Jim Hingst Retirement

As many of you already know, February 27 is my last working day at RTape. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to all of my colleagues within the Nekoosa Holding Organization and my many friends in the graphic arts field for your camaraderie. I have enjoyed working with all of you throughout my 14 years with the RTape organization.

Looking back at my career, my only regret is that I did not join RTape sooner. Several years prior to my RTape career,  I was at a tradeshow in Mexico City. During the show Riley Ellis, who was then RTape’s VP of Marketing and Sales, came up to me and said in his deep, reverberating voice: “We have to talk.”

Not knowing what he wanted to discuss, I found his succinct pronouncement troublingly cryptic. Although Riley and I had previously worked together at Arlon, I was somewhat anxious about meeting with him. What could he possibly want? I was fearful that he might be disconcerted with my sales and marketing tactics. Instead of a confrontation, Riley graciously offered me an employment opportunity, which I foolishly declined.

Years later, when I felt that the time was right, I accepted the second chance that Roger Jacobs, who was RTape’s President and CEO, afforded me. Immediately after joining the company, Roger involved me in many varied and exciting aspects of the business. This provided me with one of those golden opportunities to more fully explore my potential.  Working with the many talented people at the three Nekoosa Holdings business units in sales, marketing and product development definitely expanded my knowledge of the industries that we serve and enriched my work experience.

While I am sorry to say goodbye, I am happy to embark on a new chapter in my life. I hope that we will keep in touch.

God bless all of you.

Jim Hingst 

About Jim Hingst: After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.

Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer.  Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.

Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for  publications, such as  Signs Canada, SignCraft,  Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and  Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 325 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published.

Slides of Jim's Artwork
© 2015 Jim Hingst