The Westfield Library Foundation on Wednesday announced the Board of Directors for the Foundation. The Foundation was founded to support the goals and priorities of the library and work closely with the administration in planning and funding projects that benefit the library’s patrons.
“I am looking forward to working with the board to develop many initiatives that will help provide more resources and services for the library and its patrons,” explained Erin Downey, Executive Director of the Westfield Library Foundation.
The Board members include:
Kurt Beier, Blue & Co.
Treasurer of the Westfield Library Foundation Board
Kurt Beier is an audit and accounting Director and the Director-in-Charge of Blue & Co.’s Carmel office. He specializes in manufacturing and distribution, providing attest services as well as business and financial consulting. He leads Blue & Co.’s Carmel manufacturing and distribution niche team and serves on the Firm’s manufacturing and distribution niche committee. He has been with Blue & Co. for 15 years serving closely held businesses during his tenure.
Beier will serve in a hands-on role as the audit engagement director for Temp-Con. He is a graduate of Butler University, a member of the AICPA, Indiana CPA Society and serves on the Board of the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana. His accolades include Blue & Co.’s 2015 Ron Blue award for his dedication and commitment to the growth and development of the firm, 2011 Indiana CPA Society’s Emerging Leaders Award, and finalist in the 2011 and 2013 Indy’s Best and Brightest recognition through Junior Achievement.
Joel Bruns, Westfield High School
Joel Bruns is an Innovative Specialist at Westfield High School. He works to engage students with their passion whether that be working with RFID technology, creating a smart water sensor, writing code to promote reading, build businesses, turn wood bowls, write and produce podcasts or just find a great book.
Bruns is obsessed with design and refers to himself as a design omnivore. He is always looking for ways to create a sense of place and push the limits of what space can be. He has a B.S. in Secondary Education and a Master’s Degree in Library Science both from IUPUI-Indianapolis. In addition, he has a UX Certification from the University of California-San Diego.
Bruns has served on numerous boards, including United Way of Central Indiana and is the Founder and Director of Fishers Community Garden.
Julie Cooley, IMMI
Vice President of the Westfield Library Foundation Board
Julie Cooley serves as IMMI’s Vice President of Corporate and Marketing Communications. With a strong background in journalism, promotion, and marketing for television, print, web and radio, she has been honored with numerous awards from the Associated Press, NBC, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Indiana Broadcasters Association, and is the recipient of eight Emmy awards.
Prior to joining IMMI, Cooley was the Director of Marketing and Advertising for Easy Water, FREIJE Treatment Systems. She spent a total of 18 years in broadcast television, promotion, and marketing for WTHR-TV and WISH-TV. She is a graduate of Indiana University with a double major in journalism and history and earned her MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Brian Heaton, Krieg DeVault
Secretary of the Westfield Library Foundation Board
Brian Heaton is a Partner at Krieg DeVault, LLC and serves as Chair of the firm’s Business, Acquisitions, and Securities Practice Group and is a long-time member of the firm’s Health Care Practice Group.
Heaton is active in numerous professional organizations, including serving as a member of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA), the Indiana chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), and as Chair of the Health Law Section of the Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA). He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the Indianapolis Bar Association.
Heaton is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and received his law degree and Masters of Business Administration from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and Kelley School of Business. He also served as President of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.
Susan Nixon
Susan Nixon has lead strategy in PR and marketing her entire career, spanning publishing, financial, commercial leasing, relocation services, agency and most recently, lending her talents as an independent market strategist. Her sweet spot is strategic content guidance, developing blogs, email and social media campaigns, news releases, landing pages and websites.
Nixon has created case studies, eBooks, blogs, press releases and digital media kits for her clients. She also launched her own venture – S. Nixon Writes – working with students to develop and proof content for their Common Application essay, individual college essays and the postgraduate personal statement. She is a 1992 graduate of Indiana University.
Mike Thomas, Butler University
President of the Westfield Library Foundation Board
Mike Thomas is an educator and coach with a passion for helping people maximize every hour of the 90,000+ they’ll spend at work – no matter where they are on that journey. A former life insurance industry professional and current career development professional and adjunct professor with Butler University, he has committed himself helping students align their academic interests with practical application in the workplace. A graduate of the Max M. Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, where he earned his MBA, he also works with executive teams and individual clients as a certified professional coach.
Maureen Warren
Before choosing to stay home to raise her family, Maureen Warren was an elementary school teacher in Riverside, N.J. She has been involved in various board positions including Chesterton Montessori School, St. Patrick’s School, Duneland Health and Wellness and St. Anne of the Dunes in Beverly Shores, Ind. She has also volunteered her time at numerous places including chairing fundraising for St. Anne of the Dunes, working with High Ability readers at Discovery Charter School in Porter, Ind., and working at The Sojourner Truth House in Gary, Ind. She is a graduate of Juniata College in Pennsylvania.
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Mike Thomas, President of the foundation board, explained, “As a former Westfield Washington Public Library Board Member for 12 years, I am humbled and excited to be part of the first Westfield Library Foundation Board.”
“The library plays an essential role in our community. It’s an honor to serve as part of the team to help grow and develop it for the future,” explained Julie Cooley, Vice President.
About the Westfield Library Foundation
The Westfield Library Foundation was founded to help ensure the long-term vitality of the Westfield Washington Public Library. A public library has the power to enrich the lives of everyone in a community. Private support strengthens the Library’s capacity to innovate and adapt to change. It allows the library to be on the cutting edge of technology and services and invest in resources in areas that have the greatest potential to ensure the Library remains a vital resource for all of Westfield and Washington Township now and in the future.