Hilltop graduate Wendy Tressler, Director of Capital Planning and Project Management with the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) has earned statewide recognition for her achievements and outstanding service to the community.
Tressler is the recipient of the Ohio Library Council’s 2023 Service Excellence Award. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding achievements of an Ohio public library employee.
Tressler is an exceptional leader with an impressive and varied background. A CML employee for more than 20 years, Tressler’s contributions are extensive.
She has had many roles and always seizes opportunities to expand her skills and expertise. She is highly respected by her team, her colleagues and CML’s board.
Tressler also shares her experience with the library community on a local, state, and national level. In her current role, Tressler is one of only a few women in Ohio leading construction management and she is recognized as an expert nationally in library facilities building planning and project management.
She is responsible for leading CML’s building program that includes the replacement or renovation of 18 buildings.
Tressler’s complex work involves the coordination of all CML departments and external stakeholders like architects, engineers, construction managers and designers.
She is passionate about delivering projects that suit the needs of the community, always working to find new ways to build community dialogue for each project.
As an example, for a recent building project, Tressler partnered with the city’s parks and recreation department to host a community lunch.
This event brought together the architects and members of the neighborhood and was a successful way to get feedback on the design of the building.
Tressler centers her work around both the customer and employee experience – prioritizing the input of all building users.
Her tireless leadership has resulted in amazing buildings around Columbus that meet the unique needs of each neighborhood.
Tressler has worked extensively with many organizations and groups sharing her time, talents and expertise including OLC, NEO-RLS, Kent State, Syracuse University, and Library Journal.
The American Library Association recently reorganized its divisions and combined Leadership, Infrastructure and Futures into a new division called “Core.”
Tressler was elected by her national peers to be President of Core – further evidence that her professionalism is both far-reaching and validated by Core members.
For these reasons and more, Wendy Tressler is the recipient of this year’s Service Excellence Award.