It’s All-American label hero (and the longest standing employee at Electronic Imaging Materials) Jason Wilder’s 30th work anniversary! This WILD man (see what we did there?) is one of the backbones of our business. Today, he is the director of Finance, Quality, and Sales, but don’t let his big fancy title fool you, he was not always the savvy EIM aficionado he is now!
How it began . . .
1995: At 18 years old and still just a high school senior, Jason embarked on his journey in the world of labels. A journey of more than three decades! 30 years later, here we are celebrating him!
We sat down with him to ask how he went from his humble beginnings of sweeping the floors (while Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise was topping the charts) to the well-rounded leader and label guru he is now. Luckily, he agreed to share how he went from a rough around the edges 18-year-old to a sharp-shootin’ label deputy of the Northeast! . . . (We did threaten to use our stickiest 650 label adhesive to hold him down if he didn’t agree!)
Jason has done everything at Electronic Imaging Materials; from pallet jacking stock around the warehouse, to learning how to operate an 830 press . . . Come to think of it, you would be hard-pressed to find another employee here with his experience and know-how! Positions Jason has held have been: machine operator; team supervisor; production manager; sales manager; for a brief stint he was even the marketing manager! All these experiences have culminated in his role and success as the Director of Finance, Quality, and Sales.
Opportunity, Inspiration, & Leadership
During the first ten years of Jason’s employment at EIM he had the opportunity to work and learn from EIM Founders Paul and Sue Henkel. Paul became a mentor and source of inspiration for Jason, teaching him much of what he needed to know about the label industry to grow into the person he is today. Think of Paul as Jason’s Mr. Miyagi, Yoda, Gandalf, Obi-Wan Kenobi, etc. . . . you catch our drift! Paul afforded Jason opportunities to grow as a person, professional, and leader. Essentially, he helped him become the expert of The Label Experts!
Paul’s influence was essential in Jason’s professional development. He instilled in him the driving force behind his vision in business, something that would go far beyond the labels we manufacture! One of the most fundamentally important principles Jason learned was what it means to be a growth company, something that is vital to EIM’s longevity. Grow smart, pay attention to quality, and make decisions based on solid knowledge and understanding.
When the ownership torch was passed on to Alex Henkel and Heather Bell in 2007, the culture of growth from within continued, leading Jason to the leadership role he holds today. EIM President Alex Henkel makes mention of the impact Jason has had at EIM. He says, “Jason helped build the foundation for a strong management team. Starting in production, then marketing, then sales, and finally adding finance and quality management to his portfolio, Jason helped develop almost every aspect of our company, including many of our current key employees and systems we rely on today.”
Jason is an inspiring leader who is driven, caring, and loyal. His opportunities for growth kept him here year after year and have helped him lean into his strengths. It makes sense that EIM would be invested in growth from within, it builds trust and stability. Jason is no small part of that! Not many people can claim to have been affiliated with a company for such a lengthy stretch of time! Dare we say he is creating his own legacy in labels?
Mentoring the Next Generation
One of Jason’s guiding lights today is empowering others. His many years of multifaceted experience at EIM have helped him become a mentor to others, just like Paul was for him! Over the years he has had many opportunities to work with local students as part of our internship programs. In fact, Jason will be teaming up with the 15th intern he has supervised this summer! He loves watching someone come in full of raw potential and helping them evolve into a knowledgeable professional with a mindset for lifelong learning.
Mentoring, fostering connection, and leaning into the friendships that have been cultivated over the course of many years are the things Jason is most proud of. Some colleagues he has known and grown alongside for 20 years; others have sought new opportunities along the way but have remained the greatest of friends! He loves the company events that bring everyone together like the opportunities to let loose at a luau, chow down on some barbeque at a company picnic, or show up in service to our community on behalf of EIM!
Beyond Jason’s label life, you will find a humble supporter of local non-profits like The Community Kitchen, an accomplished climber of mountains, and an individual who leans into growth opportunities. Whether it is a lesson from a peak or a valley, Jason lets his experience motivate, shape, and inspire innovation. From the high peaks of Vermont and Maine, to the Lincoln Lafayette loop in the White Mountains, Jason’s climbed them all.
It is fair to say Jason will never forget the good old blood, sweat, tears, life lessons, and powerful opportunities that led him to today. His label journey continues as he looks forward to many more years of being a leading Label Expert! His dedication to EIM’s success is filled with promise, innovation, and vision for the future.
