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Throughout his 34-year career, Randy Hintz, PE, has always approached engineering with diligence and commitment to customer satisfaction, and it’s that energy that will be missed as he retires from WithersRavenel.
Randy was WithersRavenel’s first Asheville hire as they began to formally grow into Western North Carolina in 2017. (He likes to call himself Asheville Employee No. 1.) With his longtime roots in Buncombe County and the region in both the public and private sectors, Randy brought along a bounty of experience, knowledge and relationships which served the company well.
That’s what I’ll miss is the relationships,he said. People I have worked with for a long time, clients for literally decades.
It was cool to know that a client would pick up the phone and call me if they had a problem or needed advice, that they thought enough about the work I’d done over the years that they would reach out to me.”
From Weaverville to Marion, from Yancey County to Newton and Murphy, Randy crisscrossed the western part of the state serving clients in a variety of engineering roles.
But even if he calls this a retirement, Randy is really just throwing all his energy into another role: his successful woodworking business.
Refined Rustic Woodworks of Weaverville will now have Randy’s somewhat-undivided attention. About three years old, the business fits with Randy’s passion for creating live-edge furniture. Additionally, Randy creates other products that are available not only on his website, but also at about 15 area galleries. Randy also takes custom product orders.
Although the business is on the young side, Randy has been honing his skills at the craft for 25 years. In addition to jumping with both feet into woodworking, Randy will be working with his wife on her pottery business. Sue Salvaterra of Salvaterra Pottery is also a successful, longtime business owner, with a studio that is busier than ever.
She actually had to turn business away at Christmas,Randy said, noting that her shelves have been pretty bare as folks scoop up her various creations. He’s hoping to be able to offer more help to her business with administrative work, billing assistance and client relations. The jury is still out on whether we’ll see him on Sue’s YouTube kiln openings or instructional videos.
WithersRavenel and the many clients he’s worked with in Western North Carolina wish Randy the best of luck in his new adventure!