85 / 112
JUNE 2016 •
PPB
• 83
RJ HAGEL,
GOLDSTAR
am also enamored with technology and how
it affects performance and design. Elon Musk
(founder of Tesla Motors) is one of my
biggest influences. I am also a foodie and
craft beer geek. I have a wine fridge that I’ve
converted to a beer fridge and I’m in the
process of aging 35 craft beers. I also love
working with my hands, being outdoors and
exercising. I go to the gym a few times a
week and do yoga. I live about 12 minutes
from Laguna Beach [his office is in San
Diego, California]. It is a beautiful place with
amazing sunsets. It’s one of the places I go to
clear my mind.
Who or what has had the greatest influ-
ence on your career and why?
My parents have been the biggest part of
shaping the person I am today, both person-
ally and professionally. They taught me about
the value of hard work, perseverance, integri-
ty, open-mindedness and discipline. When I
worked for the family business, my father
taught me about the importance of building
relationships and the need to pay it forward
by supporting the people and the environ-
ment around me. I try and approach life with
an open mind and that with every page you
turn, there is something new to learn. I give a
shout out to all my managers, co-workers,
colleagues and friends who have supported
me throughout my career.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Like many people, I left high school not
really sure what I wanted to do. I started off
at a local community college with a goal to
major in psychology. After a few courses, I
realized that while interesting, psychology
didn’t really fit in with what I wanted to do
professionally. So I moved to architecture and
interior design. Fun and creative, but nope.
How about graphic design? Errr … not that
one either.
Then I came to marketing. It gave me
the ability to apply psychology through brand
influence and market strategy while also
affording the ability to be creative through
design and development of interactive media.
Being a marketer in this industry is great.
Not only do I get to practice marketing
myself, but I get the ability to sell marketing
services too. I enjoy knowing that my work
will help others find success.
What was your first job in promotional
products and how did it come about?
At 19, I got a job as an assistant store
manager for Things Remembered, a store
that sells personalized/engraved gifts. It was
cool because it was creative and I got to have
the word ‘manager’ in my title. After nine
months, I was approached by a guy who had
just bought a trophy shop. He needed some
help and was willing to pay me more and be
flexible with my school schedule.
Over the next five years, I ended up
working for a second trophy shop, a local
printer doing design and also selling laser
engraving equipment focused on the awards
and sign market. Then my parents decided to
open a trophy and sign business. After a few
years, they purchased a local competitor and I
went to work for them creating sand-etched
awards, glass signage and a bunch of other
cool stuff. This is when I was introduced to
the promotional side of the industry.
What motivates you in business and in life?
Creativity is a must for me, and I love
that life is a journey that we get to steer the
way we want it. I enjoy being part of a team,
working and surrounding myself with good
people who influence my life in positive ways.
I enjoy managing people and truly like help-
ing them realize their potential and work
towards goals. The same goes for my children.
I enjoy seeing them grow up and see how my
influence has helped them make good deci-
sions (and certainly bad ones sometimes!).
What is your greatest professional accom-
plishment?
In the past few years I have had the experi-
ences of managing people, maintaining a siz-
able budget and helping to rethink and reshape
a good part of an organization, from marketing
to product development, sales and even cus-
tomer support. I am very proud of where I am,
and I hope that the next chapter in my life
reveals that next “great accomplishment.”
What advice would you give to an industry
newcomer?
This is a fun industry; have fun yourself
and be creative. Understand that as an indus-
try we sell creative services, not just products.
There is so much potential ahead of us.
Branding is of such growing importance in
marketing and that is exactly what we do.
Don’t be a product peddler, be a creative
problem solver.
Julie Richie is associate editor for
PPB.
“Creativity is a must
for me, and I love
that life is a journey
that we get to steer
the way we want it.
I enjoy being part
of a team, working
and surrounding
myself with good
people who
influence my life in
positive ways.”