Library director is new HR chief
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 11, 2015 1:50 AM
Jerilyn Lee
Jerilyn Lee, who had been serving as interim director for the Wayne County Human Resources Department, has been hired for the position full time.
Her hiring was announced Tuesday morning by Wayne County Manager George Wood.
Mrs. Lee, manager of Steele Memorial Library in Mount Olive, had served as interim director since October following the firing of former director Sue Guy.
Mrs. Lee said she looks forward to working full time in the department.
"There are challenges in the HR department, that is for sure," she said. "But I promise you that I will do my best to make sure that ours is the best HR department in the entire country."
Mrs. Lee of Mount Olive has an extensive background in human resources, having worked with UniFirst Corp. for 37 years.
She retired in 2012 as regional human resources manager for the company's Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Regions.
Mrs. Lee is a summa cum laude graduate of Mount Olive College (now the University of Mount Olive) with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
She holds certification in industrial safety from the N.C. Safety School, and certification from the University of Maryland in executive management.
Mrs. Lee has served on the board of directors for the North Carolina Association of Textile Services, the North Carolina Statewide Safety Conference Council, the Eastern Carolina Safety Council, and the Business Advisory Council for Wayne Community College.
She is a past president of the Wayne County Human Resources Association.
The opening at Steele Memorial will be posted to be filled, said Wayne County Library Director Donna Phillips.
Melanie Powell, the assistant director at Steele Memorial, will continue to act as director until the job is filled, Mrs. Phillips said.