Meet Tim Hamilton, FM’s Ink Room Supervisor. Tim started at FM as a temp in June 2017 and then was hired full-time in November 2017. November will be his 6th anniversary with the company!
He started in the screens department doing reclaims then worked his way up to running Signtronic. He spent 2 years in the screen room and moved to the ink room immediately after. Mike Richardson was a great mentor who believed in and encouraged his growth from the screens department to the ink department. He started as an ink mixer and then moved up to supervisor shortly after. Tim helped build the structure of the Inks department. Currently, he has 4 team members, 2 who work the 1st shift and 2 who work the 2nd shift.
Tim loves the people at FM. His favorite part about the company is the culture and the incredible friendships he’s built. He says, there are a lot of great changes happening, and our leadership team is growing which is nice to see.
When Tim is not at FM, he’s an avid football fan and loves to spend a lot of time watching football at Buffalo Wild Wings. He also loves spending time with his two kids who are 12 and 13.
How would you summarize what you do?
I develop SOPs to keep the ink department organized and running efficiently. I also develop new colors for our bigger customers.
What does your daily routine look like?
I come in and check in with my first shift team to see how they are doing. I check emails for any tasks that other supervisors or managers need me to do. Then if I have colors to develop, I proceed to work on those, if I don’t have colors to develop, I help my team mix ink.
How does your current job compare with the previous jobs you’ve had?
My current position can be extremely stressful compared to previous jobs. But once we push through the problems and find a solution it’s much more rewarding than the jobs I used to work.
What makes you want to stay at our organization?
Mostly the people, I have been able to grow in this company while also watching friends grow. Would be very hard to leave them.
What do you like about our company culture?
I like how much better the culture is now compared to just a few years ago. We have come a long way.
What’s your favorite memory from working at the company?
The company picnic that the Ministry of Malarkey hosted a few years ago.
Can you tell us a few details about the favorite part of your job?
I love mixing ink. It’s cool to throw this color and that color together to give our customers what they want.
Which work benefit or perk is your favorite and why?
We have some great people here and I love the friendships that have developed.
Tell us the most significant project you’ve handled and how it has impacted our company.
A water-based color development project for a brand-new customer. This project has brought in one of our biggest customers and has a chance to financially boost our company.
What have been your most significant achievements working for our company?
I worked on a color development project for one of our biggest customers. We used to run water-based ink for them, I redeveloped every one of their colors into a plastisol formula.
What is the most difficult challenge you’ve experienced working for us?
The plastisol color development project was by far the most difficult thing I have done at FM.
What have been your biggest accomplishments on our team?
I would say going from being a temp to a supervisor in 5 years.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I am hoping a little higher on the totem pole at FM.
Who inspires you the most within our organization?
I would say Pamela Pacheco, she taught me so much when I first moved to the ink room. She is always there to listen when I need someone to talk to.
Who are some of your biggest inspirations within the company?
Some of my fellow supervisors - Sherry Flowers, Carolyn Seale, and Mike Richardson. They have all taught me a lot and I am happy to continue to grow alongside them.
What is your team like?
The best team in the building. Everyone gets along very well, and nobody has any problems doing what they are asked.
What’s the best advice you can give to someone who wants to work for us?
Show up every day, do what you’re asked, and you can grow at FM.
Do you have any strategies for dealing with stress at work?
I have a few people I can sit down and talk with. I feel like just venting about your stress can be very helpful.
What’s something that you’ve always wanted to try or learn?
I always wanted to go snowboarding and not too long ago I took a trip to Aspen, Colorado to go snowboarding.
What brought you to the city/town where our office is located?
I moved to Orange County, Virginia when I was a freshman in high school.
What special moments have you shared with loved ones recently?
Last December I watched my best friend from high school get married, even left with a trophy tattoo.
