AMGUARD Strengthens U.S. Specialty Markets Team

Two promotions and four new hires demonstrate commitment to AMGUARD and OHP specialty market customers

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina | June 18, 2025 – AMGUARD™ Environmental Technologies (“AMGUARD”), the specialty markets division of AMVAC Chemical Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Vanguard Corporation (“AVD”), is pleased to announce six appointments to bolster its commitment to serving US specialty market customers.

Frank Fornari was promoted from OHP Technical Sales Manager to Director of Sales. Frank has been responsible for achieving record-setting nursery and greenhouse sales performance in Florida and Alabama. Prior to OHP, he worked in the specialty markets with BASF and Valent. In his new role, Frank will be responsible for growing and managing the ornamentals and Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) businesses.

Sam Drahn was promoted from OHP Technical Manager to Director of Technical Services. Sam has been responsible for providing technical support and messaging for plant growth regulators (PGRs), herbicides, and specialty products to technical sales managers, growers, and distributors. In his new role, Sam will also provide technical support and messaging for insecticides and fungicides. Sam began his career working as a grower / propagator with one of the largest nurseries in the country, ultimately serving as Director of Research & Development across all locations. Prior to OHP, Sam spent nine years as Director of Research with a chemical manufacturer in the landscape and arboriculture markets. Sam is highly skilled in managing cooperatives and in-field researchers for both national and international projects.

Eric Ham joined AMGUARD as Midwest Technical Sales Manager. In this role, he will cover structural pest control in KY, OH, IN, IL, MI, and TN. Eric most recently was Key Account Manager for the Midwest and South regions with FMC Professional Solutions. Prior to that, Eric served as a Marketing Specialist with FMC for nine years. Eric also has experience with Nisus Corporation and Forshaw Distribution. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture – entomology from the University of Kentucky. Eric is a certified applicator in Kentucky and Ohio and holds a pest control license in Kentucky. Ham will report to Ryan Klein, AMGUARD Director of Sales.

Joe Grippi joined OHP as Southeast Technical Sales Manager. In this role, he will be responsible for the market development and sales of OHP products, including fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and plant growth regulators in the Greenhouse, Nursey, and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) markets. Joe was most recently with UPL Environmental Solutions as a Key Account Manager for Specialty Products. Prior to UPL, he was Business Development Key Account Manager with Bayer Environmental Science / Envu, where he served for 22 years. Joe started his career at Elf Atochem and American Cyanamid.

Jeremy Sanderson joined OHP as Northeast Technical Sales Manager. In this role, he will be responsible for the market development and sales of OHP products, including fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and plant growth regulators in the Greenhouse, Nursey, and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) markets. Jeremy spent over five years at BioWorks, where he led sales operations, grew the Soil Blender business, and supported key accounts, including Hawaiian coffee growers. He also held regional sales roles with Harris Seeds and Harvest Moon Hydroponics, and he ran his own consulting business, Hybrid Horticulture.

Grippi and Sanderson will report to Frank Fornari, OHP Director of Sales.

Eric Rebek, Ph.D. joined OHP as Technical Services Specialist. In this role, he will lead and assist with creating and managing technical projects, protocols, and data in service to developing products and technical information for the dissemination to the OHP team, our partners, customers, and growers in the Nursery, Greenhouse, CEA, and Cannabis markets. Eric’s position will focus primarily on entomological and pathological issues to support OHP’s plant health & production portfolio (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, PGRs and specialty products). Rebek will report to Sam Drahn, OHP Director of Technical Services.

“With Frank and Sam at the helm, expanded service in the Southeast and Northeast, and additional technical support, OHP is poised to deliver exceptional service to our greenhouse and ornamental, nursery, CEA, and cannabis customers,” said Shayne M. Wetherall, CEO of AMGUARD and President of U.S. Specialty Markets. “Additionally, the addition of Eric Ham strengths our commercial presence for structural pest control in the Midwest.”

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 About AMGUARD Environmental Technologies

AMGUARD Environmental Technologies is an emerging provider of non-crop and specialty technology solutions for the U.S. Public Health, Pest Control, Ornamental & Greenhouse, Golf, Lawn & Landscape, Foodservice, and Consumer markets. We are the specialty markets division of AMVAC Chemical Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Vanguard Corporation. From our RTP headquarters and labs, AMGUARD discovers, develops, and commercializes a diverse portfolio of proven chemistries, innovative technologies, and green solutions into diverse markets. At our core, we are innovators. We are committed to protecting the population from disease vectors, mitigating structural pest damage, creating healthy foodservice environments and outdoor living spaces, and maintaining outdoor sports and recreation venues. Our mission is to provide our customers with powerful technology solutions to keep their businesses strong and growing. www.AMGUARDTECH.com

About OHP
OHP Inc, originally Olympic Horticultural Products, was founded with the goal of becoming the leading provider of technology-based pesticide solutions for the greenhouse and nursery production markets. Today, as we have evolved into our new OHP identity we are recognized as the leader in this market. The OHP team exclusively markets our products, specifically packaged and labeled for the greenhouse and nursery production markets, through a network of leading distribution partners throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. www.ohp.com/

About American Vanguard
American Vanguard Corporation is a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops and markets products for crop protection and management, turf and ornamentals management and public and animal health. American Vanguard is included on the Russell 2000® and Russell 3000® Indexes and the S&P SmallCap 600^® Index. To learn more about American Vanguard, please reference the Company’s website at www.American-Vanguard.com.

Contact Information
AMGUARD Environmental Technologies
Shayne M. Wetherall, CEO & President, U.S. Specialty Markets (919) 415-4360
ShayneW@amguardtech.com