Dave LaCosse's Second Act

After 38 years, Dave LaCosse, our VP of Sales, is ending his tenure with GT SCHMIDT. He says it is not a retirement but the next step as he prepares for his “second act.” This will involve many things: a well-deserved vacation and time to pursue business consulting opportunities. Mostly he hopes to find a role in a non-profit organization that mentors and serves at-risk children.

When Dave started in 1983 shortly after finishing school, the marking industry consisted primarily of roll marking and tooling. As Dave’s career grew, so too did GT SCHMIDT. His tenure here became intertwined with the company’s history, reflecting a frenetic period in an industry not only influenced by emergent technology but also transformative events. Dave helped GT SCHMIDT establish itself as a leader in pin marking and pushed hard to enter the laser market. He navigated GT SCHMIDT through many personnel and cultural changes. He helped the company survive several recessions and, of course, the COVID pandemic. 

Though Dave’s official titles are limited to customer service and sales, the changing landscape of the marking industry and the world around it required him to contribute in several departments to help GT SCHMIDT adapt and grow over the last 38 years. Perhaps his biggest contribution is the education and mentoring he provided other employees. He built many of them up and watched as they too became successful and contributed to GT SCHMIDT’s growth in their own ways.

We are thankful for all of Dave’s contributions to GT SCHMIDT. He leaves as VP of Sales but we will remember him as a leader, mentor, and friend. His time here will be a tough act to follow. We wish him the best in all his future endeavors.