MiEN Company Employee Spotlight: Christian Frank, Midwest Regional Sales Director (IL, MI, WI)
At MiEN Company, our mission is to create innovative, functional, and flexible furniture solutions for evolving learning environments. We wouldn’t be able to make this vision a reality without the dedicated individuals who work hard to make MiEN a leader in learning space design.
Today, we’re highlighting Christian Frank, MiEN’s Midwest regional sales director overseeing Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Christian is passionate about creating positive impact through educational environments, and he has been an esteemed member of the MiEN team since 2017.
Professional Background
Christian is a graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he received a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and journalism. When he graduated college, Christian began a career in broadcast news, working at news stations in Colorado and Michigan. He has interviewed Presidents, covered tornadoes and blizzards, and even flown with the Blue Angels. After a successful 20 years in news journalism, Christian decided to pivot careers, finding himself drawn to the education industry––and ultimately, a position at MiEN Company––in pursuit of a new career with a positive social impact.
As a lifelong learner, Christian received his EdMarket Certified Learning Place Specialist (ECLPS) certification with the program’s first cohort. This comprehensive and research-informed certification program is a one-year master class that equips professionals with the tools to develop high-quality, collaborative, and healthy learning spaces.
Favorite MiEN Project
One of Christian’s favorite projects at MiEN has been a recent partnership in Perry, Michigan with a district that was eager to transform its elementary, middle and high schools into highly adaptable centers of innovation and engagement. Christian enjoyed collaborating with a local dealer––who is a former teacher herself––to create a comprehensive plan for the district to succeed. This resulted in the incorporation of PD by MiEN, which will help the district ensure that the entire staff is well-versed in data-driven best practices related to their new learning environments.
Inspiration at MiEN
Christian is inspired by designers, artists, and architects who embrace the future with a constant need for intentional change and adaptation. In education, Christian particularly admires those who work to remove barriers to learning through Universal Design for Learning (UDL), rather than expecting learners to adapt to the generic “standard” environment.
His favorite products include the Grow Series, the Chameleon Lounge Series, and the FLEX Steps EVO. These pieces can be used in such a wide range of learning spaces, and their adaptability and innovative design complements spaces designed for UDL.
Beyond the Office
When he isn’t working, Christian enjoys international travel, wine, and cuisine with his wife of 31 years. He also has a serious need for speed, which includes driving sports cars, motorcycling, and snowboarding.
Christian and his wife are proud dog parents of English Bulldogs and a Rottweiler––one of their dogs, Ralphie Boy, was even a local celebrity due to his skateboarding skills!
Christian Frank’s dedication to adaptability and innovation in learning environments makes him a valuable asset to the MiEN family. We’re honored to have him as part of our team, and we look forward to the ongoing positive influence he will contribute to his future clients and projects.
