Alliance, Ohio — Rotational molder Trilogy Plastics Inc. has developed an innovative way to encourage community activism by its 200-plus employees: let them "work off" points assessed for unexcused absences by helping local causes.
Local charities benefit, including the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Alliance for Children & Families.
Of course, the Trilogy volunteers also include plenty of employees who don't have attendance issues. Management gets involved, too. For example, Holly Blanton, director of human resources, serves on the Salvation Army's local advisory board.
Last year, the number of hours that Trilogy employees helped community groups more than doubled.
The efforts helped Trilogy win the Plastics News Excellence Award for Industry and Public Service.
The rotomolder has received several local Golden Spade Awards, awarded by the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2016, Trilogy was named Large Company of the Year in Alliance, where the company has two factories.
Trilogy also gets involved with helping young people. The company just began participating in a new Hard Hats Reading Program, where company managers spend time reading with local elementary school students.
The company also hosted plant tours for summer students from migrant families to expose them to alternative career opportunities — a good way to reach this potential workforce.
Trilogy management leads the way, including President Stephen Osborn and his partner Bruce Frank, vice president.
Trilogy's vice president of operations, Daren Balderson, is a Trilogy veteran and native of the Alliance area. He was part of a local group of manufacturing executives who helped establish a regional high school tech center, and he serves on the advisory board.
The company also supports local high school sports with money and volunteering.
Osborn has been active in both community and industry volunteering. He was on the board and vice chairman of Andrews School in Willoughby, Ohio. He served on Hiram College's board of visitors.
Currently, he serves in a number of volunteer roles at University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio: the board of trustees, head of the buildings and grounds committee and a member of the executive committee.
On the industry service side, Osborn has been active in the Association of Rotational Molders since 1987. He has served on many committees and was on the board of directors for three years.
Trilogy has provided many speakers and workshop moderators over the years. The company donates money to the Rotational Molding Education Foundation.
ARM gave Osborn the Distinguished Service Award in 2005 and, in 2012, he was inducted into the Rotational Molding Hall of Fame.
