David Savastano, Editor07.18.22
We often hear unique stories of how a person joined the ink and allied industries, but Larry Bykerk’s entrance into the pigment industry is one of a kind. After all, it isn’t every day that a flower show plays a role.
However, that was what happened. Bykerk, the VP – sales for Apollo Colors Inc., found himself up in Holland, MI while taking an exchange student to a tulip festival. He decided to check for jobs while he was there.
“While I was a student at Michigan State University, I had the opportunity to take an exchange student from the Netherlands to Holland, MI so he could research the Tulip Time Festival for his sponsor,” Bykerk recalled. “He did his work while I visited the Chamber of Commerce to obtain contact information on local businesses. One of those companies was Chemetron Pigments.”
Chemetron Pigments was a leader in the pigment industry, a place where many of the future leaders of the pigment industry started their careers. Two of the pigment industry’s icons, Tom Rogers and Rucker Wickline, met with Bykerk.
“I interviewed with Tom Rogers and Rucker Wickline, and after they hired me, I spent the next six months in their newly created sales training program,” Bykerk said. “In January 1975, I was sent to cover accounts in the Chicago territory.
“After five years with Chemetron – now BASF – I had the opportunity to join Warren Norton at Apollo Colors,” he added. “As they say, the rest is history, as I’ve been with Apollo for the last 43 years.”
Bykerk noted that the pigment industry has changed dramatically over the last 48 years.
“While I spent most of my career at just one company, the pigment business was constantly evolving,” he said. “In the business of selling flushed colors, there have been at least a dozen companies we competed against at one point or another. Today, Apollo Colors is pretty much ‘last man standing’, which is a testament to our team and quality products.”
The ink industry has changed as well, as digital printing continues to make gains.
“The digital transformation that has taken place in printing has driven the ink industry to adapt to these changes or risk failure,” Bykerk observed. “It’s no one’s fault – it’s just progress.”
Bykerk has worked with many pigment industry icons, and counts them among his mentors.
“At the top of the list would be Tom Rogers, who hired me at Chemetron and later became president of Apollo Colors,” Bykerk noted. “Others who influenced and shaped my early view of the ink industry are George Winandy from Chemetron, Warren Norton, Norm Rumph and Kent Rowder at Apollo Colors, Tom Cosper from T&C Graphic Supply, Bill Otten at Inmont and Nick Boyd from Sinclair & Valentine.”
Outside of work, Bykerk and his wife Kristine both enjoy golf and fishing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. “I also try to keep my doctor and daughter happy by taking long, brisk walks. And did I mention my two grandsons, Luke and Ben?”
Bykerk said he is thankful and honored to be chosen to receive the Pioneer Award.
“Being presented with a Pioneer Award certainly goes down as a career highlight,” Bykerk said. “I’m very grateful and thankful for this recognition as I approach retirement. I am honored and very surprised. To be presented with the award that so many industry greats have received is truly humbling.”
However, that was what happened. Bykerk, the VP – sales for Apollo Colors Inc., found himself up in Holland, MI while taking an exchange student to a tulip festival. He decided to check for jobs while he was there.
“While I was a student at Michigan State University, I had the opportunity to take an exchange student from the Netherlands to Holland, MI so he could research the Tulip Time Festival for his sponsor,” Bykerk recalled. “He did his work while I visited the Chamber of Commerce to obtain contact information on local businesses. One of those companies was Chemetron Pigments.”
Chemetron Pigments was a leader in the pigment industry, a place where many of the future leaders of the pigment industry started their careers. Two of the pigment industry’s icons, Tom Rogers and Rucker Wickline, met with Bykerk.
“I interviewed with Tom Rogers and Rucker Wickline, and after they hired me, I spent the next six months in their newly created sales training program,” Bykerk said. “In January 1975, I was sent to cover accounts in the Chicago territory.
“After five years with Chemetron – now BASF – I had the opportunity to join Warren Norton at Apollo Colors,” he added. “As they say, the rest is history, as I’ve been with Apollo for the last 43 years.”
Bykerk noted that the pigment industry has changed dramatically over the last 48 years.
“While I spent most of my career at just one company, the pigment business was constantly evolving,” he said. “In the business of selling flushed colors, there have been at least a dozen companies we competed against at one point or another. Today, Apollo Colors is pretty much ‘last man standing’, which is a testament to our team and quality products.”
The ink industry has changed as well, as digital printing continues to make gains.
“The digital transformation that has taken place in printing has driven the ink industry to adapt to these changes or risk failure,” Bykerk observed. “It’s no one’s fault – it’s just progress.”
Bykerk has worked with many pigment industry icons, and counts them among his mentors.
“At the top of the list would be Tom Rogers, who hired me at Chemetron and later became president of Apollo Colors,” Bykerk noted. “Others who influenced and shaped my early view of the ink industry are George Winandy from Chemetron, Warren Norton, Norm Rumph and Kent Rowder at Apollo Colors, Tom Cosper from T&C Graphic Supply, Bill Otten at Inmont and Nick Boyd from Sinclair & Valentine.”
Outside of work, Bykerk and his wife Kristine both enjoy golf and fishing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. “I also try to keep my doctor and daughter happy by taking long, brisk walks. And did I mention my two grandsons, Luke and Ben?”
Bykerk said he is thankful and honored to be chosen to receive the Pioneer Award.
“Being presented with a Pioneer Award certainly goes down as a career highlight,” Bykerk said. “I’m very grateful and thankful for this recognition as I approach retirement. I am honored and very surprised. To be presented with the award that so many industry greats have received is truly humbling.”
