Chris Appelgren has been owner and president Lookout! Records since 1997 when label founder Larry Livermore and partner Patrick Hynes retired. Appelgren began working at Lookout in early 1989, and ran the independent punk record label until the company discontinued releasing new albums and laid off the staff in connection with a series of financial troubles that caused the label to end its relationship with Green Day, Operation Ivy and other bands in 2005.