Our Team
Jamie Utz Thomas
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & BOARD MEMBER
As the CEO of Chemco Products Company since 2020, Jamie Utz Thomas is responsible for running all facets of the business. Jamie joined Chemco in 2003 and has a proven results-driven, executive management track record with active involvement on all levels of Sales, Finance, Manufacturing and Operations, Marketing, Human Resources, IT, Administration and Customer Service. Having grown up in the business, Jamie has hands on experience in the day to day running of the company and uses her knowledge and insight relating to accounts payable, billing, customer service, administrative services and providing sales support to advance Chemco. Prior to becoming CEO, Jamie was the VP and Director of Administrative Services. Jamie is very passionate about being a 3rd generation owner and ensuring that Chemco is always recruiting and retaining high caliber people who want to work somewhere that feels like an extension of their own family. She is equally passionate about providing “unparalleled customer service” to Chemco’s clients daily.
Jamie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Long Beach.
Erica Utz Wochna
CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER, PRESIDENT & BOARD MEMBER
After earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Apparel and Merchandising from Colorado State University, Erica Utz Wochna started her career in the fashion industry with Nordstrom in San Francsico. She went on to manage multiple departments in multiple locations over the course of seven years. In the fall of 2005, she found herself back in Southern California and started with Chemco developing the company’s first website and seeking their Women Owned Business Certification. After completing various company projects, she mentored under the Vice President and Founder of the company’s Water Treatment Division, training in the field and learning the science and technical aspects of Water Treatment and Wastewater Treatment.
Upon the merger of Chemco and Flo-Kem, Erica went back to school to earn her Certification in Human Resources, she began building the new department from the ground up. As she applied herself in her new role as Director of HR, she strove to find the balance between what is right for the company and the employee. In June 2020, Chemco’s Board of Directors nominated Erica as Chief People Officer and President. Now in its third generation of leadership, Erica and her sister Jamie are at the helm of Chemco’s day-to-day operations. Erica directs all aspects of employee relations, including health benefits, pension and retirement plans, legal issues, and insurance.
Julie Petritsch
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Julie Petritsch joined Chemco Products Company in 2019 as their Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Chemco, Julie was the CFO for SkyZone Trampoline Parks, Brighton Collectibles, EL Torito/Acapulco Restaurants and 3Day Blinds. Julie has more than 25 years of diversified experience as a financial leader in a broad range of industries. She is an innovative, results oriented executive, effective at orchestrating cross-functional teams and implementing workflow processes that improve and enhance sustainable profitability. She has extensive experience in implementing process efficiencies, internal control procedures, information system enhancements, and risk management strategies. Julie has a true passion for her role and believes in collaboration with the leadership team to achieve success and growth for Chemco while continued focus on unparalleled customer service.
Julie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics & Accounting from UC Santa Barbara and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Michael Bourgeois
VP OF TECHNICAL OPERATIONS
Michael Bourgeois is Vice President Technical Operations of Chemco Products Company, Inc. Prior to becoming Vice President Technical Operations in January 2021, Michael held a number of positions at Chemco including Technical Director, Water and Wastewater and Vice President Southern Region. Before joining Chemco in 2013, Michael was Vice President and General Manager of Chemicals Incorporated. With more than 30 years of in-plant operational experience, and licenses to operate a nuclear power plant, Michael’s expertise includes all phases of steam generation, cooling, and closed-loop systems, membrane processes and wastewater treatment.
Michael holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Physics and Mathematics from University of San Diego and has been designated as Certified Water Technologist by the Association of Water Technologies. In 2016 Michael was elected to the Board of Directors for the Association of Water Technologies and has served as the association Treasurer, Secretary and President.
Jeff Stanhope
VP, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Jeff joined the Chemco team in 2008 and was involved in the start-up and implementation of Chemco’s Solids Loss and Water Conservation Teams. Jeff has over 39 years of experience in Beverage/Food Processing and has a “hands-on” approach to account management. Jeff is Involved in Optimization Projects in an industrywide variety of Beverage/Food processes, CIP hydraulics, and programming, training programs including safety, environmental awareness, CIP, GMP, procedure developments, logistical planning, regional oversight, business, and account acquisitions, along with various pieces of training in HACCP, SQF, and BRC.
Prior to joining Chemco, Jeff worked for Super Stores Industries as a Lead Man as well as Foremost Dairies/Knudson as a Foreman.
David McCullough Jr.
VP OF SALES
David McCullough is Chemco’s Vice President of Sales, focusing on new business development and safeguarding our existing clients’ confidence and trust. His career began over twenty years ago in Chemco’s Engineering Department, where he learned daily operations on the ground level. As his skills and experience advanced, he trained in the Water Treatment division of the Company and worked as a Water Treatment Technician. Servicing Boilers, Cooling Towers, and Closed Loop Systems, David became fluent in the chemistries of Water Treatment and Wastewater processing.
