Editor’s Note: After joining Wikoff Color in 2006, Geoff Peters rose to president and CEO, leading the company through growth as well as challenging times during COVID. Peters is presently serving as president of the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM). As he prepares for retirement, Peters took some time to offer his thoughts on his time in the ink industry, the changes he has seen and what the future may hold for the ink industry.


David Savastano: What led you to join Wikoff Color and the ink industry?

Geoff Peters: In 2006, Wikoff Color had just completed its third acquisition in three years and Phil Lambert, Wikoff’s president and CEO, was looking to expand the company’s senior leadership team. At the time I was looking for new opportunity which could lead to running a business. Phil Lambert hired me with the understanding that I would have a chance, but not a guarantee, to run the company in the future. I guess it all worked out OK!


David Savastano: What have been some of the accomplishments that you are most proud of?

Geoff Peters: First and foremost, I am proud of the continuation of our strong employee-ownership culture. Wikoff Color has been majority-owned by its employees for almost 40 years and during my tenure as CEO, that employee-ownership culture has continued to drive the company forward. There are a number of other things that also make me proud, including our significant West Coast expansion, the opening of our UK branch in Leeds, and our Brazilian and Braden Sutphin acquisitions. I am also really proud of how well our employees have managed the highs and lows of the unprecedented last three years and how we continued to provide outstanding service to our customers during these tumultuous times.


David Savastano: Under your leadership, Wikoff Color joined NAPIM, and you are the current president of NAPIM. What led you to join NAPIM, and how does the ink industry benefit from NAPIM?

Geoff Peters: Wikoff decided to join NAPIM for a number of reasons. We believed it was important to do our part to support our industry on governmental and regulatory issues, we saw NAPIM as a great place to network, especially with our supplier community (the TAMs) and we believed we could benefit from the significant resources that NAPIM makes available to its members. I believe the ink industry today benefits from NAPIM for all of those reasons I mentioned above, and in this turbulent regulatory environment, I don’t know how an ink company or TAM can do without NAPIM’s resources.


David Savastano: What are some of your favorite memories of your time at Wikoff Color?

Geoff Peters: There are so many great memories it is hard to narrow them down to a few. I have absolutely loved the deep and lasting relationships that we have built with our customers. I also have great memories of the retelling of stories from our past, especially at our annual management meetings. Since I never personally met Fred Wikoff (he died in 2003 and I joined Wikoff in 2006), it was great to hear Fred Wikoff stories shared when our leaders gathered together. He was quite a character and so much of what he believed and implemented is still practiced by our employees today. I also loved having a chance each year to recognize our top performing branch by awarding them the Philip L. Lambert trophy and all of the benefits that came with it.


David Savastano: During your nearly two decades at Wikoff Color, the ink and printing industry has seen tremendous changes. How is Wikoff Color positioned for the coming years?

Geoff Peters: I think Wikoff is very well positioned moving forward. Not only do we have an outstanding leadership team that was strengthened further with the addition of Mark C. Lewis as our new CEO, but we also have a vibrant strategic plan and technical support and service capabilities that are greatly needed by customers in the markets we serve.


David Savastano: What would your advice be to the present and future leaders in the ink industry?

Geoff Peters: Our industry leaders need to be focused on what our customers are thinking and where their industries are headed, the role technology will play in the future of our industry and how to attract and retain a young and diverse work force so we know we will have strong leadership for years to come.


David Savastano: What are your plans for the coming years?

Geoff Peters: After continuing to work for Wikoff on a part-time basis during a period of overlap with Mark Lewis, I plan to continue to serve on the Wikoff Color Board of Directors. I also plan to complete my NAPIM leadership responsibilities. After that, life in retirement will include lots of travel, extensive family time, service work in a mentorship capacity, continued involvement with my church and plenty of time playing golf and engaging in other outdoor activities.


David Savastano: Is there anything that you would like to add?

Geoff Peters: I would just like to add a message to the young leaders in our industry. The ink industry has been and will continue to be a great place to work. If you work hard and stay flexible to new challenges and opportunities, you can have a very successful and lucrative career.