Chamber honors longtime BC3 employee Opitz
FRANKLIN TWP — Long before students and professors make their way to campus at Butler County Community College, Brian Opitz has already been up and at it, fixing whatever might need to be fixed to keep the college’s facilities running.
Opitz, executive director of operations at BC3, was honored Tuesday, May 5, at The Atrium during the Butler County Chamber of Commerce’s Employee Appreciation Luncheon, recognized as Employee of the Year for his 26 years of service to the college.
“I am not used to something like this,” Opitz said. “I am very honored. I know a lot of people in this room, and certainly the BC3 team, I am honored to work with them. We did all we could in the last 26 years, and it was a privilege.”
A Butler native, Opitz is scheduled to retire from his position at BC3 on June 30. He said he plans to use his retirement to simply spend more time with his family.
Opitz is responsible for planning, construction and renovations to BC3’s facilities on its main campus and its satellite locations.
“We are really intentional in providing state-of-the-art learning environments,” Opitz said. “Three years ago, we finished the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building. That really is an immersive lab. When you are in that facility, it is like being in the hospital. We have a lot of facilities that are top tier and I am proud of that.”
Chamber president Jordan Grady described Opitz as a “jack-of-all-trades” and a “master of everything” during the event.
“For as big and tall as he is, he comes off as an empathetic leader,” Grady said. “Someone who is not afraid to do the work he may be asking others to do. He leads by example with servant leadership.”
Grady said Opitz has played a part in BC3’s growth and development over the years, and the nomination submission the college sent the chamber for Opitz reflects that.
“In their submission, one of the things they put in it was he is a ‘unicorn’ in the sense of he could be fixing some drain or pipe one minute, then the next switch into a suit and give a presentation to the board of directors,” Grady said.
BC3 president Megan Coval echoed the comparison.
“He is an incredible employee and his dedication is unmatched,” Coval said. “We heard Jordan say he is a ‘unicorn,’ which is kind of true. He is the first person we go to with any weather-type situation and he can speak to the board, but the next minute fix something. He is reliable and trustworthy.”
Opitz described his position as a thankless job at times, as some jobs are, but if you accept the position as it comes and look to other ways to reward yourself, it is all worth it in the end.
“You have to look out when you see the students succeeding, know you have a part of that,” Opitz said. “It is a very servant-oriented position.”
Opitz said he would like to thank his peers for helping him succeed in his position over the years, and he is excited to see what the future has in store for BC3 under Coval’s leadership.
“I will miss the people and the challenges,” Opitz said. “You never know in this position what you are going to be doing. Whether the power goes out or there is a snowstorm, I have always enjoyed the challenge.”
