Art Mink is the Vice President of Sales at Varland Plating in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He has been with the company for 35 years, and both his father and grandfather worked for the company. He is also a member of the company’s board of directors.
Visit www.varland.com.
How did you get your start in the finishing and coating industry?
I applied for a plating position in 1990 because my dad and grandfather had worked for the company. I was hired as a plater and have been with Varland for 35 years. After plating for about three years, I transitioned to shipping and receiving, then moved into scheduling, where I spent 12 years. I later served as Production Manager for about two years, during which I took on multiple roles, including first-shift supervisor (foreman) and continuing to assist in shipping and receiving. In 2005, I joined the sales department in the office. A few years later, I became Vice President of Sales and joined Varland’s Board of Directors.
What does your job entail?
My main responsibility is bringing in new work and maintaining strong relationships with existing customers. I also calculate and price jobs. I’m heavily involved in quality and shipping. In a small company, you naturally take on multiple roles.
Can you walk us through a typical day for you?
I start my day by checking emails for quote requests and identifying customers needing attention. I also head downstairs to speak with QC about any quality issues from the night before. After that, I follow up with customers as needed and begin working on quotes, which we prioritize for same-day completion or early the next day. Throughout the day, I make decisions on a variety of issues, handle quality concerns, take calls, attend meetings and conference calls, and monitor our CRM and website for potential leads. I’m also involved in part specifications, as the sales department initiates the recipe creation process for new jobs. Invoicing is another key responsibility—I review invoices to ensure accuracy as we strive to process everything in real time. Every order shipped the previous day is invoiced the next morning. I also review work orders and invoices to catch any necessary adjustments, which may require updating the customer and potentially requoting the job.
What do you like best about working in the finishing and coating industry?
Varland offers a wide range of coatings, serving a diverse customer base across many industries. It’s always interesting to see the variety of products we work with and the customers we interact with daily. I especially enjoy visiting customers, touring their facilities, and learning about their manufacturing processes to see how parts are made.
What preconceived notions about the finishing and coating industry have changed since you started working in it?
Many people unfamiliar with metal finishing assume it’s just a simple dip process. When I first started, plating was mostly commercial, with no strict specifications. Today, nearly all of our customers require precise specification compliance. In addition, we must navigate a wide range of regulations to ensure we remain in full compliance.
Can you describe a project you have been involved in that made you most proud?
When I first started in sales, I worked with a welding manufacturer to transition their process from cadmium to tin-zinc alloy. This involved quoting and converting over 300 different parts. I spent a significant amount of time early on managing this project, and to this day, we are still plating that product line for the same customer. We have never had a quality rejection throughout the switchover and continuing today. While I’ve worked on many projects, this first one was especially gratifying.
Why would you recommend a career in the finishing and coating industry to a friend?
No two days are the same with the wide range of parts we quote. It was always rewarding to transform a raw, oily piece of metal into a fully functional part when I was a plater.
What is the toughest part of your job?
It is always a key challenge to find the right balance between customer needs and what’s best for the company—considering pricing, quality, packaging, their requirements, and how it fits within our system.
How do you describe what you do at work to family and friends, and what is its importance?
When I describe what we do, I try to relate it to something the person is familiar with. I explain the types of coatings we apply, their importance to the industry, and the kinds of parts they might recognize. For example, if they know about cars, I might mention spark plugs; if they’re familiar with consumer products, I could talk about items like circuit breakers in the home that use various coatings.
Are you involved in any industry associations or trade groups?
As a company, we belong to NASF, OMA, NAM, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
What was the first job you had in your career?
My very first job was delivering pizza.
What type of college, school, or training have you had?
High school degree. Life experience and on-the-job training have pushed me to further my career.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Retired, but in all seriousness, in 5-10 years I’m looking towards retirement. However, I plan to remain involved with the company as needed and would be happy to stay on. Varland has been very good to me.
What was your most humorous day/event in the finishing and coating industry?
There was one time in the mid-90s when a trench was in the parking lot, and I thought I could drive a tow motor across it. I ended up getting the tow motor stuck in the trench. It took two other forklifts to get me and the tow motor out. Fortunately, this was before iPhones were around to capture the moment on video!
What was your favorite subject in high school or college?
I always liked social studies and math.
What motivates you to work hard at your job?
It motivates me to build strong connections with other business professionals, hoping to create genuine relationships and open up further networking opportunities.
Tell us about your outside hobbies and interests:
I enjoy various outdoor activities, including hunting, archery, fishing, ATVing, boating, and caring for my farm in southern Kentucky. I really cherish spending time with my family, especially my three granddaughters. I also love to cook, grill, and use my smoker. We have family over every Sunday, and I enjoy preparing a meal for everyone. My wife and I also look forward to traveling to the beach once or twice a year.
What three things do you think of the most each workday?
My family's needs, taking care of the customers' needs, and ensuring our company’s needs are met.
Who has been the biggest mentor in your career?
My mom had an incredible work ethic and always motivated me to give my best. Al Brenner was one of my biggest mentors at work. I worked with him in the sales department for two years before he retired and sadly passed away.
What is your favorite book?
I'm not much of a reader, but I've always been a Jeff Gordon fan and have read a few books about his life and career as #24.
