Greg Nicka is president and chief operating officer of Brainerd Chemical Co., which he joined in 2005. With 27 years in the chemical industry, Nicka helps oversee Brainerd's headquarters, distribution, packaging and rail facilities, as well as financial performance. The native Tulsan attended Memorial High School and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World
1: Can you describe Brainerd Chemical's focus in Tulsa and its reach elsewhere?
Our focus here is to support the local economy and be a great steward of the environment while growing our business. The more successful we are, the more we can expand our workforce and, therefore, add to the city's economic development. We believe the way we conduct business has a positive impact on our communities.
In addition to operations in Tulsa, we have facilities in Tuttle, Okla., and Dunn, N.C.
2: As a distributor, what types of chemicals do you most commonly move and typically for what purposes?
We're a full-line chemical distributor that specializes in many chemicals for a variety of industries including, but not limited to, poultry, personal care, oilfield and aviation. Our products are used in everything from cleaning processes to hand lotion, shampoo and other common forms of personal hygiene merchandise.
Oilfield chemicals are generally sold to companies that do oilfield blending. They mix products together to form solutions like corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors and descalers that are used in the treatment of wells.
The aviation industry primarily uses our chemicals in cleaning and water treatment processes.
3: Your website says Brainerd is the only company "drumming" 99 percent nitric acid in the U.S. What does that mean and what is the industrial end use for that chemical?
Drumming is the process of packaging, storing and transporting material in some type of container. To the best of our knowledge, we're the only company in the U.S. that's doing this with 99 percent nitric acid.
We are specialized in an industry that is very important to the economy. Companies will always need this product, and they look to Brainerd as a safe, quality-oriented organization that handles it. The 99 percent nitric acid is used for a variety of needs, including powder metal molding.
4: What attracted you into the chemical business, and what keeps you there?
My father, Bob Nicka, brought me into the chemical industry in the early 1980s. I worked for him throughout high school and college. In 1988, I decided to make a full-time career in the chemical industry because I understood and valued the important role it plays in the U.S. and world economies.
At Brainerd Chemical, it's the people who keep me here. I've worked for several good companies in my career, but Mathew Brainerd is one of best CEOs you'll ever encounter.
Our company embraces honesty, integrity and just plain kindness. We have a great team, and I'm very proud to be a part of this organization.
5: You're a former baseball player. What do you think of the game today?
I believe baseball is still a great game, but it's too slow for me now. I think it has lost its position as far as the best game to play or watch. The up-tempo pace of games like football and basketball have taken over in popularity, and I, too, prefer these sports.
I'm not sure how to speed the game up or make it more exciting, but something needs to happen.
I hope the younger generation can connect with baseball. After all, it's America's game.
Original Print Headline: Fulfilling an industry's needs
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