He was promoted to an Account Manager, welcoming the multitude of responsibilities that accompany this role. David served as principal supporter and point of contact for many of Chemco’s largest Dairy and Beverage clients. He worked alongside our clients at their facilities for the next decade, cultivating his knowledge of Cleaning and Sanitizing (C&S) practices through direct experience. In his next role as Director of Sales, he brought the full scope of his expertise to the forefront, channeling it into creating innovative solutions to everyday challenges. As a specialist in waste reduction, he implemented strategies to optimize process efficiency and deliverables in cost savings for our clients. Today, David is Chemco’s Vice President of Sales and acting liaison between our Executive clients and field support groups, working hard to maintain open lines of communication and ensure our “Clients for Life” philosophy.
Janis Utz
CHIEF VISIONARY OFFICER & BOARD MEMBER
Jan Utz is Chemco’s Chief Visionary Officer, a high-level advisory position dedicated to steering the company toward a prosperous future. In the first stage of her career, circa 1972, Jan worked as a Reading Specialist, Department Chairperson, and Teacher at Anaheim High School. During that time, her father Bill Cole confided he was considering selling Chemco. However, he believed the Company could carry on with a new generation of leadership at the helm. After careful deliberation, Jan determined she would take a leave of absence from teaching to support and continue her father’s legacy.
Jan embarked on the second stage of her career, joining Chemco as a Technical Sales Representative in 1979. During her first few years, she achieved substantial sales growth, garnering new business and increasing revenue in Los Angeles and Orange Country territories. Amid mounting success, she embraced greater responsibilities, setting Company-wide objectives and goals. Moreover, she began to oversee budgets and financing, conduct training sessions for Regional Sales Teams – all while climbing the ranks from Vice President, to President, and Chief Executive Officer. By that time, she had partnered with her sister, Elaine Cooper. As a team, the women guided Chemco’s progress and applied safeguards to ensure sustainability and resiliency. Jan’s years of dedication and service to Chemco have been positively transformative.
Elaine Cooper
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Elaine Cooper is an active contributor as Chemco’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. Her story at Chemco began in 1986 when her sister Jan and father Bill asked her to join them. Elaine’s decade-long career in Hospital Pharmacy Management had demonstrated robust business acumen and a capacity for managing large-scale operations. Her doctorate in Pharmacy gave her extensive chemical knowledge and these qualities proved to be a blessing to Chemco’s success and continued growth. Once on board, she endeavored to learn all the inner workings of the company, from daily operations, to policies, acquisitions, joint business ventures, strategic decision making, and more. She became essential to handling everyday challenges, working as Chief Financial Officer, and managing budgets, finances, and retirement plans across the entire organization. Concurrently, she served as Chief Executive Officer; partnering with the Executive Management Team to establish goals, ensure adherence to company policies, authorize major plans and company growth. In close collaboration with her sister Jan and Dave McCullough, she investigated and negotiated joint ventures and new partnerships, leading to greater growth and expansion during her tenure.
Currently, she acts as liaison between Executive Management and the Board, ensuring Directors are given sufficient information to form appropriate judgments and make sound decisions. As counsel and advisor to the CEO, she imparts wisdom that can only come through years of hard-won experience.
Dave McCullough Sr.
EXECUTIVE VP OF SALES & BOARD MEMBER
David McCullough, Sr. is an integral player in Chemco’s Executive Management Team and Board Member. In 1974, Dave joined Chemco as a Technical Sales Representative. Over the years, his outstanding dedication and support spanned many areas of the business. Early contributions included developing product lines for Food, Dairy, Water Treatment, and Conveyer Lubricants. As a sales pioneer, he was instrumental in the development of Chemco’s Water Treatment Division which has grown to become one the Company’s primary and most profitable services.
Throughout his service to Chemco, his ingenuity, integrity, and dedication to our customers has been recognized by increasing levels of responsibility. He rose to General Sales Manager, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and Executive Vice President. His talent for identifying solid leaders is key to Chemco’s current success. He brought on an Executive Dairy Director that built the Dairy division from the ground up, reaching multiple millions in revenue and a sizeable increase of staff. His practice of leadership by example, insightful marketing strategies, innate enthusiasm and magnanimous spirit are cornerstones of Chemco’s family culture and camaraderie that carry through to this day.
John Grimes
SOURCING CONSULTANT & BOARD MEMBER
John has over 45 years of chemical industry experience in various sales, marketing, and operations management positions. Previously he worked for both national manufacturing and distribution companies. Before joining our team, John worked for Basic Chemical Solutions for 18 years, first starting up their Southern California operations and later helping them grow into a notable national distributor. He has been with Chemco since 2004, first as President & COO of Flo-Kem, our manufacturing arm, and then as COO after we merged in 2013.
John is currently semi-retired however he has been gracious enough to offer his expertise which allows us to optimize our manufacturing and logistics footprint to provide competitive and sustainable solutions to our supply chain. John also has been a long-term member of Chemco’s Board of Directors.
