Jerry Brick Discusses Role as NPGA Chairman

Early summer 2017, Jerry Brick, president of North Star Energy LLC (Aberdeen, S.D.), an independent propane marketer with three locations in northeast South Dakota, assumed the role of chairman of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). Brick, who is also president of Brick Transport Inc., a propane transporter in Aberdeen, has had a busy summer so far visiting propane conventions all over the United States. Amid stops in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Illinois, Virginia, Illinois, Georgia, South Carolina, and Ohio, Brick took a few minutes to share with BPN his thoughts on the direction of the industry and the national association.

“Propane marketers need to be aggressive,” he said, “We need to truly become marketers again and sell our products, adapt, and grow our businesses!” Brick is concerned that too many retail marketers are not proactive in initiating their own growth but instead wait for the phone to ring. “There is no silver bullet. It is about looking for opportunities, being known in the community, and matching customers with benefits we can provide them. Building year-round load is key to the success of the retail propane marketer and our industry. More opportunities to build year-round demand with school buses, water heaters, autogas, or forklifts exist and help marketers add volume and build allocation for winter.”

Brick would like to see marketers increase storage at plants and customer sites, build more off-season demand, have strong level-pay plans, and have all customer tanks full going into October.

A propane marketer for 48 years, Brick got involved with the South Dakota Propane Gas Association many years ago and was a two-time state president. A little over 22 years ago, he became active in NPGA as the director from South Dakota. He later was elected to the 16-member Executive Committee.

He said he was blown away at being asked to get into the rotation of the top officers that would lead to him becoming chairman. “I talked to my wife Susan about it and we prayed over it,” he said. The rotation of officers, a five-year commitment, includes treasurer, vice-chairman, chairman-elect, chairman, and past chairman.

The role of chairman involves a lot of travel all over the U.S. to attend conventions and visit extensively with industry members on behalf of the association. “I am fortunate to have a great general manager, a great traffic manager, and strong staff,” he said. “That allows me, as well as Susan, who travels with me some of the time, to feel like our business is in good hands while we work extensively for the industry.”

One of Brick’s key goals for NPGA is to achieve more unity among NPGA, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), and state associations. “We need to be coordinated, and communication with our members about the priorities of the association is critical.” He cited some “90-day criticals” as pushing for tax-reform legislation, achieving a crane rule that either exempts propane marketers or allows for self-certification, and dealing with supply concerns for the upcoming winter season. He cited regular coordination meetings of NPGA and PERC staff as vital. “It is very important that we stay current on what each of the two national organizations are doing.”

“Regarding supply, it is important for each marketer to work diligently to establish a supply plan that addresses season or peak demand.” He is concerned that the industry hasn’t really been tested since 2014, when it experienced an extreme shortage. For Brick, it is a goal to secure regional or PADD Hours of Service waivers. “And rail and pipelines must prioritize propane shipments during peak usage times,” he said.

“As the year progresses, we will evolve and have new 90-day priorities to be concerned with,” Brick pointed out. “It is important that we keep communication between NPGA, PERC, and state associations strong to be positioned well to tackle industry issues as they arise, not after they become a huge problem!” —Pat Thornton