National Council - Jim Hammer

James E. Hammer, president and CEO of Hammer Packaging, began his career at the former Hammer Lithograph in 1969 in the sales and customer service department. He was promoted to vice president in 1975 and to president and CEO in 1983. He is a member of the World Presidents Organization and has served as president of the National Label Printing Industries of America. Under Jim's leadership the company has been awarded Best Workplace in America and has received the Rochester Business Ethics Awards, as well as being named to the Inc. 5000 and Rochester Top 100 list of fastest growing privately held companies. Jim has personally received numerous distinctions including being the recipient of the Lewis Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award, Power of Communication Award and the Herbert W. Vanden Brul Entrepreneurial Award from RIT.

Jim was also inducted into the Rochester and New York Business Halls of Fame and has received the Business Person of the Year by the Rochester Small Business Council, and being honored with the Gaudete medal from St. Bonaventure University. Hammer currently serves on the boards of the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Doyle Security, and Canfield & Tack. He received his B.A. in marketing from Drake College of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.