May 31, 2006

Return to

May 31, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Joel Patrick Berger; 630.653.1115, ext. 212

C. BERGER GROUP ENTREPRENEURIAL PROMISE AWARD WINNERS NAMED FOR 2006 AT MIDWEST UNIVERSITIES

Carol Stream, IL, May 31, 2006 – C. Berger Group, Inc.(CBG) one of the nation’s oldest library consulting and staffing firms recently announced the names of the three Masters in Library Science degree recipients who were selected to receive C. Berger Group, Inc. Entrepreneurial Promise Awards for 2006. CBG funds the prize which is given to graduating students who exhibit unusual creativity, reflect an innovative spirit and show the most promise for an outstanding career in a special library, nontraditional setting or as an entrepreneur. Carol A. Berger, retired founder of CBG, a former special librarian herself, initiated the gift to encourage interest in special librarianship as a career option and to focus on the qualities and skills needed to succeed in this area. Faculty members selected the students at each institution. “Once again, the library schools have outdone themselves in selecting a fine group of students for the CBG Entrepreneurial Promise Award, each have been able to leverage their library school experiences to further their professional careers,” said Joel Patrick Berger, CBG President. “They represent the most talented and ambitious graduates from all programs across the US.” Selected at the institutions were:

Kyle Naff, sixth award winner from at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign was presented his award at a convocation on May 14, 2006. His professional interest is in the area of Business Intelligence analysis has led faculty to describe him as bringing energy, dynamism and commitment to both his classes and work. Currently employed in the Office of Technology Management, he has taken it upon himself to analyze the intellectual property portfolio of the University and look for commercially valuable inventions. Mr. Naff has also been very involved in the Special Libraries Association Student Chapter having served as treasurer, webmaster and currently finishing his term as president. He plans on attending his first Special Libraries Association’s Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD in June and then apply his skills and experiences to a position in a special library.

Alycia Sellie, fourth recipient at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is described by faculty members as so shy and quiet that she easily could have come and gone from the University’s program without notice. However, this master behind the scenes is anything but unnoticed. As a first year student in the SLIS program in 2004, Ms. Sellie took the initiative to write a grant proposal to start a Zine Fest to coincide with the already hugely popular Wisconsin Book Festival held in Madison. Since then the two are now a collaborative event and 2005 saw its greatest turnout ever. Since this auspicious beginning, she has helped the SLIS program start its own Zine collection which will continue to function long after she is gone, and has been instrumental in starting Zine collections at each of the Madison, WI Public Library branches as well as a Zine class at a local alternative high school. She was also recently referenced by the New York Times concerning her work with Zines.

Patricia Smolin,fourth recipient at Dominican University. Ms. Smolin received her award during the Beta Beta Gamma Chapter of the Beta Phi Mu initiation ceremony held May 18, 2006. Patricia graduated from Dominican's GSLIS program in January 2006 and was soon after employed full-time with the North Suburban Library System administrative staff as a special library liaison. She also serves as a substitute reference / readers' advisory librarian for a local public library.

*******************

The C. Berger Group Entrepreneurial Promise Award was established by CBG in 2000 at the University of Illinois to honor a student who exhibits unusual creativity, reflects an innovative spirit and shows the most promise for an outstanding career in a special library, nontraditional setting or as an entrepreneur. The first awards were made to graduates of MLS programs at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Dominican University, River Forest in 2003. The CBG Entrepreneurial Promise Award is one of several prizes CBG funds or sponsors annually for professional librarians and support staff of distinction nationwide. They include the Librarian of the Year, for the Illinois Library Association each fall, the Karen J. Switt Leadership Award for the Leadership and Management Division of the Special Libraries Association in June, and the Library Assistant Award at Reaching Forward South each September.

*******************

Founded by Carol A. Berger as C. Berger And Company in 1982, C. Berger Group, Inc. is a full service firm which provides specialized temporary workers, permanent placement, consulting and project management support services from its suburban Chicago headquarters. CBG is a woman-owned small business. CBG clients include corporations, government agencies, law firms, trade and professional associations, non-profit organizations, healthcare centers, public libraries and academic institutions throughout the US.

******************

For further information about C. Berger Group, Inc., contact:

Joel Patrick Berger, President

Phone: 630.653.1115, ext. 212

Email: jberger@cberger.com