Erwin Cruz

Erwin Cruz is an accomplished executive leading the Intellectual Property Strategy and Management at W. W. Grainger, Inc., with over 30 years of experience in the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) industry.

In his role, Erwin spearheads the development of robust IP practices and asset creation to safeguard the intellectual capital of the organization while ensuring alignment with corporate strategies and emerging trends.

Erwin holds multiple graduate degrees in technology, business, and law and is currently pursuing a Ph.D., focusing on emergent technologies at the intersection of business, technology, and law.

He is a prolific inventor with US Patent and Trademark Office-granted patents and has been recognized as one of Intellectual Asset Management's Top Global 300 - World's Leading Intellectual Property Strategists.

Beyond his professional achievements, Erwin is actively involved in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Chicago and nationally, and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Erwin Cruz's comprehensive professional experience spans various leadership roles at Grainger, including sales, customer service ops, finance/accounting, supply chain, corporate strategy, IT, e-commerce, business development, innovation, and R&D.

He is sought after as a speaker at industry conferences and serves as a guest lecturer on intellectual property and innovation at several universities in Illinois.