Board of Trustees
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library operates under the guidance of a volunteer Board of Trustees whose members give generously of their time, talent and support to further the Library's mission. The Board consists of eleven trustees, ten of whom are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and one of whom is appointed by the Board of Education. The Board of Trustees hires, directs and advises the Library CEO, adopts organizational policies and an annual budget, and serves as principal advocate for the organization.
BOARD MEETINGS
In 2020, the Library introduced its Honorary Advisory Council.
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Intellectual Freedom Statement
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is committed to protecting the First Amendment’s guarantee of free and open access to information and ideas–a principle vital to our democracy and to each individual’s search for knowledge. We seek to provide our diverse community with a comprehensive collection of materials and programs providing a wide range of knowledge and perspectives.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.