Missouri Propane Council Elects Industry Leadership

Several local propane professionals were recently elected to serve as Directors and Officers of the Missouri Propane Education and Research Council (MOPERC).
The Council recently installed its new leadership at the group’s winter meeting January 4, 2018 in Ridgedale, Mo. The slate was approved at the MOPERC fall meeting in Jefferson City, Mo., and includes representatives from across the state who serve in various capacities.

Officers elected were:

• Chair –Roger Hoff, Hoff Brothers LP-Gas, Perryville, Mo.;

• Vice Chair—Luke Fitzpatrick, MFA Oil, Jefferson City, Mo.;

• Treasurer—Nick Goodrich, Goodrich Gas, Crocker, Mo.

Five incoming Directors were appointed or reappointed to three-year terms:

• Luke Fitzpatrick, MFA Oil, Jefferson City (reappointed);

• Marty Lerum, Propane Resources, Mission, Kansas (reappointed);

• Kevin Pearson, Ferrellgas, Nixa, Mo.;

• Wayne Terpstra, Custom Truck and Equipment, Kansas City, Mo.; and

• David Young, Gas Equipment Company, Highland, Illinois (reappointed).

Outgoing Directors were recognized for their service to the Council. They were chairman Eric Kolkmeyer, Energy Transportation Systems (pictured second from left), Bates City, Mo., and Randy Warner (pictured far left), Ferrellgas, Liberty, Mo.

MOPERC is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the Missouri legislature to administer a statewide check-off program. Proceeds are used for industry training, consumer safety, appliance rebates and market development programs. The Council is composed of 15 volunteer Directors and is administered by executive staff. Since its inception, MOPERC has helped thousands of Missouri homeowners replace water heaters, furnaces and other appliances with new, more energy-efficient models. The Council created a groundbreaking Lawn Equipment Assistance Fund (LEAF) which has helped dozens of Missouri lawn contractors and landscape companies acquire propane-powered lawn mowers, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving on operational costs.

During the business portion of the meeting, the Council increased the budget for water-heater rebates by $40,000 and agreed to increase the LEAF budget by $50,000 due to demand. MOPERC’s fiscal year ends June 30. Steve Ahrens, Jefferson City, Mo., serves as MOPERC President.

According to the U.S. Census, approximately 9% of Missouri’s households use propane for heating, hot water and cooking. Recognized for its environmental benefits, propane is also widely used in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and transportation as a safe and versatile energy source. Propane, called “autogas” around the globe, is the world’s most popular alternative energy.