Sarah Dreibelbis found her career the old school way — by hitting the pavement and asking about openings along the way.
Now 37 years later and the manager of IT, billing and member relations, Dreibelbis said she was extremely lucky to stop in at the Noble REMC office at the right time. “It was evidently meant to be.”
She worked her way up from billing clerk to customer service and now into her management role. She’s seen a lot of changes, but that’s been the fun part — the challenge of ever-evolving technology and services.
Let’s learn more about Dreibelbis:
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
Always having a new project to work on. The technology end is amazing to me. You would think you’ve implemented everything, and you turn around and there’s something more to add to it. It’s a great challenge.
WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
There’s a lot of variety in what I do. It may look like I’m just sitting at my desk all day, but a lot of it is network related, as far as an internal network here — computers, billing — any modifications that need done there, implementing new software, helping team members with anything that they need. I don’t have an average typical day.
WHAT’S SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW OR UNDERSTAND ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
I guess this will go back a long way with my history at the co-op, but I don’t have a degree. I manage a lot of things happening in the co-op and keep them going. My life experience in the co-op world has been a long one, and I have learned as I progressed in my career. At this point, I just didn’t ever think it was necessary for me to go get the degree. I’m still an asset to the company.
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF THE CO-OP?
With family. It all revolves around family. The grandkids are usually over, or I’m helping with the family business, or just lunch at my house every Sunday for the family.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
I was born and raised in Noble County. I went to grade school at Green Center, which fed into Churubusco, and so I went to middle school at Churubusco. As a high schooler we moved one mile north, and that put me in Central Noble’s school district. Therefore, I finished high school at Central Noble.
I met my husband through a mutual friend. I was probably 15 and he was 16. We married just shortly out of high school and had two children. Now we’re up to five grandchildren, with the youngest being born in August.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR LIFE?
My family.
WHAT MOVIE DO YOU THINK YOU’VE WATCHED THE MOST?
It’s got to be “Tombstone” because it’s my husband’s favorite movie.
WHAT FOOD COULD YOU EAT EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE?
It would be ice cream. I could have ice cream every day of my life and be happy. Butter pecan and mint chocolate chip are my favorites.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TV SHOW?
I do have a favorite series that we have watched a couple of times: “Game of Thrones.” If you’ve never watched it, don’t get too attached to the characters. They may not be back next season.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT?
I’m going to tell you my favorite is just staying local, going to local mom-and-pop shops. I have some favorites in Albion, I have some favorites in Churubusco, and I have a favorite in between the two.
