The trustee election and budget votes are on Tuesday, April 12, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Port Washington Public Library (PWPL). Five candidates are vying for two spots.
Nancy Comer (incumbent)
Education: BS in fine arts and art education from Skidmore College.
Occupation: Writer/editor and marketing and publishing consultant.
Qualifications: Long involvement with the library. Experience as an editor, writer, designer, stylist and marketer for national print and online publications, specializing in women’s issues, eating disorders, medicine, career planning and developmental disabilities. Service on the boards of national and local nonprofits, including breast cancer, environmental and professional organizations.
“I love the library,” said Comer. “My background, my experience as an innovator on nonprofit boards and my past five years as a library trustee have given me the skills and commitment to make a meaningful contribution. I want to help the library do what it does best—maintain itself as one of our community’s most valuable resources and aid its ongoing transformation to meet the challenges of the digital age.”
Ronit Daniel
Education: BS in industrial design from Holan Academic Institute of Technology (HAIT), teaching certificate from HAIT, multidiscipline studies in art from Tel-Aviv University (partial credits). Goldmine PE certified system administrator, dashboards and reporting database management.
Occupation: Director of sales operations.
Qualifications: Training specialist military instructor and years of experience in marketing management and customer relationship management.
“I grew up surrounded by books,” said Daniel. “Every room in my parents’ house accommodated a library. This was pre-Google era, the days where one seeks knowledge in books. Libraries represent a sanctuary for me. The PWPL has been to me more than just a retreat. As an immigrant, the PWPL helped me engage in more than one way with my community and learn to be a proud American.”
Bill Keller
Education: University of Pennsylvania, BA in history and urban studies; SUNY Albany, MA in teaching, secondary social studies; NYU, Stern School of Business, MBA in management.
Occupation: Vice president for finance and administration of a local college.
Qualifications: Extensive managerial experience in higher education, IT, health care, management consulting, investment banking, government, technical expertise in financial management, facilities management, human resources, strategic planning, intergovernmental relations and marketing.
“Our library is a priceless educational and cultural resource for our community,” said Keller. “My experience in education, finance, facilities management, technology and human resources will help our library to maintain and expand programs despite budgetary constraints.”
Erik S. Kruger
Education: BA in accounting and information systems, with a minor in economics, graduated cum laude from Queens College.
Occupation: Chief financial officer and member of executive committee for a New York City financial company.
Qualifications: Over 20 years of executive level financial management, active CPA in New York, former member of the Port Washington Fire Department.
“I am very proud of the PWPL and believe that my extensive budgeting experience, risk management, employee benefits management and negotiation skills will add value to the community,” said Kruger.
Jeffrey Siegel
Education: Queens College, philosophy, sociology, honors in the Western tradition. NYU’s graduate program in sociology of education. Member: Phi Beta Kappa.
Occupation: Internet and phone application developer, writer, blogger.
Qualifications: Extensive experience in the field of technology as a developer, programmer, writer and researcher.
“My extensive experience in the field of technology, as a developer, writer and researcher, will be invaluable to the board as it plans for the future,” said Siegel.
