Meet the Vendor: Craig Ottinger

If you’ve joined us at the Industry Conference over the past 15 years, there’s a very good chance you’ve met Craig Ottinger, Director of Operations for longtime Running USA vendor member Hightech Signs. If you haven’t, walk on up and introduce yourself this year. You’ll be sure to get a warm welcome and make a new industry contact and friend.

Craig lives and breathes running, both personally and professionally, and he credits the sport with bettering his health and life. “Running has allowed me friendships with some of the best people I have come across in this world. It has allowed me to travel and see most of the USA and a few other countries. Most importantly, it has expanded my knowledge, experience, health and quality of life,” he shares.

In 2021, Craig crossed the finish line of his first full marathon, the 50th edition TCS New York City Marathon. It was a goal he had worked towards since 2019 and one he is still relishing. And he credits his industry colleagues with making it possible.

“To me this is a community of people who work together as a whole to create opportunities for people to create experiences and memories that last beyond their lifetime,” he shared. “It is beautiful and always inspiring to me. For fun, I travel to run with people or work with people (sometimes both) from my community. I love that.” In 2022, he hopes to attempt the four-part Michelob Ultra Challenge at the Gasparilla Distance Classic, as well as run another marathon in the spring.

Craig has some great advice for our first-timers to conference and many industry friends to thank, so read on to learn more:

How long have you been in the industry? I started working in the running community in 1995 with Marathon Printing and after almost 18 years there I made the switch over to Hightech Signs. I love working with the running community and this transition allowed me to stay in an operations position and continue working with a community that is like a family to me.

How did 2021 go for you? This year has been incredible. In June of 2019 I set a personal goal to run my first marathon. A friend connected me to Brendan Cournane, my current running coach. He is well versed in helping people with foot and leg problems like me get to the finish line. We had 3 failed attempts and on the fourth try I finished the 2021 TCS NYC Marathon. I had 4 goals this year, eat right, get enough sleep, help others be successful at work, and run a marathon. 3 out of 4 isn’t bad. I will sleep someday.

How did 2021 go for Hightech Signs? We are still here and we are thriving. Hightech Signs has had a year of opportunity and challenges. We were able to use our equipment to help manufacture face masks and other PPE when it was really needed and with that, we were able to donate one mask for every mask purchased to local non-profit organizations. When the demand for PPE became less important due to available supplies, the event community slowly started back up and our production schedule exploded.

What is your perspective on the running industry coming out of a nearly two-year pandemic period? I think the running community is very resilient. I am very inspired by how people across the running and all other walks of life make it work for the last two years. I saw operations people create and manage mass vaccination clinics in baseball fields. I saw people fight for equity and help organize large educational rallies and so much more. We are living through a moment in history that will be remembered for a long time to come. I have seen people learn what they are capable of doing. I think so many of us in the running community have tested our own mettle and I have seen more success stories than failures.

What’s one professional goal you have for 2022? My professional goal for 2022 is simple. I want to make life better for the people who work at Hightech Signs and I want to make work easier for people who order from Hightech Signs and we have already started on this goal. We are currently working towards products that help races during their event and also focusing on how we can be a great partner . We have made a few equipment acquisitions that allow some of our production to run smoother and faster with almost zero errors. Hightech Signs has also invested in training programs for key associates which allow them to give the same high-quality product while working smarter and more efficiently.

What is your favorite part of attending the Running USA Industry Conference? My favorite part of the Running USA Conference is the ability to have some quality time with friends and customers. Over the years, so many people in running have welcomed me into their lives and I get the opportunity to work with them as well. Running USA allows a space to reconnect if we haven’t seen each other in a while. It allows everyone space to celebrate, network, learn, create new friendships, and share knowledge so we can all be great together.

What’s your best advice for conference newcomers? Take notes as fast as you can, you will want to read them again when you get home. Say hello to that one person you have always wanted to meet. Ask questions, no matter how big or small. You probably won’t be able to do it all, so plan your schedule ahead of time as best you can and be ready to adjust. Eat healthy, get your sleep, hydrate, and do the morning runs even if you walk them. You won’t be alone.

Anything else you’d like to add? The only other thing I want to include is a big ol’ Texas THANK YOU to everyone I have worked with over the last 26 years. When I started at Marathon Printing there were a few people that I worked with regularly and most of them are like family to me know, Judy Ikenberry, Anne and John Gault, Darcy Locke, Mike Burns and David Simms, Mike Nishi, Susan Harmeling, Jake and Claudia La Sala, Marty Schaivone, Joe O’Brien, Jan Callanan, Martine, Jack Staph, Scott Keenan, George Ridgely and Chris Tatreau. These people and so many more helped educate me on all the different aspects of running and brought me into the fold with open arms.

I would also like to thank Don Zirk, CEO of Marathon Printing, Inc for giving me my first job in the running community and Doug Abramowski, President of Hightech Signs for allowing me to do what I do and understanding how important the running community is to me. Also, thank you, Doug, for creating the opportunities for me to run my first 5K, 10K, half-marathon in 2017 and my first marathon in 2021. //