Business Rick Hill/Hill Design Group Services Advertising, Graphic Design and Consulting – Corporate Branding/Logos, & Creative Problem Solving.
Professional Starting in the early seventies working for the State of Delaware, Department of Transportation, Mapping Section. This section produced all the official maps for the state along with reports and graphics for public meetings. At the same time, started freelancing (graphic design) in central Delaware. One of my best clients at this time, was Delaware Technical and Community College. After six years with the Department of Transportation and four years freelancing for Del Tech, Del Tech created a full time position for me. For the next six years, I was responsible for all the promotional and marketing for the Terry Campus in Dover along with assisting the President’s office as well as the other campuses of Del Tech. After designing and buying printing for over ten years, I took a year to learn the other side...I was on the road as a printing sales person. A great education, but a takes a special person to do sales like that every day (and I respect sales people much more after that year).
Then in 1985, after my own extensive feasibility study, I went out on my own and started what is now known as Hill Design Group.
Over the past twenty some years I have served clients with international, national and regional markets. My clients have been located as far north as Massachusetts, as far west as California, south to Jamaica and even one which was located in Ireland. Locally I have worked with large corporate clients like Chesapeake Utilities, Dover Downs, DuPont, General Foods/Kraft Foods, Lankford/Sysco Food Service Playtex, Scott Paper, Sunroc and Townsend Chicken. On the medical side, Delaware Healthcare Association and Hospitals such as; Bayhealth, Kent General, Milford Memorial, Beebe, and Nanticoke. As far as government type clients; The USDA/Rural Development, The State of Delaware, Kent County and City of Dover. Also, Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development, Greater Milford Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development, and Kent County Tourism and Main Street Dover to name a few.
As far as company size, Hill Design Group has stayed small by design, I guess that I’m more concern with quality than quantity. Over the past years, there has only been one person who I worked with that also enjoyed the profession as much as I do (or maybe the way I do). It’s been very hard to find anyone who cares or understands that the better our clients do, the better we do (but I’m still looking).
So as of the Summer 2007 after thirty some years.....the next chapter, no employees and working by myself...I would like to say that I’m semi-retired, but I enjoy it to much to say that. I’m finding if you want something done a certain way, sometimes it better to do it yourself.
What sets HDG apart... First, I know that my bottom line goal is to sell my clients product (award winning design is great, but what good is it if the product doesn’t sell) Second, I have chosen a high pressure profession, and I enjoy a deadline. Third, I take my profession very serious, my best clients trust me to help them improve their business and in turn their livelihood, and I enjoy that. Fourth, I appreciate each and every job, I do not feel that anyone owes me anything.
Personal Born and raised in Dover. After traveling around the country, It did not take me long to realize what we have here in Central Delaware – I love Dover, I enjoy being a part of Dover and I’m glad to call Dover my home.
Education After graduating from Dover High School in 1971, attended college and majored in engineering. Then after a few years, discovered a passion for advertising and graphic design. Learned very early that this was an area where a person could professionally help businesses of all types and sizes. “my best education (by far) has been the last 30 years.”
Family BEST FRIEND & Wife - Alison Hill, the person who gave me life....we met in the summer of 2003 and hope to spend the rest of my summers with her.
DAUGHTER - Dr. Erin Hill-Burns (PhD) - Married 2008 to Dr. Andrew Burns (PhD) - Erin is doing Post-Doc Research at the Wadsworth Center in Albany, NY- Working in genetics (as of 2011), and Andrew works for GE as a Materials Scientist in NY SON - Colin Hill - US Army, Crew Chief for a Black Hawk-Medevac, stationed at Fort Drum in Watertown NY after serving a year in South Korea, spent a year in Afghanistan, returned back to the states September 2011 - very active member of the Dover Fire Company (when he is home)
Spare Time (What’s that?) I love to be outdoors, when ever possible you can find me riding my bike or working in the yard. My dream is to spend more time around the water, whether water skiing, kayaking or sailing (a 40 foot sailboat would make a great office). I also enjoy volunteering and hope to have more time to do more some time.
Civic/volunteer • Member of the Colonial Rotary Club • Volunteer with the MS Society - Delaware Chapter • (past)Caesar Rodney High School Perkins Advisory Committee • (past)Volunteer with First Night Dover (for ten+ years) • (past)Volunteer with Kent County Tourism / Amish Bike Tour • (past) Board Member for It's All Good in Delaware, Inc. • (past) MYOB Advisory Council / Los Cabos, Mexico Conference • (Past) Volunteer for the First State BMX • (Past) Volunteer for the local Shadow Program • (Past) Member of Dover High School Band Boosters • (Past) Kent County Tourism Marketing Committee • (Past) Colonial Rotary Club’s Board of Directors • (Past) Volunteered Capital Theater/Schwartz Center for the Arts • (Past) Volunteered for the Delaware Agriculture Museum • (Past) PolyTech Advisory Council • (Past) Delaware Technical & Community College Advisory Board • (Past) Appointed by the House of Representatives to serve on the Committee on Curricular Offerings and Enrollment for PolyTech • (Past) Coach with Delaware’s Odyssey of the Mind • (Past) Coach with CYO Basketball • (Past) Coach with CDSA Soccer • (Past) Kent Swim Club Board of Directors Personal Awards 1984 - 85 CDCC Award for Outstanding Service 1985 - 86 CDCC Award for Outstanding Service 1990 Award of Appreciation, Friends of Old Dover 1992 Award of Appreciation from Main Street Dover 1994 Distinguished Service Award, Holy Cross CYO Program 1995 Friend of OM Award, Delaware Odyssey of the Mind 1997 - 98 Rotarian of the Year Award 1998 - 99 Rotary Service Award 2000 Award of Appreciation for Rotary Newsletter 2000 PEAKE Partner Award, Chesapeake Utilities Corp. 2000 Award of Appreciation for Support of First State BMX 2001 Award of Appreciation for Support of First State BMX 2001 - 2002 Rotary Vocational Service Award 2001 Paul Harris Fellow - Rotary 2002 Nominee - Small Business Person of the Year - Central Delaware 2005 Nominee - Small Business Person of the Year - Central Delaware 2008 Volunteer of the Year - Kent County & Greater Dover CVB
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