Ethel M. Salonen,
M.S.L.S., M.A.
Ethel Salonen thrives on change and steep learning curves, which her rich and
varied background in the information industry reflects. Over the past 30 years
she has worn the hats of librarian, information specialist, account executive,
sales director, consultant, and content manager.
Currently, Ethel is Manager of External Content at Millennium
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She manages contract negotiations
for the company's intranet content, as well as other content available to the
corporation-at-large. She conducts an annual information audit to identify what
information is available, find out how much people are spending, and make recommendations
on the best allocation of resources.
One of Ethel's most valuable assets that she brings to the Special Libraries
Association is her ten years of experience in sales and sales management positions
at Knight-Ridder Information, Inc. (KRII), better known as Dialog; and at Primark
Financial Information Division, formerly known as Disclosure, Inc.
Ethel believes that libraries need to prove their value by selling their
content and services on a daily basis.
When it comes to sales, Ethel knows whereof she speaks. In 1993 KRII recognized
her as the top U.S. sales person when she achieved 160% of her quota. In 1995
KRII employees acknowledged her as the top sales manager. In her sales management
positions at both Primark and KRII, Ethel exhibited a special talent for developing
new organizational structures based on changing technology and customer needs.
For example, when KRII transformed its sales force from a regionally based one
to one based on disciplines, Ethel developed from scratch the sales, marketing,
and technology plans for the Academic & Library Sales Division.
Ethel's career also includes extensive experience in
information and knowledge management at KPMG LLP, one of the Big Five
accounting firms; and Arthur D. Little, Inc., the well-known technology and
management-consulting firm. Ethel owns Ollin Associates, a knowledge and
information management services firm. She's also worked in the Physical
Sciences Library at the University of California at Riverside; and in the
Government Documents Library at State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Ethel began her involvement with SLA as a student member in 1977. One of her favorite stories relates to her first Boston Chapter meeting in 1980. When she arrived, she didn't know anyone in the room filled with over 100 people! She noticed that the people who worked at the registration desk knew everyone. She joined that committee and has been an active member ever since. In addition to her upcoming presidency from 2004 to 2005, Ethel has held numerous Association-level positions. Ethel received the SLA President's Award in 2002 and became an SLA Fellow in 2001. Besides her participation in SLA, she is actively involved in the New England Online Users Group (NENON).
Ethel is a native New Yorker who grew up in the streets
of Manhattan. The daughter of Finnish immigrants, she didn't speak English until
she entered kindergarten. This did not slow her down in the academic world.
In addition to her Master of Science in Library Science from C. W. Post College
in Greenvale, New York (1978), she has a Master of Arts in Applied Sciences
and a Bachelor of Arts in Earth and Space Sciences from SUNY at Stony Brook,
New York.
To escape the confines of the big city, Ethel began exploring the major United
States national parks. She and her husband, Harold, have visited close to 50
in the U.S. and are now beginning to hike and explore the Canadian national
parks. She intends to expand her explorations
when she begins traveling to SLA chapters.
Ethel describes herself as someone who is unorthodox
and who enjoys life to the fullest. She is a mystery reader, a true devotee of
all the Star Trek sagas and what they stand for and always signs her personal
email Live Long and Prosper.
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links:
"An Interview with Special Libraries Association President Elect
Ethel Salonen." Competia Online Magazine, September 2003
Ethel Salonen's presentation, "Tipping Points
and Competencies: Our Profession and our Association," SLA Annual Conference,
June 9, 2003
http://www.sla.org/division/ded/profcomp.ppt
Ethel Salonen's president-elect candidate's speech,
January 23, 2003
http://www.sla.org/Documents/boarddocs/CandidateSpeechs/SalonenSpeech.htm
"Ethel Salonen You've
Got Questions? She's Got Answers! A Librarian on the Cusp of the Roller Coaster,"
an interview conducted by Ruth Seidman. Bulletin: The Newsletter of the Boston Chapter of the Special Libraries
Association, Winter 2002, pp. 4-6.
"Six Pointers on Vendor
Relations," an interview with Ethel Salonen conducted by Price Watcher. Reprinted with Bibliodata's
permission in Logon, Spring 2000,
pp. 3+.
7/03