The name "Bryan" is probably familiar to anyone who has ever
phoned ADI or the Engelmann-Becker Corporation, or who has attended an ADI
conference. But few people know much about Bryan, and his roles with both
ADI and Engelmann-Becker. I'll tell you a little about him.
Bryan Wickman is a thirty-five-year-old who first worked for the
Engelmann-Becker
Corporation part-time, after school, as a shipping clerk. Upon graduation
from high school in June of 1979, he began to work full-time for
Engelmann-Becker.
His first job title was "receptionist." In my memory of those
days, however, it seemed to me that Bryan was more a combination of Boy
Friday, gopher, and whipping boy. He did all those jobs no one else wanted
to do, and when anything went wrong, we could all yell, "WHERE'S
BRYAN!"
As a testimony to both Bryan's thick skin and his native intelligence, he
advanced his skills and position at Engelmann-Becker through the years,
into positions such as office manager and production manager for the many
instructional programs produced at "The Corp." Today, Bryan's
various roles at The Corp include a seat on the board of directors, the
office of treasurer, office manager, and production coordinator. One of
Bryan's critical jobs is doing computer-based layout and design work for
new programs and revisions.
Throughout his career at Engelmann-Becker, Bryan has been "on loan"
to the Association for Direct Instruction. He assisted in the 5th annual
Eugene Conference in 1979 and began managing the conference the following
year. When ADI formed in 1981, Bryan continued to manage the Eugene conference
(and other ADI conferences). He has managed every Eugene Conference since,
with a brief hiatus in 1993. Overall, he has run at least fifty conferences
for ADI all around the country. At one time or another, he has worked on
every aspect of ADI business: bookkeeping and finance, products, production
of Effective School Practices (formerly ADI News), and membership.
Because of Bryan's vast range of experiences at both The Corp and with ADI,
and because of his long term of service, he is often called upon as the
Corporate Memory for both organizations.Bryan is a husband (to Trish) and
father of son C.J. and daughter Kasey. He taught both to read at early ages,
using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, and has been an active
father in many other ways as well. He coaches his daughter's soccer team,
teaches computer classes at his children's school, he's a parent representative
and chairperson of the Site Council at that school, and he's the President-elect
of the parent-teacher association.At some point over the years, Bryan's
work stopped being a job and became a career. He's personally and professionally
dedicated to the causes of Engelmann-Becker Corporation and the Association
for Direct Instruction. Both organizations are fortunate to have him. What's
in Bryan's future? He's giving some thought to running for the Eugene school
board, and he will undoubtedly play major roles in what appears to be the
very bright futures of The Corp and ADI. But no matter to what heights Bryan
arises, some of usp;whenever anything goes wrongp;will instinctively
yell out, even in an empty room, WHERE'S BRYAN!"
Bob Dixon