Dave Savastano, Editor05.13.16
A 25-year veteran of the ink industry, Mike Keegan, VP of sales, paste ink for Toyo Ink America, said he is constantly surprised that he has been in the printing industry for a quarter of a century.
“I still can’t believe I have been in the printing industry for over 25 years,” Keegan sad after receiving the Printing Ink Pioneer Award from NAPIM. “I am very honored to receive this award and to be recognized with all of the recipients this year. Many fine industry people have been honored, and it is very rewarding and very humbling to be acknowledged with them.”
Keegan entered the industry right after college, starting at AM Multigraphics as an inside sales rep in 1991.
“I sold many types of graphic arts supplies including ink back then, and it helped me gain knowledge of the industry,” he added.
In 1997, Keegan joined Toyo Ink America as its Chicago sales representative, and was promoted to VP of sales in 2004. He has received many honors for his sales work within the company.
“I did win many sales awards over the years, but the most satisfying is selling to the direct accounts for over 15 years,” Keegan said. “We have sold and serviced many of the accounts and as they grew, so did Toyo. The big change in the last couple years is the energy curable market, and it is very exciting to be working for one of the leaders in this market.”
When asked about people who influenced his life, Keegan began with his parents.
“First of all, my parents, who without them I would not be where I am today,” Keegan said. “I learned my work ethic from both of them over the years and cherish my relationship with them. My first job I owe to Craig Marsh and Janet Lopac, who gave me my start and believed in me and helped pave the way to help me learn how to sell.
“At Toyo, Van Conroy and Tak O’Haru hired me and I learned from our very talented technical team, who taught me the ins and outs of ink,” he added. “John Copeland, Sumathy Ganesh and Taka Ohno all helped contribute to my knowledge of the ink industry. My wife Amanda actually persuaded me to join Toyo and kept me level headed in my new experience. She also has been able to manage the household over the years as I travel weekly. If it was not for her, I would not be able to as successful over the years without her support and I am grateful.”
Family life is of particular importance to Keegan.
“Most of my time is spent over the years with my children’s athletics,” he said. “I was able to coach all of my kids, Trent, Taylor and Trevor, in many of their travel sports. These days most of my summer time is managing Trevor’s 15U travel baseball team as we travel the Midwest on weekends.”
“I still can’t believe I have been in the printing industry for over 25 years,” Keegan sad after receiving the Printing Ink Pioneer Award from NAPIM. “I am very honored to receive this award and to be recognized with all of the recipients this year. Many fine industry people have been honored, and it is very rewarding and very humbling to be acknowledged with them.”
Keegan entered the industry right after college, starting at AM Multigraphics as an inside sales rep in 1991.
“I sold many types of graphic arts supplies including ink back then, and it helped me gain knowledge of the industry,” he added.
In 1997, Keegan joined Toyo Ink America as its Chicago sales representative, and was promoted to VP of sales in 2004. He has received many honors for his sales work within the company.
“I did win many sales awards over the years, but the most satisfying is selling to the direct accounts for over 15 years,” Keegan said. “We have sold and serviced many of the accounts and as they grew, so did Toyo. The big change in the last couple years is the energy curable market, and it is very exciting to be working for one of the leaders in this market.”
When asked about people who influenced his life, Keegan began with his parents.
“First of all, my parents, who without them I would not be where I am today,” Keegan said. “I learned my work ethic from both of them over the years and cherish my relationship with them. My first job I owe to Craig Marsh and Janet Lopac, who gave me my start and believed in me and helped pave the way to help me learn how to sell.
“At Toyo, Van Conroy and Tak O’Haru hired me and I learned from our very talented technical team, who taught me the ins and outs of ink,” he added. “John Copeland, Sumathy Ganesh and Taka Ohno all helped contribute to my knowledge of the ink industry. My wife Amanda actually persuaded me to join Toyo and kept me level headed in my new experience. She also has been able to manage the household over the years as I travel weekly. If it was not for her, I would not be able to as successful over the years without her support and I am grateful.”
Family life is of particular importance to Keegan.
“Most of my time is spent over the years with my children’s athletics,” he said. “I was able to coach all of my kids, Trent, Taylor and Trevor, in many of their travel sports. These days most of my summer time is managing Trevor’s 15U travel baseball team as we travel the Midwest on weekends.”