Dave Savastano, Editor05.13.16
There are very few father-son combinations who have both been honored with NAPIM’s Printing Ink Pioneer Award. Larry Yoder received the 1999 Pioneer Award after a distinguished career at Flint Ink, and Greg Yoder has definitely maintained the family tradition, receiving the 2016 Pioneer Award for his years of dedicated service to the industry.
Greg naturally learned much about the industry from his father.
“My earliest exposure to the printing ink industry came before I was a teenager in the mid-1970s, visiting my father’s office at Bowers Printing Ink on Irving Park Road in Chicago,” Greg recalled. “The exposure was greatly increased when I was 16 and my father, Larry, and his three partners opened the North American Printing Ink Company (NAPIC) in 1978. They let me help clean up the building they had leased before installing the mixers and mills.
“They paid me to work in the lab in the summers, and then in manufacturing when I turned 18,” he added. “I was really bad at color matching but could at least run a mixer and a filter. I really enjoyed the work of making products for our customers.”
In 1994, Flint Ink acquired NAPIC, and Greg took on more responsibility, handling larger clients and managing a large regional sales team. He was key in helping the company grow in the publication market, and today he is the business director pressroom chemicals for Flint Group North America.
In terms of highlights, Greg points to the friendships he has developed over the years.
“Getting to know the people who are also involved in this industry, developing relationships with my co-workers and customers, is a highlight, as well as being involved with, and a part of, two separate companies that were both very successful in their own right,” he added.
When asked about key influences, Greg began with his father.
“My father, Larry Yoder, a Printing Ink Pioneer in 1999, of course, and his partners Bill Jackson, Don Koszyk, and especially Chuck Jungers all taught me more than they will ever know,” said Greg. “I still think of the advice they generously gave me almost every day. They were all like uncles who treated me with patience but never hesitated to point me in the right direction when I needed it most.
“Later, I was very fortunate to work for the Flint family, who always managed to make their employees feel important,” he added. “At Flint Ink and Flint Group, I was also fortunate to work for Bill Miller and Mike Green, who continue to be great mentors. I am very grateful to have worked with, and for, people I genuinely like and respect.”
Yoder’s colleagues say he is most deserving of the Pioneer Award.
I am pleased to see NAPIM honor Greg with the 2015 Pioneer Award,” said Bill Miller, president Print Media at Flint Group. “I met Greg when Flint Group bought NAPIC in 1994. By that time, Greg’s career path had already progressed considerably, and it was clear to Flint Group that he had tremendous knowledge in many areas of the business. Greg’s ability to understand customers’ needs and the market landscape set him apart, then and now, and he has been instrumental in helping Flint Group become a leader in the publication market.”
“Greg was a key member of my sales team for many years,” added Mike Green, VP sales - web for Flint Group. “His consistent can-do attitude and team approach quickly earned him increasing responsibilities, including working closely with some of Flint Group’s largest clients and managing a sizeable regional sales team. With his positive energy and tireless dedication to the industry, Greg has contributed substantially to Flint Group and this industry. He is a very deserving recipient of NAPIM’s Pioneer award.”
Outside of his work on behalf of NAPIM, Yoder is a member of the Chicago Printing Ink Production Club and the Grand Rapids Litho Club, and is a contributor to the Chicago Lithographer’s Club.
Outside of work, Yoder said he enjoys golf, travel and family life.
“I really enjoy golf but have not played as much now that my two sons, Grant and Jeremy, are grown and done with their golf careers,” he noted. “Now, I am enjoying travel with my wife, Jeanine, and our dog.”
Understandably, Greg is deeply honored to receive the Pioneer Award.
“Having been involved with the industry for more than 30 years, I am pretty humbled by the award because I know many of the people who have received it before me,” he said. “Any time you get to be in the same club with people you have high regard for is special. I am very appreciative of the opportunity.”
Greg naturally learned much about the industry from his father.
“My earliest exposure to the printing ink industry came before I was a teenager in the mid-1970s, visiting my father’s office at Bowers Printing Ink on Irving Park Road in Chicago,” Greg recalled. “The exposure was greatly increased when I was 16 and my father, Larry, and his three partners opened the North American Printing Ink Company (NAPIC) in 1978. They let me help clean up the building they had leased before installing the mixers and mills.
“They paid me to work in the lab in the summers, and then in manufacturing when I turned 18,” he added. “I was really bad at color matching but could at least run a mixer and a filter. I really enjoyed the work of making products for our customers.”
In 1994, Flint Ink acquired NAPIC, and Greg took on more responsibility, handling larger clients and managing a large regional sales team. He was key in helping the company grow in the publication market, and today he is the business director pressroom chemicals for Flint Group North America.
In terms of highlights, Greg points to the friendships he has developed over the years.
“Getting to know the people who are also involved in this industry, developing relationships with my co-workers and customers, is a highlight, as well as being involved with, and a part of, two separate companies that were both very successful in their own right,” he added.
When asked about key influences, Greg began with his father.
“My father, Larry Yoder, a Printing Ink Pioneer in 1999, of course, and his partners Bill Jackson, Don Koszyk, and especially Chuck Jungers all taught me more than they will ever know,” said Greg. “I still think of the advice they generously gave me almost every day. They were all like uncles who treated me with patience but never hesitated to point me in the right direction when I needed it most.
“Later, I was very fortunate to work for the Flint family, who always managed to make their employees feel important,” he added. “At Flint Ink and Flint Group, I was also fortunate to work for Bill Miller and Mike Green, who continue to be great mentors. I am very grateful to have worked with, and for, people I genuinely like and respect.”
Yoder’s colleagues say he is most deserving of the Pioneer Award.
I am pleased to see NAPIM honor Greg with the 2015 Pioneer Award,” said Bill Miller, president Print Media at Flint Group. “I met Greg when Flint Group bought NAPIC in 1994. By that time, Greg’s career path had already progressed considerably, and it was clear to Flint Group that he had tremendous knowledge in many areas of the business. Greg’s ability to understand customers’ needs and the market landscape set him apart, then and now, and he has been instrumental in helping Flint Group become a leader in the publication market.”
“Greg was a key member of my sales team for many years,” added Mike Green, VP sales - web for Flint Group. “His consistent can-do attitude and team approach quickly earned him increasing responsibilities, including working closely with some of Flint Group’s largest clients and managing a sizeable regional sales team. With his positive energy and tireless dedication to the industry, Greg has contributed substantially to Flint Group and this industry. He is a very deserving recipient of NAPIM’s Pioneer award.”
Outside of his work on behalf of NAPIM, Yoder is a member of the Chicago Printing Ink Production Club and the Grand Rapids Litho Club, and is a contributor to the Chicago Lithographer’s Club.
Outside of work, Yoder said he enjoys golf, travel and family life.
“I really enjoy golf but have not played as much now that my two sons, Grant and Jeremy, are grown and done with their golf careers,” he noted. “Now, I am enjoying travel with my wife, Jeanine, and our dog.”
Understandably, Greg is deeply honored to receive the Pioneer Award.
“Having been involved with the industry for more than 30 years, I am pretty humbled by the award because I know many of the people who have received it before me,” he said. “Any time you get to be in the same club with people you have high regard for is special. I am very appreciative of the opportunity.”
