By Proactive Technologies, Inc. Staff
Frank Gibson, Program Manager at The Ohio State University – Alber Enterprise Center in Marion Ohio announced that he will be retiring from his position officially November 4th, 2016. A retirement party was held at the center October 31st at
The Center. After a brief “time-out,” Frank plans to pursue projects in his area of expertise as a self-employed contractor.
Mr. Gibson started his career path in manufacturing, working in management for companies such as Millington Plastics, U-Brand Plastics, Baja Boats and Hydraulic Inc. Prior to formally joining the OSU-AEC, The Center contracted with him through Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center Adult Education where he was employed from 1997 – 2002. Mr. Gibson also held assignments with the Ohio Department of Development – Ohio Industrial Training Program as an area representative, and as a business and industry consultant for Tri-Rivers Adult Education.
While at the OSU-AEC as Program Manager, Mr. Gibson performed front-end needs analysis of company’s training/education needs. This included: Issue Analysis, Strategic Planning, Facilitation Skills Train-the-Trainer, Meeting Skills, Managing Multiple Projects, Coaching and Training Plan Development. Some of Mr. Gibson’s many project clients included Ohio’s Triumph Thermal Systems LLC of Forest, GrafTech International Holdings of Lakewood, Parma and Sharon Center, National Lime & Stone of Findlay, and Uni-Grip Inc. of Upper Sandusky.
The OSU-AEC has continued to be a project partner with Proactive Technologies, Inc. since around 1996. The Center continues to collaborate with Proactive Technologies on its Certificate of Job Mastery™ Portfolios offered to workers and trainees who master all of the tasks of their job classification through an employer-specific/job-specific PROTECH© structured on-the-job training program. Some projects have continued for many years, such as Triumph Thermal Systems (16 years), Mahle Engine Components (10 years) and GrafTech International Holdings (3 years).
Ken Jackson, Director of Human Resources at Triumph Thermal Systems LLC commented, “Our working partnership with Frank Gibson and the Alber Enterprise Center spans over 16 years. During that time we could rely on Frank and the entire Alber Enterprise support staff to provide quality training providers and programs, as well as customized innovative solutions to strategic and tactical workplace challenges. Key 
initiatives included , operator job classification certification, safety and environmental compliance, hands-on operator and technical training, total quality management, Six Sigma certification and LEAN improvement implementation initiatives.” He added, “Frank’s creativity, commitment and professionalism, and that of the entire Alber Enterprise staff, made them a “first stop/go to” resource. We wish him well in his future endeavors, and look forward to our continued relationship with the Alber Center in the future. We hope Frank remains a part of that.”
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Proactive Technologies, Inc.’s Dean Prigelmeier, President reflected on his experience with Mr. Gibson over the years, starting in about 1994 when they first met on the site of one of Proactive Technologies’s projects. “Before he was with the Alber Center full-time, our paths often crossed in Ohio. We were both trying to make a difference in worker development and to help companies improve their bottom line. Frank saw the inherent logic of The PROTECH© approach to worker development early on and we found 
opportunities to work together of projects prior to him joining the Center and while he was there.” Mr. Prigelmeier and Mr. Gibson often spoke at state and national conferences to showcase their joint manufacturing projects underway, share what they learned and promote the “hybrid” approach they were advocating for employers. “After he joined the Center we collaborated even more, since structured on the job training and the related technical instruction that the Alber Center offered employers represented a balanced solution. I, and my staff, wish Frank well and hope we still have opportunities to work together in the future.”
His replacement at the OSU-AEC has not been selected yet, but they are in the final stages of the interview process. Said Gibson, “In January 2017, I plan to be self-employed doing contract work in my area of expertise. I enjoy working with companies and managers to find workforce development and business management solutions. My work at the Center has been enjoyable and I hope to remain in contact with my coworkers in whatever I do.”
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