David Savastano, Editor05.20.19
For Daryl Collins, joining Wikoff Color was the key moment in his career.
“The most significant highlight of my career was joining Wikoff Color Corporation in 1997, which made a lasting impact on my career,” said Colins, VP of regional operations & marketing. “I am thankful for Fred Wikoff’s vision of an employee ownership culture. As I have grown in my career, I get the most satisfaction as a mentor to some of my younger colleagues and witnessing their growth in the industry. That has been a truly rewarding experience.
“Beyond that, it has been amazing to be a part of the growth at Wikoff Color, by expanding into more than just our legacy markets and targeting new opportunities in the graphic arts industry. Growing the international business has also been a challenging and rewarding experience,” added Collins. “Another highlight of my career has been to have the opportunity to expand our marketing reach to new levels, communicating who our company is to the industry. To play a key role in developing our digital ink business to something to be very proud of today, with still much more room to grow, is a lot of fun.”
Collins had gotten his start in the printing industry in 1980 with Owens-Illinois selling paper packaging.
“In 1986, the company sold off segments of their business, including selling their paper packaging business to Georgia Pacific,” Collins recalled. “When Georgia Pacific decided they were not interested in the flexographic ink and printing plate operations, they sold that segment to Sun Chemical. One of my first mentors, Bill Wilson, was managing the ink and printing plate plant in Maumee, OH and recruited me to be part of the national accounts sales team in 1987.”
The growing emphasis on packaging inks has been a key change at Wikoff Color.
“Speaking for Wikoff Color, because of the changes in the industry to commercial and publication segments, we have focused on new opportunities in packaging and labeling, and new product innovations. Brands are always looking for ways to make their products stand out on the shelf and the ink industry plays a key role in helping companies promote their brand effectively,” said Collins.
Collins noted that he is thankful for the many people who have had an influence on his career.
“Very early on in my career, Charlie Sullivan, who was the sales manager at Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company in Charlotte, instilled a real love of sales and business in me,” Collins said. “I would describe him as a great, old-school manager who showed me what managing people was really about—caring about the people who work you and putting their success before your own. Bill Wilson of Owens-Illinois and Sun Chemical was another big influencer while I was developing as a professional in this industry. Later in my career when I joined Wikoff Color, I had the privilege to work side-by-side with, and learn from, Fred Wikoff, Phil Lambert, Buck Rorie and now Greg Burch and Geoff Peters. I have truly enjoyed working side by side with those important figures of Wikoff Color.”
Outside of Wikoff Color, Collins has served on NAPIM’s Management Information Committee for the past two years. He has been active in the Paperboard Packaging Council, the FTA, LPIA, and PIA Carolinas.
Collins noted that he enjoys travel, learning languages, being with family and more.
“I love to travel and experience different cultures, see new places and meet new people,” he noted. “Foreign languages are my favorite hobby; Spanish, Greek, Italian and Portuguese. I practice and learn every day. I also enjoy playing golf, watching sports and spending quality time my family and grandkids.”
Collins said that receiving the Pioneer Award is a tremendous honor.
“There are plenty of deserving people in this industry, so I am very grateful and appreciative to receive the Pioneer Award,” said Collins. “When they began to introduce the recipient of the award at the ceremony, I was trying to guess who it was and my mind went through a long list of old colleagues that it could be before I finally realized they were describing my career. I was happy that my wife, Renee, my partner and best friend for almost 40 years, was able to attend. I also enjoyed seeing a lot of good friends from my early career at Sun Chemical.”
“The most significant highlight of my career was joining Wikoff Color Corporation in 1997, which made a lasting impact on my career,” said Colins, VP of regional operations & marketing. “I am thankful for Fred Wikoff’s vision of an employee ownership culture. As I have grown in my career, I get the most satisfaction as a mentor to some of my younger colleagues and witnessing their growth in the industry. That has been a truly rewarding experience.
“Beyond that, it has been amazing to be a part of the growth at Wikoff Color, by expanding into more than just our legacy markets and targeting new opportunities in the graphic arts industry. Growing the international business has also been a challenging and rewarding experience,” added Collins. “Another highlight of my career has been to have the opportunity to expand our marketing reach to new levels, communicating who our company is to the industry. To play a key role in developing our digital ink business to something to be very proud of today, with still much more room to grow, is a lot of fun.”
Collins had gotten his start in the printing industry in 1980 with Owens-Illinois selling paper packaging.
“In 1986, the company sold off segments of their business, including selling their paper packaging business to Georgia Pacific,” Collins recalled. “When Georgia Pacific decided they were not interested in the flexographic ink and printing plate operations, they sold that segment to Sun Chemical. One of my first mentors, Bill Wilson, was managing the ink and printing plate plant in Maumee, OH and recruited me to be part of the national accounts sales team in 1987.”
The growing emphasis on packaging inks has been a key change at Wikoff Color.
“Speaking for Wikoff Color, because of the changes in the industry to commercial and publication segments, we have focused on new opportunities in packaging and labeling, and new product innovations. Brands are always looking for ways to make their products stand out on the shelf and the ink industry plays a key role in helping companies promote their brand effectively,” said Collins.
Collins noted that he is thankful for the many people who have had an influence on his career.
“Very early on in my career, Charlie Sullivan, who was the sales manager at Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company in Charlotte, instilled a real love of sales and business in me,” Collins said. “I would describe him as a great, old-school manager who showed me what managing people was really about—caring about the people who work you and putting their success before your own. Bill Wilson of Owens-Illinois and Sun Chemical was another big influencer while I was developing as a professional in this industry. Later in my career when I joined Wikoff Color, I had the privilege to work side-by-side with, and learn from, Fred Wikoff, Phil Lambert, Buck Rorie and now Greg Burch and Geoff Peters. I have truly enjoyed working side by side with those important figures of Wikoff Color.”
Outside of Wikoff Color, Collins has served on NAPIM’s Management Information Committee for the past two years. He has been active in the Paperboard Packaging Council, the FTA, LPIA, and PIA Carolinas.
Collins noted that he enjoys travel, learning languages, being with family and more.
“I love to travel and experience different cultures, see new places and meet new people,” he noted. “Foreign languages are my favorite hobby; Spanish, Greek, Italian and Portuguese. I practice and learn every day. I also enjoy playing golf, watching sports and spending quality time my family and grandkids.”
Collins said that receiving the Pioneer Award is a tremendous honor.
“There are plenty of deserving people in this industry, so I am very grateful and appreciative to receive the Pioneer Award,” said Collins. “When they began to introduce the recipient of the award at the ceremony, I was trying to guess who it was and my mind went through a long list of old colleagues that it could be before I finally realized they were describing my career. I was happy that my wife, Renee, my partner and best friend for almost 40 years, was able to attend. I also enjoyed seeing a lot of good friends from my early career at Sun Chemical.”
