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<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:91pt;margin-top:0;width:142.2pt;height:142.2pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:page;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="190" height="190" style="width:1.9739in;height:1.9739in" src="cid:image004.jpg@01DD5C9C.91297610" align="right" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">The
State Library of Ohio welcomes Brian M. Perera as its newest Board Member. Appointed by the State Board of Education, he was sworn in today and began a five-year term on the State Library of Ohio Board.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Perera presently serves as Senior Policy Advisor for ZHF Consulting with more than three decades of experience in state government, public policy, and higher education. His notable career
began in the Ohio Senate as aide to the Ohio Senate Finance Chair and progressively advanced to ultimately serve as Senate Finance Director for more than 20 years, working on state budgets, appropriations, and legislative policy. In 2014, he joined The Ohio
State University as Associate Vice President for State Relations, where he directed the university’s state government relations efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">“On behalf of the State Library Board, I am pleased to welcome Brian Perera as our newest member. His extensive experience in public policy and his longstanding commitment to strengthening
Ohio’s institutions will be invaluable as we continue advancing the State Library’s mission,” remarked State Library of Ohio Board President Drew Wichterman.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Throughout his career, Perera has worked extensively with state legislators, executive branch officials, and state agencies, boards, and commissions. He has also served on Ohio’s Sunset
Review Committee, helping evaluate opportunities to streamline and update state boards and commissions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">“The State Library is honored to welcome Brian Perera as our newest Board Member. His distinguished record of service and steadfast commitment to our state government will meaningfully
support the State Library’s mission and strengthen our work on behalf of all Ohioans,” asserted State Librarian Mandy Knapp.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Perera holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University and resides in Upper Arlington.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Photo courtesy of ZHF Consulting<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><img width="249" height="74" style="width:2.5937in;height:.7708in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.png@01DD5C9A.A25B8A10" alt="State Library of Ohio logo"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Marsha McDevitt-Stredney<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Director, Marketing & Communications<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">State Library of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">35 E. Chestnut St., Floor 5<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Columbus, OH 43215-2477<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Tel: 614.644.6875<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="mailto:marshams@library.ohio.gov"><span style="color:#0070C0">marshams@library.ohio.gov</span></a></span><u><span style="color:#0070C0"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/"><span style="color:#0070C0">library.ohio.gov</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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