David Savastano, Editor07.18.22
In 1987, looking for a career change, Dennis Sweet moved from engineering to producing consumables for printing. The career change proved to be a huge success, as Sweet, who is VP, narrow web, tag and label (NWTL), commercial, Rycoline and distributors at Sun Chemical, received the 2022 Pioneer Award.
“I was looking to change careers from pure design engineering to a consumable product, and answered an advertisement from JM Huber Corporation,” Sweet said. “I went to work in the company’s ink division in 1987 as a product specialist.”
The buyout of JM Huber and Sweet’s move to Sun Chemical in 1995 are key moments in his career in the ink industry.
“One of the first highlights of my career was the buyout of JM Huber by venture capitalists in the 1990s,” Sweet recalled. “I was left on the board with the president of the company, which was a singular learning experience that informed much of my career. And, of course, the decision to join Sun Chemical 27 years ago is another, and I could not be more grateful for the opportunities and people I work with.”
While at Sun Chemical, Sweet has had the opportunity to work with many industry icons.
“I have had many key influences in my career, far too many to count,” he added. “However, industry leaders such as Ron Baker, Ed Barr and Massie Odiotti all taught me invaluable lessons about the industry and leadership as a whole.”
When asked how the ink industry has evolved over the years, Sweet said so much has changed.
“Almost everything has changed,” Sweet noted. “I started in the newspaper ink business, went into the heatset business, sheetfed, Rycoline and now narrow web, tag and label. I think each was unique, but what I see is more and more reliance on our expertise in all areas of printing from the industry.
“The true craftspeople of the past are dwindling and many printers are struggling to replace that talent,” he added. “They rely on their suppliers and lean a lot on ink makers to help solve problems and get them prepared for the ever-changing requirements of substrates, recycling, sustainability and more.”
Outside of work, Sweet enjoys working on and driving his cars as well as traveling with his wife Yvonne.
“I have always been a car buff,” Sweet said. “I love working on and driving cars – sports cars, in particular. I also enjoy traveling with my wife, but that has been curtailed since the COVID-19 pandemic began. I also like to play golf, but it doesn’t like me!”
Sweet said he is honored to receive the Pioneer Award.
“I am very honored that I was nominated by the president of Sun Chemical North America, Chris Parrilli, and even more honored to be chosen for the award,” Sweet concluded. “It is a special privilege to receive an award like this when you have spent most of your adult life working in the ink industry. I am humbled to have been chosen.”
“I was looking to change careers from pure design engineering to a consumable product, and answered an advertisement from JM Huber Corporation,” Sweet said. “I went to work in the company’s ink division in 1987 as a product specialist.”
The buyout of JM Huber and Sweet’s move to Sun Chemical in 1995 are key moments in his career in the ink industry.
“One of the first highlights of my career was the buyout of JM Huber by venture capitalists in the 1990s,” Sweet recalled. “I was left on the board with the president of the company, which was a singular learning experience that informed much of my career. And, of course, the decision to join Sun Chemical 27 years ago is another, and I could not be more grateful for the opportunities and people I work with.”
While at Sun Chemical, Sweet has had the opportunity to work with many industry icons.
“I have had many key influences in my career, far too many to count,” he added. “However, industry leaders such as Ron Baker, Ed Barr and Massie Odiotti all taught me invaluable lessons about the industry and leadership as a whole.”
When asked how the ink industry has evolved over the years, Sweet said so much has changed.
“Almost everything has changed,” Sweet noted. “I started in the newspaper ink business, went into the heatset business, sheetfed, Rycoline and now narrow web, tag and label. I think each was unique, but what I see is more and more reliance on our expertise in all areas of printing from the industry.
“The true craftspeople of the past are dwindling and many printers are struggling to replace that talent,” he added. “They rely on their suppliers and lean a lot on ink makers to help solve problems and get them prepared for the ever-changing requirements of substrates, recycling, sustainability and more.”
Outside of work, Sweet enjoys working on and driving his cars as well as traveling with his wife Yvonne.
“I have always been a car buff,” Sweet said. “I love working on and driving cars – sports cars, in particular. I also enjoy traveling with my wife, but that has been curtailed since the COVID-19 pandemic began. I also like to play golf, but it doesn’t like me!”
Sweet said he is honored to receive the Pioneer Award.
“I am very honored that I was nominated by the president of Sun Chemical North America, Chris Parrilli, and even more honored to be chosen for the award,” Sweet concluded. “It is a special privilege to receive an award like this when you have spent most of your adult life working in the ink industry. I am humbled to have been chosen.”