For Washburn High School basketball coach Albert Hibbs ’23, finding a new career was like facing a tough opponent on the court. When adversity struck, he kept an open mind and adjusted his game plan.
“I was a retail sales manager at Best Buy for 10 years, but when COVID hit, it was like being caught off guard by a fast break,” Albert explains. He decided it was time to pivot and took on a new role as an account manager at AT&T. This new position was demanding, with long hours and travel that stretched across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. “I had long days and put on a lot of miles,” he recalls.
Though he embraced the challenge, the constant driving aggravated a spinal condition he had been dealing with since birth. In August 2022, Albert had surgery to prevent future paralysis. Unfortunately, his company laid him off before he began walking again, which happened in December 2022. “I was going crazy, like being benched and unable to play,” he says. “So, I started thinking about going to a trade school and found Summit Academy.”
Albert enrolled in the IT training, where he learned coding and other valuable skills for a new career in technology. On mock interview day, he interviewed with a manager from Ameriprise Financial. Although he didn’t feel it was his strongest performance, Albert was selected for a brief paid internship at Ameriprise after the course concluded. “I had a blast,” he says. “It was the best time of my life.”
After the internship, Albert continued to pursue IT roles but had no offers. Then, the Ameriprise manager called him up for a new opportunity that perfectly matched his skills and experience. Albert landed the job in the Life Events area, helping clients with estate settlements, divorce cases, and other matters. He enjoys his role and is grateful to work for a company that values staff development.
“I don’t know exactly what I want to do in the future,” Albert admits. “There are many opportunities, but sometimes you just need to get on the court and keep an open mind. Summit definitely helped me along the way. It was a good journey and a good experience.”
