Randy Ackermann has, in his life, served his country, served his family and now, he serves Pierce College as an intern in the athletics department.
Ackermann is part of a generation that values industry and a strong work ethic. After he completed his time in the Marines, he returned home to work in his family’s concrete business for more than two decades before re-enrolling in school with a focus on athletic training. Those he works with speak highly of their colleague.
“He is a good team member to have,” said athletic trainer Robert Horowitz. Horowitz said that Ackermann’s knowledge of first aid and CPR are also invaluable skills for a person who works in athletics.
Ackermann served in the Marines for eight years, from 1977 to 1985, which gave him the chance to see the world. During that time he was stationed in Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms, as well as in the West Pacific, the Indian Ocean and Africa.
“[It was] interesting. Got to go to a few places, see a few things, a little bit of memorabilia here and there,” Ackermann said.
He joined after the Vietnam War ended, as a way to further his education.
“I was out of high school, I wanted to go to college but I didn’t have the money, so it was a good time to go,” Ackermann said. “It was peacetime, and a lot of people went in the service during that time. It was back in the seventies and it was just a good time to go.”
After he left the service as an “E5 EOD Specialist Sgt.,” he headed back home to Avon Lake, Ohio to work in the family business.
“I went back home, and I worked in the family business for over 20 years, it was our concrete restoration business,” Ackermann said. “You know, working in airports, removing rubber paint residue from the runway buildup.”
Ackermann began working at Pierce as an intern in the athletics department in September. Kinesiology major Mauricio Romo said he enjoys working with Ackermann.
“He’s a real fun guy to work with,” Romo said. “He’s a student athletic trainer, he usually helps out with treating patients, and treating athletes. Sometimes during game days he helps us set up, and he helps us give water to the players.”
Romo said Ackermann has spoken just briefly about his time in the service.
“He told us that he was in the Marines, and that he celebrated Veterans’ Day,” Romo said. “He told me that he took the day off and did some steak on the grill, and just enjoyed it.”
Though Ackermann assists with all of the sports, Romo said if he had to guess he would say football is Ackermann’s favorite.
“He works on all of them [sports] but probably his favorite is football,” Romo said.
Back in Ohio, Ackermann played football at his high school in Avon Lake, which he described as a “small town, small community.”
Ackermann spoke kindly of the students he sees everyday in the athletics department.
“It’s like any other place,” Ackermann said. “You’re just young kids, playing ball, wanting to go to Division I schools. If they get the offer, and if all best works for them, I wish them well.”
He said that given his choice of an ideal place to work, he would choose Pierce.
“[I would] Probably [stay] right here, since I’m already here. But then it’s really hard to say, down the road from now where I would go. As far as wherever they send me, where I’m needed, and to make a change in environment is very possible.”