Tracy Hoffmann

“I have been blessed to have had many opportunities in both life and love, and I would not change a single thing."

Tracy Hoffmann, a member of the class of 1975, is a proud Red Knight who chased and manifested an amazing life for himself. Graduating with countless opportunities with which to build this fulfilling life, his creativity and dedication ultimately brought him into the publishing world, creating his own company, the Hoffmann Publishing Group.

During high school, he shares that attending Reading High gave him countless opportunities to build a fulfilling life. He stated, “The educational curriculum was among the most advanced in the nation and, combined with the sheer depth of extracurricular activities, gave students the chance to pursue a multitude of vocations and avocations.” Before starting his publishing career, in his high school years, he wanted to pursue a career in broadcasting. He was the public address announcer during his junior and senior years for the Reading High football and basketball teams. Mr. Hoffmann was an active student, availing himself to several clubs and activities such as Key Club, Marching Band, Knight Life, A Cappella Choir, and sports teams such as baseball and soccer. He also participated in Knight Life, the student-run Red Knight TV show. “I was always a student with great desires to explore as much as possible. It was my chance to meet so many diverse classmates.” 

Mr. Hoffmann had many admirable teachers and role models whom he looked up to throughout his junior and senior high school years. One such individual was former RHS principal, Dr. Flannery. But his biggest inspiration and role model was his father, Ray Hoffmann, who taught 10th grade English at Northwest Junior High School. His father taught him that learning can be fun and could open many opportunities if one applied themselves. But Mr. Hoffmann had not forgotten his other role models. “I would be remiss if I did not mention others who inspired me, including Dorothy Grove, a Math teacher at Northwest, for building the blocks for critical thinking by making complex math easy (go SSMCIS for those who know [Secondary School Mathematics Curriculum Improvement Study Group for those who don’t :)]); Mary Schweimler, an English teacher at Northwest, for presenting the early lessons in understanding the power of using grammar correctly; and Tom Fox, the RHS Knight Life advisor, for giving kids the access to incredible communications experiences in the studio.”

Mr. Hoffmann states that classes like English and Typing have helped him start his publishing business. “I learned that a good command of the written and spoken word had the power to motivate and influence actions.” He was involved in German classes in 9th grade through 11th grade, but decided that he did not want to take German his senior year, to which his father told him that if he didn’t want to take the class, then he’d have to take Typing. Although he didn’t really make the decision himself, he states that it was a helpful skill. “While not necessarily my decision, it [Typing] was a skill that I used successfully to earn extra money in college by quickly typing papers for several classmates. More importantly, it has been instrumental in my personal and professional growth as computers account for more than 65% of all communications in the world.” 

Through personal experience, Tracy shares his thoughts on how college can shape a person and contribute to their personal and professional growth. “I have learned that everyone can be a successful learner if they open themselves to diverse thoughts and ideas,” Mr. Hoffmann states. He believes that college provided him with the ability to be more open-minded to other ideas, performance expectations, and teaching methods that apply to real work/life relationships. This includes listening to ideas or books that don’t align with your beliefs/interests. “We have many bosses throughout the course of our careers, so adaptability has been an asset to reaching common goals in all work and life relationships.” He advocates that students take any and every opportunity to do public speaking, even if it’s just reading books out loud, whether that be in private, in front of their families, or in front of teachers and parents. Why is this useful? It builds comfort, composure, and confidence. Tracy says, “Much of what we do today involves communication with others, so why not be prepared to speak at a moment’s notice?”

Mr. Hoffmann attended Grahm Junior College in Boston, Massachusetts. The school specializes in radio and television production, which is exactly what he used to want to pursue. “Through my studies and pursuits, I was lucky enough to secure a full-time internship during my last semester in the newsroom at WBZ-TV, the CBS affiliate in Boston. It was an incredible experience, but unfortunately, I did not land a full-time position after graduation.” Continuing his education, he enrolled at Temple University to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of Communications and Theatre, focusing on Journalism and Marketing. He said these experiences ultimately led him to a broader career in communications. When he came back to Reading, he landed early-career positions in educational TV, multi-media/film production, copywriting, sales, and marketing. Those experiences inspired him to pursue owning and managing an advertising agency (Niemczyk Hoffmann Group, founded in 1989) for 23 years, then transitioning it to a publishing company (The Hoffmann Publishing Group) for another 12 years.

Mr. Hoffmann currently serves on the board of the Reading Education Foundation, a program that provides advanced educational experiences for children in the Reading School District. It involves retired educators, concerned citizens, and engaged business alumni who care deeply about these kids. Tracy states, “I think it’s important that we all lend our talents, skills, and time, where possible, to continue fostering a stronger community.” His longest community service term was with the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance. He describes it as “The most collective group of business and community members seeking to make our community a more rewarding place to live, work, and play.” He served on the Chamber’s board over a period of 20 years, eventually becoming Chairman for two years. The Chamber ties business, industry, education, and advocacy together to create a thriving community. Mr. Hoffmann also served on the Penn State Berks Community Advisory Board for 10 years and the West Reading/Wyomissing Rotary Club for 20 years. Both of these groups provide services to young people in the city and for the community at large.  

Tracy Hoffmann’s journey is a story of perseverance, community, and a passion for learning. From his days as a Red Knight at Reading High to building a successful career in publishing, his story illustrates how the foundation laid by education, hard work, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities can shape an extraordinary life. Now, as a leader in both business and community service, he continues to give back, making a meaningful difference for others. Aside from all his hard work and the strength of his education, being the person he is now, Tracy Hoffmann will forever be an RHS Red Knight! “Once a Red Knight, Always A Red Knight!”