Mary Wruck
Kyle Richardson, President of Royal Talens North America, sat down virtually with the newest member of the Royal Talens North America family. We’re excited to introduce you to Mary Wruck, who is the Product Manager for RTNA!
Kyle: I always love to know what drives passion in people, and know that your family is probably on the top of this list, so what would you define as the top 3 things that make you tick and get you fired up in the morning, or get you through cold rainy days in Northern California?
Mary: Family: Taking care of my family and our pets tops the list, for sure. I’ve been married to my husband, who was a good friend in high school, for 20 years. We have a 16-year old daughter that is our joy. We also have a chocolate Labrador Retriever and a raft of small pets including a goldfish my daughter won at a school festival when she was in kindergarten that is now as big as my hand and keeps me company in my home office.
Making Stuff: I’m blessed in that I’ve been able to spend my entire work life doing what really makes me happy, which is making and marketing products for creative people. I’m always thinking of ideas for new products, creative ways to use those products and how to get them into makers’ hands. It’s so much fun seeing products I’ve been part of on store shelves and sold online.
Cooking: I love experimenting with new recipes and paring those meals with good wines. Living only 45 minutes away from the Napa and Sonoma wine regions makes it easy to visit wineries and discover new varietals. I love playing host to friends and family, when they come to visit, treating them to creatively delicious meals and showing them the beautiful wine country and other sights in Northern CA.
Kyle: What drew you to Royal Talens North America?
Mary: The reputation of the company and the well-known brands. Having been in the industry for so many years, I am very familiar with the product lines. In addition, everyone in the industry speaks so highly of the organization and the people I knew it would be a good place for me.
Kyle: What do you think is from your first impressions the greatest challenge and the greatest opportunity you see here at Royal Talens?
Mary: The greatest challenge, which is also an opportunity, will be to introduce our incredible products to new consumers who don’t know of them yet including young artists, DIY-ers and crafters.
Kyle: You are well known for having your finger on the pulse in the creative world. To what do you credit that and how did you gravitate to this industry?
Mary: Thanks. As a teen, when I first walked into Commercial Art Supply in Syracuse, NY, the city where I grew up, I was in awe and knew I wanted to be a part of making art and being around art supplies. I liked drawing and painting but didn’t feel I was good enough to make a living at it so I decided to go to college for advertising design. My first “real” job was with MacPherson’s where I was able to meld the two worlds by working for a company that distributed art supplies and running their marketing department. I’ve stayed in the creative world ever since because it makes me happy and I find everything about it so interesting.
Kyle: What do you see as the biggest challenge in this industry and what would you like to see done to instigate a change that would help overcome that challenge?
Mary: There is not much true innovation in the creative materials market. With a few exceptions like Cobra oil colors and TAP Transfer Artist Paper, not much has changed in the types of materials that are available to makers. It’s challenging to be completely innovative and the only way to do it is to look outside our industry, talk to the makers and students for ideas that would be relevant and inspiring.
Kyle: Do you have a favorite artist or art movement?
Mary: It’s really hard to pick a favorite artist so I’ll go with my friend and contemporary quilt artist Paula Nadelstern. Her kaleidoscope quilts are just incredible. Her fabric lines are pretty fabulous as well. Her use of color and pattern are incredibly inspiring to me.
Kyle: What art is on your walls, at home?
Mary: In addition to a large giclée print of one of Paula Nadelstern’s quilt blocks, I have a few pieces by my best friend Sara Lisch including a large piece my husband commissioned her to make for our 15th anniversary that is a mixed media painting under shattered safety glass. It’s a gorgeous combination of color and optical illusion and weighs a ton.
Kyle: Mary, thank you for joining our team and we look forward to your contributions towards our mission to be the preferred supplier in the industry and all of the creative, fun experiences we will share over the coming years!