Chem-Pak CEO Loves Vintage VWs and Much More

Eric Goodman has a lot going on. He’s the CEO of two San Bernardino, California-based companies: Chem-Pak, a jan/san distributor he bought from his father, Terry Goodman, in 2023, and MVS, Inc., a medical and food distribution company that serves over 500 care facilities for adults and children who are developmentally disabled. But that’s just his professional work. 

In addition to his passion for jan/san, and because of his outstanding team holding the fort down in the office, Eric can periodically focus his attention on volunteering for a variety of worthy causes. He serves on multiple boards of directors, including Ronald McDonald House Charities, Mountain Shadows Foundation, CSUF Center for Leadership, Passkeys Foundation, Junior Achievement, and Team Kids. Outside those opportunities, Eric embraces his enthusiasm for classic cars, serving as the president of the Vintage Volkswagen Club of America, the largest vintage VW organization in the county. 

His backstory explains why he doesn’t sit idle. At 15 years old, Eric had life-saving surgery to correct Scheuermann’s disease, a skeletal condition he was born with. The disease caused a 90 percent curvature of his spine, which eventually collapsed his lung. The recovery kept him in a full-body cast for nine months, with only his head able to move, and he remained disabled for years. 

Going through that experience inspired Eric to help others, specifically by sharing his story. He wrote a book, “What’s Your Mindset?”, which will be published next year. 

“I wanted to share my personal story in hopes to help other people who had the same issues as I did,” he explains. “Once I got started, I realized it was all about facing obstacles and how you can change your life by changing your mindset.” 

Eric did change his life and remains healthy today. Being active through cycling and running helps physically, but it’s his involvement in vintage VWs that helps him mentally.  

Ever since he was young, Eric has been a “car guy.” He used to love Corvettes, but now vintage VWs are more his speed. He doesn’t just watch from the sidelines either. Eric drives a 1973 Volkswagen Thing—a square, four-door Volkswagen convertible imported to the U.S. market in 1973 and 1974. Most people will recognize it immediately. As a writer for Motortrend magazine said, “…the Thing looked so very, very weird.” 

“An interesting thing about Volkswagens is that 99 percent of the people you meet have a story about someone who had a vintage VW,” says Eric.  

The numbers back it up, as 180,000 members sit in his national group, with chapters all over the United States. Many of these people have both new and vintage Volkswagens, which are still very cost effective. Some vintage options can be purchased for only a few thousand dollars. 

The cars also make great subjects for Eric’s other hobby: photography. As an accomplished photographer, Eric’s work is displayed in several galleries. Any proceeds from his work are donated to charity. 

Eric is quick to add, “Cars, photography, and the boards I’m on are all part of my personal mission of giving back to people in the community.”  

Gretchen Roufs, a 25-year janitorial supply industry veteran, owns a marketing and public relations company in San Antonio. To suggest someone you think should be featured in “Freetime,” contact her at Gretchen@GretchenRoufs.com