Customer Service Vice President
Resume:
GEORGE M. NEEDHAM
Dublin, Ohio 43016
abpj54@r.postjobfree.com
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Energetic, empathetic leader with extensive management experience in not-for-profit and government agencies, working
at local, state, national and international levels. Strong strategic skills, coupled with outstanding speaking and presentation
styles. Comfortable working behind the scenes to shape and implement change.
Consensus Building and Change Management. Developed and implemented new governance structures
and member communications paradigms for OCLC, the world s largest library cooperative. Planned and hosted a
series of public meetings to develop the Access Michigan program for that state s libraries and library users. Led
a major initiative to reorganize the Public Library Association that was passed by 70% of the membership.
Budgeting. Managed a $34 million annual budget at the Library of Michigan. Increased revenues at the Public
Library Association by 30% in three years. Created method to allow Fairfield County District Library to leverage
a $250,000 donation intended to build one new branch into an ongoing revenue stream for further capital
growth. Reduced the library s audit issues from 20 in the year before my arrival to two in my first year and none
in my final year.
Team Building. Cross-trained OCLC s Member Services Team for mutual support and more efficient use of
staff. Fostered team building through staff education and training, and career ladders. Served as a mentor at
national and state leadership institutes. Created a project at OCLC to raise scholarship funds earmarked for
underrepresented communities in the library profession.
Communications. Skilled in facilitating meetings, public speaking, working with news media. Delivered more
than 150 presentations in three countries between April 2004 and July 2009 on the future of libraries. Chaired
Ohio Library Council's Marketing and Communications Task Force, part of the Council's "Future Initiatives"
program. Taught workshops on media relations, political savvy, and career planning options.
EXPERIENCE
Vice President, Global and Regional Councils. OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Dublin, Ohio
July 2009 present
Vice President, Member Services. OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Dublin, Ohio
March 1999 July 2009
State Librarian of Michigan. The Library of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan
August 1996 February 1999
Executive Director. Public Library Association, Chicago, Illinois
January 1993 June 1996
Member Services Director. Ohio Library Association, Columbus, Ohio
January 1990 December 1992
Library Director. Fairfield County District Library, Lancaster, Ohio
July 1984 December 1989
Various librarian positions. Charleston County Public Library, Charleston, South Carolina
June 1977 June 1984
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EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts (English), State University of New York at Buffalo (magna cum laude)
Master of Library Science, State University of New York at Buffalo
Advanced Library Management Program, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Additional coursework at the Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
American Library Association (ALA) and Ohio Library Council, Member
ALA Elections Review Committee, 2008 2009
ALA Public Programs Committee, Member, 2003-date
ALA 2004 Nominating Committee, Chair, 2003
ALA Committee on Legislation, Member, 1999 - 2001
Eureka Institute, Mentor, 2009
Institute for Museum and Library Services Task Force on 21st Century Skills, 2008-2009
Library Leadership Institute at Snowbird, Mentor, 1999, 2000
Library Leadership Ohio, Mentor, 1995, 1998, 2002
Library Media Project, Board of Trustees, Member, 1997-2007
Learning Point Associates, Board of Trustees, Member, 2004-date; Chair 2007-date
Northern Exposure to Leadership Institute, Mentor, 2009
Ohio Library Council's "Futures Initiative," Chair, Marketing and Communications Task Force, 2001-2003
Speaker at numerous library conferences and in-service days on subjects such as long range planning, forming foundations,
customer service, and media relations
OTHER HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Winner, Michigan Library Association s Walter Kaiser Award, 1999
Listed in the current editions of Who s Who in America and Who s Who in the Midwest
Two-time Jeopardy! champion
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