Ohio State basketball standout Jon Diebler and his father, former Upper Sandusky High School basketball coach and inspirational speaker Keith Diebler, spoke Tuesday to Tiffin Area Safety Council.
Keith was the scheduled speaker, but brought his son along for what he called "bonding time."
Keith said his son had been working in Las Vegas for the past four weeks with 25 others who hope to be selected in the upcoming NBA draft, scheduled for June 23.
Jon said his favorite player growing up was Mark Price of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he denied he ever had a favorite team.
He said he doesn't have a preference to which team he might be drafted, but Jon said he feels blessed to be able to participate in the process.
Jon said his fiancee joked about wanting him to end up in a warmer climate. In response, his father joked back, "his mom and dad have a preference in where he goes," Keith said.
Fact Box
Tiffin Area Safety Council present annual awards
Tiffin Area Safety Council, sponsored by Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation, division of safety and hygiene, presented its annual safety achievement awards at its monthly meeting Tuesday at Carmie's and Camden Falls.
Tiffin Area Safety Council is one of more than 70 statewide safety councils, organized through groups such as local Chambers of Commerce. These councils provide communities with quality programs addressing occupational safety and health, workers' compensation and management education and information.
Achievement award
The following employers earned an achievement award, signifying they had achieved a 25-percent reduction in accident incident rates from calendar year 2009:
American Fine Sinter Co. Ltd.
Ameriwood
- Arnold Vending Co. Inc.
- Ballreich Bros. Inc.
- Carey Exempted Village School
- City of Tiffin fire and rescue
- Community Hospice Care
Elmwood at the Shawhan Ltd.
- Innovative Support Services Inc.
- Mercy Tiffin Hospital
- Republic Lumber Co.
- RJM Infiniti Plastics Corp.
- Sarka Sheet Metal and Fabrication Inc.
Toledo Molding and Die Inc.
100 percent award
The following employers earned a 100 percent award, signifying they had worked a calendar year without an injury resulting in a day away from work:
- American Fine Sinter Co. Ltd.
- Arnold Vending Co. Inc.
- Atlas Industries Inc. - MTD Division
- Ballreich Bros. Inc
Bill Sowers Tree Service and Nursery LLC
- Camden Falls Enterprises Inc.
- Carey Exempted Village School
- City of Tiffin - fire and rescue
City of Tiffin - parks and recreation
- City of Tiffin - public works
Clouse Construction Corp
Clouse Electric Ltd.
Community Hospice Care
Cooperative Resources International
Elmwood at the Shawhan Ltd.
FA Nye and Son's Enterprises Inc.
Franklin Hammond
Friedman Village at St. Francis
- Genex Coop Inc./CRI
Laminate Technologies Inc.
- M&B Asphalt Co.
- M.J. Brown Co. Inc.
- New Riegel Local Schools
- Occupational Medicine of Northwest Ohio
- OCECO Inc.
- Ohio American Water Co.
Quick Tab II
- Republic Lumber Co.
RJM Infiniti Plastics Corp
- Sarka Sheet Metal and Fab. Inc.
- Seislove Burial Vault Service Inc.
- Seneca County Agency Transportation
- Seneca Sheet Metal Co.
- Taiho Corporation of America
- The Advertiser-Tribune
- The Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin
- Thomas Daniel Construction
Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce
- Tiffin Community YMCA
Tiffin Ford Lincoln Mercury Inc.
Tiffin Foundry & Machine Inc.
- Tiffin Loader Crane Co.
Tiffin Metal Products
Tiffin Parts LLC
Tiffin Transportation LLC
Group award
The following employers earned a group award, signifying they had the lowest accident incident rate in each group:
- American Fine Sinter Co. Ltd.
Arnold Vending Co. Inc.
- Camden Falls Enterprises Inc.
- Carey Exempted Village School
- City of Tiffin - fire and rescue
- City of Tiffin - public works
Clouse Construction Corp.
- Clouse Electric Ltd.
Community Hospice Care
- Genex Coop Inc./CRI
- Tiffin Transportation LLC
Special award
The following companies earned a special award acknowledging at least 500,000 hours worked and at least six months without a lost-time injury:
Camden Falls Enterprises Inc.
Clouse Construction Corp
Quick Tab II
Seneca County
- St. Francis Home Inc.
Tiffin City Schools
- Tiffin Ford Lincoln Mercury Inc.
Jon said he is to wed his fiancee in Columbus June 16 with some family and teammates attending. He said he believes there may be a lockout in professional basketball and in preparation, has moved his honeymoon to July as a result of his rigorous schedule up to that point.
Jon said he has been working in New Jersey, Oklahoma City and Portland as well as Las Vegas. He said it's like applying for a job. He said his schedule usually consists of flying the night before, getting up and eating breakfast, working out, then being interviewed by a half-dozen people.
The questions, said Jon, did not always relate to basketball, but about his family, how he would fit in with the team and what type of person he is.
Jon answered a question about Ohio State's football troubles and coach Jim Tressel, saying it is easy for a student-athlete to get caught up in someone trying to take advantage of him or her. He said it would take forever for students to learn all the rules the NCAA has for them.
Tressel obviously made mistakes, Jon said but added, "who hasn't."
Jon said he got to know Tressel at Ohio State and he praised the time he spent speaking with the former coach.
Following his father's lead at the meeting, Jon discussed his upbringing and how the positive influence of his parents made all the difference in the world, as well as how teamwork has dominated and worked in his life and got him to where he is today.
Keith gave four keys to teamwork: show respect and buy in; be positive, upbeat and trusting; be loyal to each other; and teams celebrate Buckeye style.
Keith said it is his belief that "we can all live our dream."
