Tanner Defibaugh, a former addict, now leads
a team at the frozen novelties manufacturer.
Photo by The Ziegenfelder Company.
Tanner Defibaugh’s life took a misguided turn when he
returned to his hometown of Wheeling, WV, from Mount
Union College.
“In college, I was smoking weed and drinking,” says
Defibaugh. “I came back to the
Wheeling area when pain pills
became popular. My pain pill
usage took off quickly. It snow-
balled into the cheaper way to
get high with heroin. That’s
when I really started using.”
That was nine years ago. In
December 2017, during a pre-
sentation at the West Virginia
Manufacturers Association’s
(WVMA) Winter Meeting at The
Greenbrier, Defibaugh shared
his story of overcoming addic-
tion by finding quality employ-
ment at The Ziegenfelder Com-
pany, the manufacturer of Budget Saver Twin Pops and other
frozen ice novelties.
According to Defibaugh, he was arrested after using pain
pills and heroin for five years. He finished a court program
early, moved on to supervised probation and made a vow he
would never go back to his prior lifestyle.
“Most people don’t get out of it or on the other side of it.
They are either in prison or gone,” he says. “I’ve lost all kinds
of friends due to using and complications from using. Over-
coming addiction is a big deal, but to me, it’s just my past. I
don’t dwell on it. I don’t let it define me. I just try to be better
than I was.”
Defibaugh began working at The Ziegenfelder Company
while on probation. Within the walls of the ice pop manufac-
turing plant, he found a support network that encouraged his
new goal of being drug-free through the company’s compas-
sionate hiring practices.
“Compassionate hiring has become our phrase to describe
our search for great people,” says Lisa Allen, owner and CEO
of The Ziegenfelder Company.
The company’s unique hiring standards received national
attention in October 2017 through a conference hosted by the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., which led
to the company’s participation in WVMA’s Winter Meeting
where Defibaugh shared his story.
“We want to hire and retain people who want to be a part of
something bigger than themselves,” says Allen. “Our company’s
turnover has traditionally been high because the work in our
plant is difficult. Last year, we became more intentional in
hiring hardworking, committed folks looking for an opportunity
and a future. It opened our eyes to unique, often overlooked
segments of society. We know that approximately 20 percent
of our West Virginia workforce has some sort of background.
That background often includes re-entering citizens from our
prison system or former addicts looking for a new start.”
This statistic reflects details about The Ziegenfelder Com-
pany’s workforce. An estimated 80 percent of the employees
have no known history of drug-related crime or addiction.
According to Allen, all of the company’s employees, known
as the Zieggy Tribe, benefit from intentional, compassionate
hiring practices, which began more than a year ago.
“Diversity is our strength and our competitive advantage,”
says Allen. “With open minds and open hearts, we recog-
nize many people have capabili-
ties and a need to be part of suc-
cess. These are our children, our
friends, our neighbors, our co-
workers. Standing idle in judge-
ment of others, doing nothing
but measuring statistics, is what
has caused our communities to
be overrun with drugs and other
debilitating issues. It takes cour-
age to stand up and make change.
I think we can do this togeth er
because together is always better.”
Allen refers to the Zieggy
Essentials, a quick reference to
the company’s mission, vision
and values, when listing the characteristics needed to obtain
employment with The Ziegenfelder Company. Zieggy Essen-
tials posters, which encourage putting the tribe first, doing the
right thing, inspiring others, nurturing the Zieggy economy and
promoting a safe work environment, are on display throughout
all Ziegenfelder facilities, including the one in Wheeling, WV.
“We have some amazing individuals
who have an inner strength beyond
measure. They have changed
their lives, and they want to help
others. They are hardworking,
caring, committed, growth-
minded members of our tribe,
and they define our culture.”
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE