Library, including four years at ImaginOn. Her favorite thing about working at CML is "the variety of ways curiosity, contribute to lifelong learning, and get to know our community each day. Plus, the FUN we have with our programs here at ImaginOn." Jesse is a fan of comedy and adventure when it comes to books, and enjoys non-fiction, especially memoirs. Two fun facts about Jesse are that she played bass clarinet in her high school band and recently started piano lessons via Zoom.
Joe Helweg is the Charlotte Production Executive for Bank of America Consumer Lending. Helweg is responsible for First Mortgage & Home Equity loan production and client experience for the Charlotte Consumer Lending Site as a whole. Helweg holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and a Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Attorney and Member of Essex Richards
Jon Buchan is an attorney and member of Essex Richards, P.A., with a litigation practice focused on business disputes and media law/First Amendment issues. Jon has held leadership positions with various organizations, including Board Chair of WFAE 90.7 and President of the Mecklenburg County Bar. Jon received his A.B. from Princeton University and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law. He is the author of one novel, Code of the Forest.
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager at SouthPark
Kathy Hurley is the Branch Manager at SouthPark. She has worked at the Library for three years, all with SouthPark. Her favorite part about working for CML is the opportunity to change lives with each encounter, whether that be through programs, services or a simple conversation. Her favorite book is "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and a fun fact about Kathy is that she sings in a band with her daughter. She is currently completing her Philosophy of Leadership with Business Concentration doctoral program at Anderson University.
Kimmery Martin is a Charlotte novelist whose debut work has been praised by multiple media outlets including Southern Living, The Harvard Crimson, The Charlotte Observer and The New York Times. A lifelong literary nerd, she promotes reading, interviews authors, and teaches writing seminars. She's a frequent speaker at libraries and bookstores around the United States.
Prior to her writing career, Kimmery practiced Emergency Medicine as a physician in multiple Charlotte-area hospitals. She's also been an engaged volunteer for multiple organizations within the city, including a seven-year term on the Board of Directors at A Child's Place.
Kimmery completed her medical training at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She lives with her husband and three children in Cotswold.
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager at Davidson
Marie Harris is the Branch Manager at Davidson. She has been with the Library for over 10 years, including five at Davidson. Marie loves people and being at CML allows her to lead and serve some amazing individuals. When she was seven, Marie wrote a paragraph about wanting to be a Librarian when she grew up, and now here she is. Her favorite book is "Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery and she has cowritten two books on library services. She is a wife and a mom and enjoys spending her free time with family.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Founder of BROOKHOUSE
Peggy Brookhouse is the founder of BROOKHOUSE, a brand strategy firm. She brings extensive knowledge of brand strategy, public relations and digital communications to the board. Brookhouse is deeply involved with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community, serving as chair of the boards of United Way of Central Carolinas and the Levine Museum of the New South.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Senior Vice President With Bank of America
Preethi Srinivasan is a senior vice president with Bank of America, serving as finance executive for the bank's digital banking division. Srinivasan boasts an extensive resume in financial budgeting, risk management, digital technologies and innovation. A 12-year resident of Mecklenburg County, her family are avid users of the Library and donors to the CML Foundation.
Tracy Montross joined the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board of Trustees in November 2021. The Regional Director of Government Affairs for American Airlines, Montross serves as the airline's representative in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee.
Tracy is responsible for developing and executing regulatory and legislative proposals that may have a material effect on the company's business operations; coordinating strategies that support operational efficiencies, tax relief, noise abatement, labor relations, corporate real estate, environmental goals, and corporate philanthropy; and represents American Airlines with various state and local governments, economic development agencies, Airports and Aviation Divisions, and industry associations to advocate for corporate and customer interests.
Tracy is active within her community and has served as Chair of the Board for the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and the Carolinas Aviation Museum. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and UNC Charlotte Foundation, and she is an active member of Women Executives. From 2011 to 2013, Montross served as Chief of Staff for the Office of the Mayor in Charlotte, supporting both Mayors Anthony Foxx and Patsy Kinsey on local, state and national issues, constituent concerns, community relations, as well as City-wide planning for the Democratic National Convention in 2012.
She has been recognized as one of the Charlotte Business Journal's 40 under 40, UNC Charlotte's MPA Alumna of the Year, Mecklenburg Times' 50 Most Influential Women, and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Young Professional's Public Servant of the Year. Tracy and her husband, Jesse Muñoz, are parents to two young boys, Jackson Boone and Wyatt. Together, they enjoy spending time with family and friends, as well as playing golf, visiting breweries, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager at Sugar Creek
De'Trice Fox is the Branch Manager at Sugar Creek. She has been with the Library for 17 years and for one year at Sugar Creek. Her favorite thing about working at CML is establishing connections that align with the library's mission to "improve lives and build a stronger community" and providing access to resources that seem to be out of reach. Her two favorite books right now are "Professional Troublemaker" by Luvvie Ajayi Jones and "Honey, I Love" by Eloise Greenfield.
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager at Hickory Grove
Viviette White is the Branch Manager at Hickory Grove. She has been with CML for 15 years, including one year at Hickory Grove. Her favorite thing about the Library is having great conversations with our customers and helping them find what they need. She also enjoys researching family histories on Ancestry.com's Library Edition for customers and finding relatives that they never knew they had. Her favorite book is "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson.