Candidate Q&A: Julianne Chapman for Cromaine Library Trustee

Family

I am married.  My husband and I have three children Cody (8), Hayla (11), and Grif (21)

Education

Graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati

Employment

Assistant Regional Vice President for Citizens Insurance located in Howell, MI.  

Patch: What groups/organizations are you involved with in the community?

I belong to the River Community Church where I am a member of the Creative Arts team; I am one of the vocalists.   I also served as the Vice Chair for the United Way Campaign through my employment at Citizens this year.  Historically, Citizens is a significant contributor to the United Way in Livingston County and I was grateful to be a part of the campaign.

Patch: Why are you running for a library board position and what relevant qualities/skills would you bring to the position?

The library is such an important resource for so many people in the community.   I believe I could play an important role by being an advocate in the community to increase engagement, build awareness of programs, and garner fiscal support to help sustain our financial needs. I also am excited at the opportunity to serve on a board, where I am able to collaborate with other volunteers for the good of our community. 

I have had seventeen years of corporate experience which includes experience in management, marketing/sales, budget projection and management, public relations, and human resources. I would love to be able to use this experience to also serve the community.

As a side note, my husband, Bill Gatewood, has volunteered on the Hartland School Board since November of 2011. I truly have been inspired by his involvement and how much the school board contributes to the community.  I also wish to also serve Hartland in a meaningful capacity and feel the Library Board is a good fit for my interests and skills.

Patch: Are there any important issues facing libraries today, Cromaine in particular, that need to be addressed? 

There are two main areas I think are the most critical: 

Financial sustainability.  As the majority of the revenue is derived from property taxes, changes in the property market in the last few years have created financial pressure on the library. Cromaine has done a wonderful job responding to this pressure, but it still remains a challenge.  It will be my priority, to continue to work with the board to find creative ways to work within our means while not compromising services or resources. 

Maintaining relevancy.  In a culture driven by technology, and ambiance, the library must continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of the community.   It is all about perceived value to consumers.  How can we seek to understand why people in the community would choose not to utilize our services?  How can we respond to this?  I will do my part to understand and support solutions that would address this concern.