Crimson and Gold Connection; Ronnie Chang

Welcome to Crimson and Gold Connection, keeping you connected to the people and current events at Pittsburgh State University. This is Trent Johnson. Thanks for joining us for Crimson and Gold Connection. Today our guest is 2015 Outstanding Alumni Recipient from Pittsburgh State University, Ronnie Chang. Ronnie, well thanks so much for joining us today. What was your area of study at Pittsburgh State University and what year did you graduate? Yes, I studied business management and marketing in TSU and I graduated the year of 1990, so it's been a long time. Who were what influenced you to attend Pittsburgh State University? Actually I was born and raised in Taiwan when grown up at the Teenagers, like any other Teenager. I enjoy American movie, pop music, TV shows such as three companies. I'm not quite sure you even know that. But at the time it was just so cool to wear Levi's jeans and commerce sneakers. So I say to myself that I would like to go to America if I had an opportunity. So after graduating from college and working for a couple of years saving some money and I applied for PSU and I was so thrilled when I got accepted to attend the PSU.

So people often ask me why Pittsburgh State University in Kansas? Well the hot land of the United States. It's really, it's in the middle of this country. Well actually PSU was very popular because it was one of the sister university for the college that I attended in Taiwan. What is the difference between going to school? Was it a culture shock for you moving from Taiwan to Pittsburgh, Kansas? Well I think to me since I was longing for coming to the United States and everything was new to me and everything really very much attracted me. And of course that was what I wanted to do. So to me I liked the campus when I arrived and I like going to supermarkets, you know, even walmart and dealers at the time to look at things. So it was wonderful for me and that was actually a good experience for me. When you were attending Pittsburgh State University, what was your favorite part of some memories that you hold near and dear to you?

Again, I think that everything was new to me and everything interested me. But if I really have to say my favorite part of attending the PSU, I would say it is the people and the culture of the PSU and the Kansas. The PSU was my first stop and I met a lot of people. I'm very grateful to be immersed in such value for which I consider the best of America. And one more thing to add to the list is that actually my girlfriend joined me at the PSU from Taiwan and we really had a good time. And of course that girlfriend later became my beloved wife. Whenever you did move away from Taiwan, what was the response from your family? Did you get support from them as you told them you wanted to go to an American school? Oh yeah, I think that I got 100% of support from my parents. So they supported me and they also provided some financial support to myself. And the whole thing that was a wonderful thing for me to do to come to the United States to further my education. And that is simply one of the best things I have ever done in my life. You were recently named one of the 2015 outstanding alumni from Pittsburgh State University. What does receiving that award mean to you?

Actually, I had never thought that I would return to the school to receive an outstanding alumni award. It is indeed a great honor to me and to my family as well. I'm very grateful for this honor and really would like to express my gratitude to the school, especially to Jeff Po, the person who nominated me for this award. What did you most look forward to when you found out you'd be returning to Pittsburgh to receive this award? Pittsburgh State University is where I'm from in this country and I have lots of great memories in this place. Although I have been back for a few times in the past few years, it would be the first time for me and my wife together. And we really look forward to traveling back in time for those great memories. So, you know, we really look forward to it. What are you currently doing professionally and where you located at?

I am Vice President and General Managers of IBS Division at the Interplac Group. Interplac Group is the second largest plastic film and sheet made features in North America. I worked out of Interplac headquarters in New Jersey about 30 minutes outside of New York City. In addition to my role in corporate headquarters, I also managed three affiliate companies of Interplac including Pip Plastic here in town. And also two in Canada, W. Austin in Montreal and the home of plastic in Toronto. How do you think that your degree from Pittsburgh State University has helped you get to where you are today? Well, I think that it was excellent for me to receive the education at the PSU and that's where that I learned not only from the academic point of view, not about the business management and the marketing. But more importantly, I was immersed with the culture, which is so great that people, the culture that really helped me a lot in the business world. You mentioned Professor Poe a second ago. Can you explain your relationship with him or maybe any of the other professors at Pittsburgh State in the College of Business?

Jeff Paul, the gentleman that I just mentioned who nominated me to this award, he used to be the president of Pip Plastics. So when the Interplac group acquired Pip Plastic in 2013, I had an opportunity to get to know him. And I mean, he is a nice person that after that that he joined PSU and he's currently that I was a business school teaching. What final thoughts would you like to convey about Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh State University or being named one of the 2015 outstanding alumni? Well, I think that again, I would like to express my gratitude to school and the Pittsburgh State University. It really is my home to place that I started. All right, Ronnie. Well, thanks so much for your time today and thanks for joining us. Thank you so much. Again, our guest today has been 2015 outstanding alumni from Pittsburgh State University, Ronnie Chang. Join us for Crimson and Gold Connection, Wednesdays at 8.50 and Fridays at 350.