Chris Allen, global key account management for Sun Chemical Performance Pigments, has had a long and varied career as a supplier to the ink industry, ranging from resins and ink vehicles to pigments. He has earned the respect of the industry throughout, serving on numerous committees and clubs, and is a deserving recipient of the Pioneer Award.

Allen began in the graphic arts industry in 1981, working in a variety of support roles in shipping & receiving, purchasing, production, R&D and applications support at Industrial Oil and Varnish (later called Iovite, Inc), his father Richard’s company. When a sales role at Iovite opened up, it seemed a natural. In 1989, Iovite was acquired by Akzo-Nobel and the business joined forces with SR Premier to form a leading Midwestern resin and ink vehicle producer.

In fact, working for his father was one of Chris Allen’s favorite experiences, “working for my father and learning the joys (and heartaches) of owning and operating your own business.”

In 1993, Allen joined Sun Chemical Pigments Division as ink industry manager, and became a sales and marketing manager at the Amelia, OH site where Sun Chemical produces its water-based dispersions in 1998, and was promoted to regional manager of Sun’s Pigments Division-Northeast. Along the way, Allen received numerous sales awards from Sun Chemical, and he was promoted to his current role as global key account management.

Allen credited a large number of people who influenced his career, beginning with his father as well as Josephine Fioravanti, Art Finn, Edgar Putman, Bill Breagy, Paul Klein, Maurice Carruthers, Ed Faulkner, Ed Polaski, Urban Hirsch, Ed Barr, Mel Pfaelzer and Jerry Stajura, “and far too many customers/friends and Sun Chemical colleagues to name.”

He noted that he was surprised to be named a Pioneer Award honoree.

“I was surprised, humbled, and thankful to be recognized alongside so many great people from throughout the ink industry,” he added.

Allen is also active in industry associations. In NAPIM, he has served on the convention planning committee as the golf and tennis chair for several past conventions; the MNYCA, where he received its 2018 Pioneer Award; and as an MNYPIA board member and its golf chairman. He and his wife Debbie have four children: Morgan, Conner, Brooke and Cole. Outside of work, Allen enjoys fitness, tennis, golf, fishing, cooking (especially grilling), and following the Penn State football team and all the Chicago pro sports teams.

Allen has seen numerous changes in the industry over the years.

“The loyalty that you used to have for your supplier base has unfortunately become a thing of the past,” he said. “The focus on price (prior to the pandemic) has made this the primary criteria for many buyers today. That is starting to change now with the logistics and global supply chain issues we face today. Perhaps this will be a tipping point to change that focus.”