Lampire Biological Laboratories Inc. in 1977.

Krug, who founded the company alongside Craig Tarler, loves people and animals.

Krug, 72, who today is president and CEO, was recently selected by a panel of three judges from among several applicants to receive the prestigious 2025 ICON Honors Award, which recognizes distinguished business leaders over the age of 60 who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, professional achievement and meaningful impact on the greater Lehigh Valley region.

Under his leadership, Lampire, founded in Doylestown, Bucks County, has grown into an internationally recognized biotechnology partner, employing more than 200 professionals across Bucks, Bedford and Lehigh counties.

Krug

Today, Lampire is a leading biotech firm providing essential biological reagents for the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries. Lampire offers custom polyclonal and monoclonal antibody development, secondary antibodies, IgGs, BSA, animal blood, tissues, organs, human serums and plasmas, cell media, OMNI C3 cell culture bags, contract manufacturing and technical support.

Krug said it was special to receive the award because he was nominated by Suzy Maria, mother of lab manager Vincent Maria.

Maria said she didn’t “nominate” Krug but “suggested’ he would be a good candidate for the award.

“That was the team at Lampire. I brought it to their attention because of this incredible man, Greg Krug, that I got to know and admire,” said Maria, who first met Krug in 2017. She said her son Vincent and Krug’s son Frank became roommates at DeSales University.

Maria started to admire Krug when the Krug family’s friend’s daughter was battling cancer.

“That is when I first saw the caring and devout spirit that Greg exhibits. The love and dedication to that family was unmeasurable,” Maria said. “Then I started to know him as a businessman, how truly gifted, talented and successful he is and how humble he remains.”

Over the years, Krug has also received the 2006 U.S. Small Business Administration’s Exporter of the Year Award for the district and region, Pennsylvania Business Central’s 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year and Top 100 People in 2005, 2006 and 2008, and finalist for the 2006 Forbes Enterprise Awards.

Always an animal lover

Krug grew up on Long Island in Garden City, N.Y. He graduated from Garden City High School in 1973 and received a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Delaware Valley College in 1977.

He loved animals from a young age.

“I got involved with horse riding. I grew up riding and was a counselor at a summer riding camp,” Krug said. “When I looked at education, I wanted to work with animals. Animals are what I loved.”

One summer, he met Louis Roth, a dairy farmer in Lutheranville, N.Y.

“I went there for summer milking cows, growing crops. It hooked me, (and) I fell in love with the whole thing,” Krug said. “When I looked at colleges, I didn’t want to be a veterinarian, I wanted more. I wanted a four-year education with a bachelor’s degree so I could go on to higher education.”

By chance, he discovered Delaware Valley College, an agricultural college.

“They had an agriculture day festival to learn about it; it had everything I wanted, it had diversity,” Krug said.

While in college, he met Craig Tarler, who owned a horse farm.

A firm approached Tarler about buying his horse farm for use as a research farm for the production of defibrinated sheep blood.

Krug and Tarler became business partners in the founding of Lampire. Tarler became Krug’s mentor, friend and confidant.

“He was like a second father to me,” Krug said.

In the early days, Lampire supplied blood for hospitals and clinical laboratories, Krug said.

Lampire started in Bucks County, but expanded into Bedford County in 1989.

“Bucks County was changing. It became more profitable for farmers to grow houses rather than livestock and crops; it was losing its agriculture base,” Krug said.

He said veterinarian Dan Burnside had a lot of clients who were moving operations to the Bedford area and said “you should think about expanding and moving out there.”

Krug said he checked out the area and rented some property from Roy Morrell, who had a beef farm and two steakhouses.

“I brought 150 donkeys and set up operations,” Krug said.

During his trip to Bedford County he met Bette Slayton, who would become president of Bedford County Development Association.

“She had a major impact on our operation going out here. She helped us grow the business in a lot of ways. She took me to Harrisburg to meet with senators and representatives to educate them about my business. She had a huge impact to this very day,” Krug said.

Local impact

Today, Lampire has a 600-acre campus in Bedford County with more than 7,500 animals of over 20 different species. Lampire recently bought 10 more acres in the Everett Industrial Park in order to expand, Krug said.

Slayton said Krug recognized the opportunity and transformed his vision into an internationally respected biotechnology company, anchored by a growing farm campus and a state-of-the-art bioprocessing laboratory.

“Lampire’s growth brought significant facility investments, the creation of high-quality jobs and strong partnerships with local suppliers. While his business acumen and leadership are exceptional, it is Greg’s kindness that stands out most. He remembers families, celebrates successes and shows genuine compassion when it matters most. He is a true gentleman,” Slayton said. “Bedford County is stronger, more diversified and more globally connected because Greg Krug chose to build Lampire here.”

Under Krug’s leadership, Lampire has grown over the years.

“He is very knowledgeable. When a problem exists he finds a solution from his own base of knowledge. He asks questions to get to the root of problems,” said Lee Kandt, general manager.

Krug is a passionate advocate for education and workforce development.

“He has devoted substantial time and resources to establishing the agriscience and biotechnology programs at the Bedford County Technical Center, which launched in 2009. Greg’s long-term investment in the county has created meaningful career pathways for students. For example, during the current school year alone, five students are employed at Lampire Biological through the school’s cooperative education program,” said Michael O’Dellick, BCTC administrative director.

Krug collaborated with the Bedford County Development Association and the Bedford County Technical Center to bring the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” video contest to Bedford County. The annual program gives middle school students the opportunity to tour local manufacturing facilities and produce short videos that showcase each company’s operations and the career opportunities available within the manufacturing sector in the local community.

“Greg is a passionate, kind-hearted individual who genuinely cares about others and lifting up his community. He goes above and beyond to take care of his people and provides conditions and opportunities for his employees to grow and develop personally and professionally,” O’Dellick said.

In 2008, Lampire’s partnership with the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center was recognized when Lampire in conjunction with the GJCTC was awarded the Education Workforce Leadership Award from the state Department of Education for the development of an education industry partnership in biotechnology.

“Working with kids is so rewarding. Helping young people is a passion and is supported by my staff. I couldn’t do it without them,” Krug said.

“What matters to him is his work with education. He loves people and education. He should be remembered by the number of companies he has mentored and helped,” Kandt said.

Despite heavy executive responsibilities, Krug is involved in local community support across the state. Krug supports youth sports and school events, clubs and activities, including the Lions Club International, Work to Ride and Tinicum Polo Club. He coaches youth football, lacrosse and basketball, in addition to being a founding member of the Deep Run Lacrosse Board.

Krug is a member of the Bedford County Development Association, Bucks County Economic Development Corporation and the Bucks County Workforce Development Board, including the Targeted Populations and Youth Council subcommittees.

Krug said he has no immediate plans to retire.

“I have a great staff and it is great staying busy. The people out here are like family to me. It is a community of caring people who work hard, take pride in their work and care about animals; it is a special culture out here,” Krug said.

The Krug file

Name: Gregory F. Krug

Age: 72

Position: President/CEO of Lampire Biological Laboratories Inc.

Education: 1973 graduate of Garden City High School in New York and 1977 graduate of Delaware Valley College with a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences

Family: Wife, Diane; five sons: Frank, Craig, Johann, Brendan and Brady

Quote: “Lampire has grown tremendously, we have stayed on the cutting edge of new technologies.”