Building a 100-Year Company: Kris Maynard of Essential Ingredients - Ep 174

Join industry leaders at The Chemical Summit on September 29-30, 2026 in Houston, Texas.  Visit thechemicalsummit.comDiscover how hiring for character and training for skills can cultivate a thriving company culture with Kris Maynard, executive chairman of Essential Ingredients. Kris joins host Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show this week to share insights on the importance of long-term sustainability, reflecting on his company’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming an employee-owned business. Kris discusses the transformative power of trusting relationships, transparent communication, and the strategic advantages of remaining privately owned. Additionally, Victoria and Kris explore the concept of a 100-year company, drawing parallels with historical craftsmanship in cathedrals, and discuss how Essential Ingredients' ESOP model has driven employee retention and engagement. Gain valuable advice for those entering the industry and understand how a purpose-driven approach can navigate modern challenges like supply chain issues and regulatory hurdles.  Join us this week as Victoria and Kris discuss the following topics: Essential Ingredients' origin story: Humble beginnings in a server closet What makes Essential Ingredients different? Partnership Alignment in one-to-one relationships Essential Ingredients as a privately owned company - a rarity in the chemical industry Building a 100-year company Customer Experience at Essential Ingredients Kris Maynard's leadership advice  Killer Quote: "A hundred-year company isn’t just about surviving; it's about flourishing, creating a legacy, and paving the way for future generations. It's about hiring for character, training for skills, and building a culture that values trust, transparency, and long-term sustainability." – Kris Maynard Other Links: April Yeager, Senior Vice President of Operations for Essential Ingredients, Episode 41: Moving Up the Corporate Ladder For Professional And Personal Growth With April Yeager***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.  ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review. ***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  Wondering how we produce our podcast? We use Transistor to publish our podcast. Check it out here: https://transistor.fm/?via=victoria We use CastMagic.io to create Show Notes, Newsletters, Social Media posts and more. Check it out here: https://get.castmagic.io/ean5etivmzi1 We use Descript to edit and transcribe each podcast episode. Follow this link to learn more: https://get.descript.com/j0hyfup4gm0t