PROFILE: Tim Stout, Hudson Bay Insulation

Photo: The Stout Family – L-R: Son Griffin, Tim, daughter Melanie and wife Paula. photo courtesy Paula Stout.

After six years on the National Insulation Association (NIA) Board of Directors, Tim Stout is stepping down.

“We have been very fortunate to have Tim’s leadership on both the local and national level,” said Robert Bergman, Executive Director of WICA. “He has been a great asset to our board and the organization.”

Tim began his 31-years-and-counting career in insulation contracting as a driver in 1985. The Seattle-based company was known then as “VVH”, and was a non-union shop, allowing Tim to work his way up, and begin installing insulation for the company.

In 1990, two big changes came to VVH: first, the company reorganized, became a union company, and renamed itself Hudson Bay Insulation, and second, Tim moved from the field to the office as an estimator and project manager.

He continued to work his way up in the company, and in 2000, Tim became one of the Vice Presidents and Principals of Hudson Bay.

Because part of his experience included working in the field, Tim approaches things from a different perspective, according to Ken Gritter, one of Tim’s partners at Hudson Bay, and who started at the company at about the same time. “He cares about the guys in the field and the projects on a different level,” he added.

At WICA, Tim served as a board member for several years, worked his way through the chairs as Treasurer, Vice President and then served as president of the organization in 2006, and immediate past-president in 2007. He followed that by staying on another two-year term as a board member. In 2010, he took on the mantle of NIA Board of Directors, which also made him an  Ex Officio Representative to the WICA Board. He holds that position until the end of this year.

“It’s good to have that connection with organizations around the country,” said Ken. He added Tim has been diligent at flying out to NIA meetings and reporting back to the WICA board over his entire tenure.

Early Life & Family

Before starting at VVH/Hudson Bay, Tim was on a completely different career path. Sometimes going by the nickname “T.J.”, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds parent organization in 1980 when he was only 18. He spent two seasons working his way up to the A level Cedar Rapids Reds minor league team. His baseball card, pictured here, is worth $4.95 at one memorabilia website. One of his main accomplishments, as told by Ken, was to get yelled at by Cincinnati Red’s Hall of Fame Catcher Johnny Bench.

In between baseball and insulation, Tim spent time as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. In fact, he was visiting home and planning to go back for the season when a friend told him VVH was hiring.

Tim also began a family in the Seattle area with his wife Paula, whom he’s known since high school. Together, they have two grown children, son Griffin and daughter Melanie. Hiking with his family is one of his favorite pastimes, as well as golf (his team place third at the 2016 WICA Annual Convention Golf Tournament). “He’s adventurous and loves everything outdoors – hiking, biking, boating, fishing, crabbing, clamming,” said Paula. Competition infuses recreation occasionally: Tim has ridden in the STP (Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic) with WICA’s Robert Bergman.

When asked to describe Tim at work, Ken said, “Tim is always willing to take on any challenge put before him,” which helped him serve as co-owner of the company for the past 16 years. Tim’s personal life also benefits from that approach: “He’s always been one to jump in. When other people have been [reticent] about wearing a costume or a big wig to the President’s Dinner at WICA conventions – he’s never been afraid of that.”

Rick Sutphin from Performance Contracting Inc. will take over as NIA Board member and representative to WICA beginning in January.