Phone fixer — and so much more

When you have a telephone or technical problem in your office, what do you do? Some people resort to the hitting technique — similar to playing pinball; some use the restart technique. Those on the WSU Tri-Cities campus call IT Systems Specialist Don Frame.

“Don is called the ‘phone guy’ but he does much more than that,” said one of his nominators. “He knows the campus computer and phone systems. He knows technology inside and out and knows what to do and how to help.”

For Frame, the move to WSU Tri-Cities came in 1993 after careers as both a high school science and math teacher and owner of a business that designed and built interactive exhibits and scientific instruments. This experience largely explains Frame’s understanding of electronic design and eagerness to help faculty, staff and students, said WSU Tri-Cities manager of computing and telecom Richard Eisenman.

“This is a very good place for me to work,” said Frame. “The people are friendly, and I am not a guy who likes to do the same thing every day. Because of the nature of this job, I get out around campus a lot and am readily available to respond to questions.”

Though no longer a teacher, Frame still finds a way to work with high school students. The Department of Energy annually holds a science bowl on the WSU Tri-Cities campus, where some 22 schools compete. Frame is the contact for the event. In addition to his prescribed duties, he volunteers time to ensure the competing students’ needs are met — everything from testing and repairing equipment to moderating panel discussions to cleaning up after the event is over.

Though reasons for his recognition seem obvious to all who work with him, Frame still is a bit shocked: “Golly, why me? I’m just trying to do what all WSU employees are trying to do. ‘How may I help you?’ is the way I answer my phone, because my goal is to find a solution to the caller’s problem as quickly as possible.”