Happy retirement, Jeff Frodge!

On March 31, STOBER will celebrate the retirement of Jeff Frodge, a leader whose steady presence, technical expertise, and unwavering commitment have shaped the organization’s IT landscape for more than a decade. Jeff is retiring just three months shy of 11 years with STOBER—and in that time, he’s left an unmistakable mark.

A career built on curiosity and constant change

Through his entire journey at STOBER, Jeff has been the IT Manager. For him, IT has always been about more than systems and servers—it’s been a field full of learning, innovation, and challenge.

“I’ve always loved IT due to the constant change,” Jeff shared. “There’s always something new to learn and implement.”

His passion guided STOBER through major upgrades, new technologies, and the shift toward more industry‑standard approaches, blended with smart, task‑specific solutions. Jeff didn’t just maintain systems—he helped transform them.

“I’ve enjoyed getting the opportunity to help change the IT landscape,” Jeff said, “implementing more industry standard systems, with a mix of task specific and DIY systems.”

Life before STOBER

Before joining STOBER, Jeff worked in IT at Browning’s/Emerson. While that experience prepared him well technically, joining a smaller, family-owned company brought something new and refreshing.

“Being able to work in a smaller, family-owned business was both unique and fun,” he said.

What Jeff enjoyed most

When reflecting on his favorite parts of working at STOBER, Jeff didn’t hesitate to talk about the people and the culture:

• The ability to take on meaningful projects and drive real change
• The chance to work with incredible colleagues at both SDI and STOBER Europe
• Watching the business grow and evolve
• Being part of a workplace that genuinely strives to do what’s best for its employees

For Jeff, STOBER wasn’t just a job — it was a place that encouraged growth, flexibility, and curiosity.

“I’ve never seen a place that gives so much flexibility to find your place,” he shared.

Words of wisdom for future generations

As he prepares to step into retirement, Jeff leaves new team members with thoughtful (and humorous) advice.

“Stay young! (Just kidding… kind of.)”

More seriously, he encourages employees to stay positive and engaged, even on the tough days:

“Like most things, you get back what you put in. Every day isn’t going to be a bed of roses, but if you come to work with a positive, collaborative attitude and a smile, you’ll have some really great days and a lot of very good ones.”

And perhaps most importantly: don’t be afraid to explore. STOBER, he says, is full of opportunities to find the role that fits you best.

Looking ahead: Jeff’s retirement plans

Jeff intends to start retirement by doing something simple but powerful: decompressing.

“The first thing will be to reset and see what life without work calls, emails, and text messages is like,” he said.

After that, he’s excited for:

• Traveling with his wife
• Helping his daughter and son‑in‑law settle into their new home
• Spending more time with his parents
• Fishing with his dad
• And listening closely for what God has planned for him next

A grateful farewell

Jeff’s contributions to STOBER extend far beyond job titles or project lists. His leadership, humor, and heart have made STOBER a better place—and his legacy will continue in every system, process, and person he’s impacted along the way.

Jeff’s last day at STOBER Drives will be on March 31.  We wish him well in his retirement and thank him for his years of service!