Valterra Products Inc. began in a small Pacoima, California, warehouse in 1981 with George Grengs making RV waste valves and fittings with his partners. Four decades and thousands of RV products later, Grengs officially retired at the end of 2022.
“He is an amazing person,” said Laura Wallace, Valterra’s advertising coordinator. “He is always so kind and generous with his time and his money.”
Valterra became a nationally recognized brand in the 1980s after the company’s jump into the skateboard market when Greng ran sales, marketing and product development. A Valterra skateboard is featured as a futuristic hoverboard in the 1985 movie “Back to the Future” starring Michael J. Fox.
Grengs’ responsibilities covered every aspect of Valterra’s business over 40 years, the company said, but his mainstays were in sales and marketing. He established a strong, distributor-based business for RV aftermarket and OEM sales channels, Valterra said. In 2013, the company partnered with Scott Capital, a private equity company, and Valterra named Grengs CEO and president.
Wallace said Grengs always considered what was best for RVers, such as the company’s decision to acquire Go Power and Minder Research.
“He loves the RV industry,” she said. “He loves everything about it and he wants to make sure everyone is safe and having a good time.”
In 2019, RVIA honored Grengs with the Jim Barker Lifetime Achievement Award. Most recently, he was involved in Valterra’s sale to Dometic during the pandemic.
Wallace said he will continue as a consultant throughout 2023 and assist the company’s new general manager, Bryan Fletcher, if needed.
“We are very lucky that he is going to consult for the next year,” Wallace said. “We will miss his amazing mind.”
She said Grengs mentored Fletcher and the protege was ready to take over the company’s reigns.
“He is going to do fantastic,” Wallace said. “I don’t think George would feel comfortable leaving without Bryan being there.”
Hal Harvey will become Valterra’s COO.
Wallace said it will be weird for Grengs not to be around. She said she will miss his big, friendly smile.
Grengs will be traveling in retirement and has earnest plans to “teach himself how to slow down.”
“We wish him a wonderful and relaxing retirement,” Wallace said.
