2024 Core Forum

Throughout the past two decades, Wendy Tressler, M.Ed., MLIS has worked in a variety of leadership roles at Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML). Currently serving as the Director of Capital Planning & Project Management, she leads construction, facilities, technology, and lean/operational excellence projects for the library’s 24-building system. In her role, Tressler leads the library’s over $285M aspirational building program that includes the replacement or significant renovation of 18 buildings to date.  Because of her project management knowledge, Wendy was provided a growth opportunity as a member of the building facilities plan core team in 2012. In 2013, she joined the department full time. In this role she led the library’s aspirational multi-million dollar building program (Phase I and II) that includes the renovation of six libraries (including Main) and 12 new buildings. As of November 2024, 14 of 18 buildings have been completed and are open to the public and four are in the construction phase.   Her expertise and consultation has been shared widely; presenting and serving on numerous local, state, regional and national panels for the library, architecture and construction industries. Tressler’s leadership experience includes the Ohio Library Council and American Library Association (ALA). She has also guest lectured at Kent State University- Columbus Campus Master of Library Information Sciences (MLIS) program and Syracuse University Online MLIS program on project management in libraries. Tressler has been a member of ALA’s Core Library Interiors & Furnishings and Equipment committee from 2014-2022 and was appointed Chair of the Building and Operations Section Leadership Team. In this role, Ms. Tressler helped create and implement a national workshop entitled Library Building Projects 101. Ms. Tressler was published in 2020 in the peer reviewed Journal of Library Administration on project management in academic and public libraries after serving on an ALA Project Management Committee. In 2018, Tressler authored a feature story for Library Journal Leading Inside & Out which she later incorporated into a Keynote presentation. She also served on the ALA Publishing Committee 2020-2022, 2021 and 2022 Carnegie Whitney Grant Selection Team Member, Core Forum (national conference) Co-Chair 2021, and Core Forum Chair 2022. Ms. Tressler is currently serving as Core Past President, serving as President from 2023-2024.