Spotlight on Dean Ortlieb

Dean Ortlieb
Battalion Officer,
Whitehall Division of Fire
Public Safety Director,
Tolles Career & Technical Center
MBA
B.S. in Business Management

Why did you choose Franklin University?
It was the obvious choice for me. I was able to transfer all the credits from my associate’s degree that I earned at my community college to Franklin. Plus, Franklin’s flexible class structures worked with my job and family schedule.

Why did you decide to return to college?
Although I’ve made fire service a very satisfying career, a few years ago I realized that my unfinished college education haunted me. As the father of two growing kids, I wanted to set an example of setting education goals and completing them. So almost 20 years after I left college, I picked up my learning where I left off.

How did you feel about being an adult student?
It was a little intimidating at first! But I found that I had the discipline to set up a study schedule that worked for me, so I stuck with it and found that I really loved learning.

What kind of commitments did you have in addition to school?
I have two full-time jobs: I’m the Fire Battalion Officer for the Whitehall Division of Fire and also the Public Safety Director for Tolles Career & Technical Center. Plus, my family is very important to me and I make sure I devote time to them every day.

Any thoughts about Franklin’s learning process?
I took most of my classes online and really enjoyed the experience. I found the online classroom discussions were dynamic and helped me understand and apply the coursework.

What was your overall experience with Franklin?
I am a huge fan of Franklin! In fact, I liked the learning experience so much, that I graduated Summa Cum Laude with my bachelor’s in Business Administration. By then, my school schedule was so ingrained, it was a “no-brainer” to move on and get my MBA.

Any words of advice for future Franklin students?
I recommend getting your education online to anyone who isn’t close to a four-year university or just has scheduling conflicts. And if you think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, just think of me! With hard work and perseverance, Franklin can help you pick up a whole world of knowledge – and a whole new set of confidence and opportunities, too.