Roberta Phillips
Easley,South Carolina
Summary
Strategic leader able to increase the capacity of an organization through, partnerships, team development, and innovation. Creative thinker with experience using human centered service design, and community engagement to assess opportunities and challenges. Reliable business professional with experience in project management, process improvement and financial analysis. Proven track record of successfully streamlining business operations and advocating for funding. Adept at analyzing data to identify trends and developing strategies to improve efficiency.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Freelance Consultant
Ivy Group
- Library Consulting for project-based firm with an emphasis on strategic planning, organizational assessment, diversity, equity, and inclusion, space planning and capital campaign planning.
Freelance Consultant
Margaret Sullivan Studio
07.2023 - 03.2024
- Project and design consulting project addressing critical spaces at Enoch Pratt Libraries with th following project goals: community engagement, workforce development, and digital equity.
- Activating the community working spaces to be an extension of the goals of the Facility Master Plan
- Create an innovative, visionary Facilities “Business Plan” to result in inclusive economic development goals.
Chief Executive Officer
Prince George's County Memorial Library System
01.2019 - 07.2022
- Spearheaded the Strategic Framework for PGCMLS with a focus on community advancement and social impact to support the new mission, vision, and values developed with an inclusive group that included staff representation, Library Board of Trustees, County leaders and community members
- Reignited a defunct Library Foundation which exceeded over four million in annual giving including a transformative gift of 2.7 million from the Pull Up Fund to support digital equity and workforce development
- Cultivated partnerships with National athletic organizations, non-profits, corporations, county agencies, and community members
- Led Commons Initiative, an innovative project to create five unique spaces across the library branch system to address workforce development, creativity, entrepreneurship, and digital equity
- Funded by the Pull-Up fund with Neighborhood Design Group developing interior plans
- Led the equity effort to position PGCMLS as an Anti-Racist Library
- Leveraged RSE Team, Urban Libraries Council and Maryland State Library and County Office of Human Rights
- Rapidly developed and deployed new service models to meet community needs during COVID-19 pandemic including over 2,399 virtual programs, weekly Community Conversations, and global reach with Dr
- Ibram X Kendi, “How to be an Anti-Racist program.”
- Oversaw annual budget of 34 million dollars with 340+ staff (in 19 facilities) within a labor union environment.
Director of Planning & Projects
Richland Library
05.2013 - 12.2018
- Directed building and project renovation of 59 million dollar capital bond referendum for twelve library locations
- Core team member for all facets of projects including programming, design development, schematic design, and construction
- Project Lead, IMLS Planning Grant- Fresh Food, Fresh Thinking
- Directed 1% for Public Art Project in collaboration with local Arts and History organization
- Facilitator for civic engagement project using service design thinking Do Good Columbia.
- Leadership Team member reported to Library Board of Trustees about building projects and scope of work.
Library Director
Orangeburg County Library
01.2011 - 05.2013
- Originated first South Carolina Consortium for offering downloadable content to enable multi-county library systems' ability to offer services to the community
- Conducted service needs assessments that resulted in the creation of innovative programs which included early childhood story times, teen programming, One Book, One Orangeburg, regional performers, visits from local and national authors and STEM based education
- Created library partnerships and alliances with Harvest Hope Food Bank, Clemson Extension Center, Regional Medical Center, and Central Carolina Community Foundation, South Carolina State Library, and Edventure Science Center to provide both funding and essential services to an underserved community.
- Awarded Library Journal Mover and Shaker Award in the area of Change Agent for bringing services to the community.
Education
Master Library and Information Science -
Wayne State University
Bachelor of Arts - Education
Michigan State University
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Service Design
- Collaboration
- Workshop Facilitation
- Communication
- Project Management
- Team Building
- Community Engagement
- Fund Raising
- Advocacy
Public Speaking Recognitions
- LibLearn X- ALA National Conference, Advancing Race and Social Equity in Library Communications, https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/correcting-longstanding-inequities/
- PLA Conference- Panelist, "What does it mean to be a Library Director."
Awards
- Prince George’s County Women in Government Award, https://ww1.pgcmls.info/8385
- 2021 Urban Libraries Council Innovation Award-Top Innovator, https://www.urbanlibraries.org/innovations/archive?year=2021&category=workforce-and-economic-development&award=topInnovator
- 2020 Urban Libraries Council Innovation Award- Honorable Mention, https://www.urbanlibraries.org/innovations/pride-at-pgcmls
- Library Journal Mover and Shaker Award 2013-Category: Change Agent, https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/roberta-bibbins-movers-shakers-2013-change-agents
Timeline
Freelance Consultant
Margaret Sullivan Studio
07.2023 - 03.2024
Chief Executive Officer
Prince George's County Memorial Library System
01.2019 - 07.2022
Director of Planning & Projects
Richland Library
05.2013 - 12.2018
Library Director
Orangeburg County Library
01.2011 - 05.2013
Freelance Consultant
Ivy Group
Master Library and Information Science -
Wayne State University
Bachelor of Arts - Education
Michigan State University
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