Eric G. Wintemute did not just run American Vanguard Corporation—he took a small-scale agchem company and built it into a specialized market leader. Joining his father's small chemical company after graduating from UC San Diego with an economics degree, Eric took over as CEO in 1994 and began building what would become a billion dollar enterprise.

What happened next was methodical, relentless value creation. Over 30 years, Eric led 60+ strategic acquisitions, focusing on overlooked assets that bigger companies had abandoned. While industry giants chased blockbuster molecules, Eric saw opportunity in the difficult ones—products with regulatory challenges that required deep expertise to defend and optimize.

His contrarian approach paid off spectacularly. He took American Vanguard from over-the-counter trading to the New York Stock Exchange, building annual revenues to over $600 million and establishing operations across 20+ countries. More importantly, he proved that strategic thinking could trump deep pockets.

Eric's influence extended far beyond his company. As Chairman of CropLife America and recipient of the industry's Lifetime Achievement Award, he shaped policy and perception during agriculture's most challenging decades. He pioneered data compensation strategies under FIFRA, developed industry-standard dealer programs, and created closed delivery systems that competitors could not match.

Today, Eric operates from his ranch in Trabuco Canyon, California, where he grows his own food, is building a vineyard, and raises animals on his property. It is a fitting evolution for someone who spent his career defending the tools that feed the world. The same strategic mind that built an empire now helps others navigate an industry he knows better than anyone.