Meet the Board

Cascade Branch Library (Kent District Library)

Joe has degrees in pre-law and journalism and a secondary teaching certificate from Michigan State University. He spent four years in the Navy before embarking on a 40-year career in journalism, marketing, sales and executive management, mostly in the insurance industry. He lives with his wife of 54 years, Linda, on a small rural lake near Grand Rapids that serves as home base for their two daughters’ families for holidays and summers. His retirement at the end of 2014 gave him the time to resume his love of reading and to get actively involved with the Friends group at the Cascade Branch of the Kent District Library System, where he has served as president for the past seven years. He says that joining the FOML board in 2023 was a natural next step that has allowed him to support many Friends groups throughout Michigan at a time when advocacy is more important than ever.

Mott Community College

Jill recalls that the school library was a haven for her in her youth, where she spent many happy hours checking out books and using the computers. As an adult, one of the first places she would find when she moved somewhere new was the public library. Eventually her enjoyment of libraries led her to obtain her library degree. She has worked in libraries since 2003 and has been the Director of Library Services at Mott Community College since 2013. As the Library Director, she has an ex-officio seat on the board of the Friends of Mott Library. She has been a board member with FOML for a number of years and is always excited when she can help support the work that is happening throughout the state.

Novi Public Library

Sue has an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and a master’s degree in computer science.  Her working career was in design and implementation of computer systems for factory automation.  She has lived in Novi for 41 years.  Her three daughters graduated from Novi High School, and she has eight grandchildren.  She has been married to her husband, Don, for 38 years. She says she has always been a reader and loved the library.  Sue became involved with the Friends of the Novi Library in 2012 and has served as president since 2014.

Eaton Rapids Area District Library

Bryonna is the Director of the Eaton Rapids Area District Library. She began her library career in 2012 at the Mulliken District Library in the small rural town where she grew up in Eaton County. Her passion for libraries led her to earn a Business Administration degree from Ferris State University in 2019, with a focus on leadership and project management. She then pursued her Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) at Wayne State University, graduating in 2021. She stepped into her first directorship at Hillsdale Community Library, where she faced a challenging Intellectual Freedom battle. In June 2022, she moved into her current position, continuing her advocacy for libraries and their role in protecting free access to information. As a strong supporter of Intellectual Freedom, Bryonna loves being part of Friends of Michigan Libraries (FOML), where she helps Friends groups navigate challenges and support their libraries, directors, and librarians in meaningful ways.

Flint Public Library

Julie moved to Genesee County after retirement and wanted to volunteer her time and skills somewhere. In 2020, she dropped off some books at a book donation day at the Flint Public Library (now the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library). The volunteers working that day were enthusiastic and efficient, and it seemed like something she would like to do, too. So, she joined the Friends and began sorting donated books. Before long she joined the board of directors and was later elected president. She is learning how a nonprofit organization works and how to organize and conduct a book sale while making new friends in her new community. She says that being involved with the Flint Friends has been a wonderful experience and she looks forward to what she can learn from and contribute to FOML.

Crawford County Library

Deb was born and raised in the Detroit suburbs where she also raised her son and daughter. She graduated from the University of Michigan and was a medical technologist for 20 years. Then she became a legal assistant. She moved to Grayling in 2010 and began volunteering at the local library and joined the board shortly after. Deb served as board chair from 2015 until 2022 and continues to volunteer there. She is also the liaison to her local library cooperative.

Gerald retired from the Farmington Community Library in 2011, where he served as assistant director (1980-2011) and chief information officer (1985-2011). He earned a master’s in library science and information technology at Wayne State University and a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, where he studied organ and harpsichord performance. He implemented WESTLAW, DIALOG, BRS online search services, and other online services for the public during his tenure in Farmington. His many contributions have been recognized by his receipt of the Loleta Fyan Award, as well as being named the Michigan Cybrarian of the Year. He is also a founding member of the Metro Net Library Consortium, which gives library patrons access to resources from participating libraries. Gerald and his wife live in St Clair Shores.

Grosse Pointe Public Library

Vicki has been active in her local Grosse Pointe community for over four decades, including service as an appointed Trustee on the Library Board, work as a founder of the Grosse Pointe Library Foundation, and time on the Friends of the Grosse Pointe Public Library Board since 2010. She is an active reader, and proud of having a Grosse Pointe Library Card for over 70 years. She is a member of two book clubs and ran an online book discussion group during COVID. She works part-time in communications at De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren where she taught for over 20 years. Vicki is also active in her local League of Women Voters and has served the Grosse Pointe Woods community as an elected council member since 1997. She and her husband, Mike, enjoy traveling and bicycling. She would like to encourage more Friends groups to become involved with FOML and learn how to advocate for their local libraries.

