Lakes Print began as Lakes Printing Company and was founded on December 15, 1950 when Dick Ayres purchased the "in-plant" printing operation of Berkley & Company from Berkley Bedell. Dick had been employed by the Lake Park News in an on-the-job training program popular after World War II and the Korean Conflict.

Equipment in the purchase consisted of two old hand-fed letter presses, two banks of type, a hand operated cutter, stone, lead slugs and furniture. This one-man shop had its beginning printing letterheads, envelopes, business cards and other business papers used at that time for area customers including Berkley & Company.

Equipment was added as it became affordable to the company to serve the growing needs of customers. In 1958, Lakes Printing Company installed the first offset press in the county and began offering lithograph printing to the lakes region and northwest Iowa. Heidelberg's printing press expansion into the U.S. market began by going door to door, with a printing press mounted on the back of a truck, demonstrating its capabilities to local printers across the land. Interestingly, that same Heidelberg press became the backbone of this company’s printing services.

Rick Ayres began his printing career at age 12 in the bindery, cutting and packing finished jobs. Dick believed if a father had a trade, the son should be encouraged to learn that trade also. So in high school, Rick learned from the ground up everything from dark room to press operating. Rick permanently joined the company in 1983. He is very active in the printing industry, serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Printing Industries of the Midlands 1999-2000, and serves on many committees for PIM. In 2001, Rick and Dick were separately honored as Printing Industries of the Midlands Iowa Distinguished Printer of the Year.

Rick purchased the company on January 1, 2004 and is capably leading Lakes Print as President - General Manager. By incorporating digital services such as data driven print and true one-to-one marketing, direct mailing, fulfillment and the many other ancillary services offered today, Lakes Print is positioned as your business development resource for the future.

A lot has changed since its humble beginning, but one thing hasn't...Lakes Print's commitment to customer service - going beyond the norm - establishing solid business relationships with their clientele, listening to their needs and tailoring unique programs to match each customer.