Leadership

EPL staff, customers and communities deserve great leaders, and EPL leaders have the responsibility to continually strive to become better. Exceptional leadership is a journey and a practice, not a point of completion or perfection. We are always working to improve ourselves, while supporting and encouraging those around us.

Executive Team
Directors
Branch Leadership
Pilar's Picks
More About EPL

Executive Team

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If you would like to contact a member of the Executive Team, please click "Contact Executive" to fill out our contact form.

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Media Contact

For interviews with the Executive Team, please contact our Communications Specialist, Marina Afonso.

Media Contact

Pilar Martinez

Chief Executive Officer

Biography

Pilar Martinez is the Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning Edmonton Public Library, where she is responsible for leading 650 staff and managing a $69M operating budget. Never settling for the status-quo, Pilar is passionate about service excellence and is continually striving for improvement. She has championed numerous innovative services, including community-led and digital initiatives, such as 3-D printing. Pilar has a broad base of experience in executive leadership including advocacy, strategic planning and change leadership.

She holds a MLIS from the University of Alberta, a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English from Acadia University and is a Certified Corporate Director (ICD.D). Pilar is highly engaged with the community, serving on several boards nation-wide, including the Canadian Urban Libraries Council, the Public Lending Rights Commission REACH Edmonton (as chair), and as an Adjunct Professor for the University of Alberta’s School of Library and Information Studies.

Pilar has received several honours including the CLA/Ken Haycock Award for promoting librarianship, the Library Association of Alberta’s President’s Award in 2016 for her contributions to the library field, the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Library and Information Studies Alumni Association in 2018, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and was named Edifier’s Trailblazer of the year for 2023.

Corrina Chetley-Irwin

Executive Director, Employee Experience

Biography

Corrina Chetley-Irwin is the Director, Human Resource Services, and a member of the Executive Team at EPL. In this role, Corrina has overall accountability for leadership and execution of EPL’s human resources strategies that support the achievement of EPL’s strategic and business plans.

Corrina brings over 20 years of experience in human resources, strategy development and business planning in both the private and public sector in the role of leader, consultant and educator. Most recently she spent six years at the Edmonton Police Service in the roles of Director, Organization & Employee Development and Director, Labour Relations. Her professional experience is supported by an MBA and a B. Comm with a major in Labour Relations, both from the University of Alberta.

Corrina is very excited to join and contribute to the EPL team and community. She is passionate about learning, conversations and relationships. She is an energetic leader who is committed to building strong and trusting relationships both within EPL and with the community.

Sharon Day

Executive Director, Customer Experience

Biography

Sharon Day is Executive Director, Customer Experience at Edmonton Public Library where she is responsible for ensuring excellence in the provision of library service to all 21 library branches through the strategic development, innovation and implementation of effective ongoing service delivery. Prior to her current role she held the position of Director, Branch Services and Collections where she provided oversight in the provision of services to branches, as well as the selection, delivery, and circulation of all EPL's physical and digital collections.

Sharon holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta, and started her career as Automation Services Librarian at Yellowhead Regional Library. Later positions included Associate Director, then Acting Director of John M. Culaenaere Public Library in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. She joined EPL as a Branch Manager in 2009.

Tania Way

Executive Director, Service Design

Biography

Tania Way is the Executive Director, Service Design at Edmonton Public Library where she is responsible for the overall delivery of innovative library services, collaborative service implementation through system-wide teams and staff engagement to support the advancement of EPL’s strategic and business plans.

Tania brings over 20 years of experience in strategy and business planning, human-centered design, service innovation, marketing, communications, research and evaluation spanning both the private and public sectors. Most recently, Tania spent 16 years at the City of Edmonton in numerous leadership roles across the organization including the Director of Corporate Strategy and Performance, and Director of Strategy, Customer Experience and Service Design. Her professional experience is supported by a BSc in Marketing and Industrial Management with a minor in Psychology from Michigan Technological University, and a Certificate of Strategy Management from Queen’s University.

Tania is a collaborative leader, relationship builder and an innovative systems thinker who is passionate about people, teams and the community.

Cody Tomanek

Chief Financial Officer

Biography

Cody Tomanek is the Chief Financial Officer at the Edmonton Public Library and is responsible for providing strategic leadership in the overall management and delivery of financial, accounting and procurement services that help EPL achieve its strategic and business plans.

Cody holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta. He brings over 15 years of experience in both the public and non-profit sectors. Most recently he spent eight years at the City of Edmonton in the roles of Finance Functional Lead, Enterprise Commons and Director and Finance Manager of Corporate Accounting and Reporting. Prior to joining the City of Edmonton, Cody was previously the Accounting Manager here at EPL.

Directors

Vicky Varga

Director, Branch Services and Collections

Biography

Vicky Varga is Director, Branch Services and Collections at the Edmonton Public Library. In this role, she works in close collaboration with the other Director, Branch Services to provide direction and support for the provision of services at EPL locations. She also provides direction and support to all aspects of EPL’s collection development and management through the Collection Management and Access department including acquisition, delivery, and circulation of our collections.

Vicky has held a wide variety of roles during her 22-year career at EPL. Her experience at the Library includes working at six branches and in five departments, notably serving as the Manager, IT Customer Service and Manager, Digital Initiatives for five years combined. She has a strong interest in software and technology and how these systems support and enhance service delivery across the Library

Outside of work, you will find Vicky reading science fiction, tending her small flock of urban chickens, hiking, or playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends.

Santiago Gomez

Director, Technology Services

Biography

Santiago Gomez is the Director of Technology Services at the Edmonton Public Library. He is responsible for overseeing the development and management of EPL’s technology infrastructure and applications, including hardware, software, networks, databases and security.

Santiago brings a track record spanning 25 years in the consulting engineering and construction industry at Williams Engineering. He has led initiatives in data analytics, business intelligence, and machine learning to provide insights for operational improvements and strategic planning. Santiago currently serves as the Vice President of the CIO Canada Association, Edmonton Chapter.

As a new EPL leadership member, he looks forward to making valuable contributions to both the Library and the community.