Chris Antonik, who recently retired as department chairperson of the Delaware Technical Community College Commercial Transportation Program, was given the Lee J. Crittenden Memorial Award by the Professional Truck Driver Institute, Inc.
The award is sponsored by Cengage Learning of New York City.
Chris Antonik, left, instructs student Glenn Boyer in a truck at the Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown.The Crittenden Award is given to a person who exemplifies the overall mission of PTDI, for which Lee Crittenden was a staunch supporter until his death in April 1998. He was the founder of the PTDI and was its finance chairman.
Antonik has been active with PTDI for many years, and serves as PTDI’s certification commission chair, board member, and secretary while the organization undergoes changes in management and governance.
Antonik began his career in the trucking industry as a tractor-trailer driver after serving in the U.S. Air Force as a fire protection specialist. He holds a master’s degree in career and technical education and a bachelor’s degree in human resource management. He also holds a CDL class “A” license with passenger, tanker, doubles/triples and hazmat endorsements along with a TWIC. He has driven loads for the Wreaths Across America Foundation and has transported the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s The Wall That Heals.
Through his involvement with PTDI, Antonik advises, visits, and evaluates other truck driver training programs for standards compliance. He served as an advisor to the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Tractor Trailer Training course and was instrumental in helping to achieve national certification for bases in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Germany. He has also served as the state captain and board member for the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools.
PTDI currently has certified entry-level training courses at 57 schools in 19 states, Canada, and Germany.