After graduating from Miami University in 1975 with an Education degree, Steve taught seventh grade social studies in suburban St. Louis for one year. He was lured away by General Motors and worked for that company for 32 years, retiring in 2009. He unretired a year later and spent the next six-plus years with Nissan North America, retiring for good in 2016. He and his wife, Marsha, have been married for 46 years, and moved to Charlevoix in 2016. Their two sons and their families have blessed them with four grandchildren. Steve became active in the Charlevoix library, helping in the Friends book sale room, before becoming an at-large member of the Friends board. He became treasurer for three years, beginning in 2020, then was elected president in 2024 and reelected in 2025. He says that, in Charlevoix, the library is our community living room. He’s proud to invite residents and visitors alike to make themselves at home there among Friends.

Charles has a long history of service to libraries and library Friends. He has held library positions in Michigan at Aquinas College, Grosse Pointe Public Library, the Henry Ford Museum, the Chrysler Archives, and Kettering University. A Wisconsin native, he received his Masters of Library Science degree at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and in 2017 received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the UWM School of Information Studies. His Ph.D. is from Bowling Green State University. He has served as adjunct faculty in the Library and Information Science Program at Wayne State University. A Past President of the Friends of Michigan Libraries (FOML), he currently serves as a board member and Treasurer. A member of the Michigan Library Association and the American Library Association, he has served on the board of United for Libraries. He is a member of the St Clair Shores Shorewood Kiwanis Club and serves as a board member on The Library Network and the Book Club of Detroit. His interests, besides the Friends (of course), include movies and film, theater, travel, literature, the arts, concerts and musical presentations, and running.

Southfield Public Library

Yolanda is the newest member of the Southfield City Council where she currently serves on the Legislative Committee and the Boards & Commission Committee. She currently serves as President of the Friends of the Southfield Public Library, in addition to being a member of the Southfield Public Arts, Southfield Parks & Garden Club, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force, the Southfield Police Department Citizen’s Advisory Board, and the Friends of Southfield Historical Society. She is also a past recipient of Mayor Ken Siver’s Extra Mile Award. Additionally, she has worked as a consultant, speaker, teacher, and entrepreneur. She and her husband of 40 years, homeschooled their eight children that were all brought up reading, serving and hanging out at the library. She attributes her love for books and reading to her mother who was a teacher and taught her to read at an early age. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, teaching Sunday school, watching football and traveling.

Public Libraries of Saginaw

Maria is the Director of the Public Libraries of Saginaw, Chair of the READ Association of Saginaw County, and Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Saginaw County.  She holds a MILS from the University of Michigan, an MBA from Wayne State University and a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan-Flint.  With over 30 years of library experience, Maria's career has included a range of roles, from working as a page and youth librarian to serving as the Director of the Wayne County Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. She has also held the position of Wayne County Librarian and worked in the Wayne County Jail library. Passionate about encouraging reading, promoting lifelong learning and empowering voters, Maria is dedicated to enhancing access to knowledge and information.

Shelby Area District Library

Cindy retired from the Chicago area where she taught speech, theatre, and radio/TV production, directed musicals, coached competitive speaking, negotiated a teachers’ contract, and was president of the union. She and her husband John moved to their cottage on Stony Lake in West Michigan in 2005. After several years chairing two major fundraisers for the Friends of Shelby Area District Library, Cindy became their President in 2017. Her Friends group received a 2021 FOML Merit Award and Cindy was tapped to join the board in 2023. She assists FOML as social media Director for Facebook. In retirement, Cindy finds time to golf, play bridge, garden, and assist her husband with the Clan MacKinnon Society.

Portage District Library

Kelly has a Bachelors in French with extensive grad work in France and at U of M, and a master’s in English literature. She taught both subjects at Kalamazoo Valley Community College for 25 years, and her two children also took classes there. Her very first job, however, was as a library page at Cadillac’s Carnegie library during the mid-sixties. In 1990, Kelly started a Friends group at the Mattawan Library and served as president and secretary for a number of years. She recently joined the Friends of the Portage District Library and now serves as their FOML representative. For fun, she babysits her three grandchildren, takes classes at the Art Institute and writes plays for OLLI’s Reader’s Theater at WMU. She has lived in Detroit, France, and NYC, but is happy to call the Kalamazoo-Portage area her home, although she says her second home will always be a library.