Part II: The Propane Industry’s 30 Under 30 Leaders

Thirty young propane professionals, who were nominated by others in the industry, have been selected as Charter Members of the Young Gassers’ 30 Under 30 Program. Each of these young adults will receive a variety of assignments, perks, and recognition within the propane industry for their participation. This is the inaugural year of the 30 Under 30 Program. Created by the International Association of Young Gassers in conjunction with the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) and the Canadian Propane Association (CPA), the program is meant in invest in, engage, and encourage young professionals working for companies directly involved in the propane gas industry. Following is a brief description, as provided to BPN, of 15 inaugural members of 30 Under 30. The previous 15 young leaders…

Feature Articles BPN Staff
Thirty young propane professionals, who were nominated by others in the industry, have been selected as Charter Members of the Young Gassers’ 30 Under 30 Program. Each of these young adults will receive a variety of assignments, perks, and recognition within the propane industry for their participation. This is the inaugural year of the 30 Under 30 Program. Created by the International Association of Young Gassers in conjunction with the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) and the Canadian Propane Association (CPA), the program is meant in invest in, engage, and encourage young professionals working for companies directly involved in the propane gas industry.

Following is a brief description, as provided to BPN, of 15 inaugural members of 30 Under 30. The previous 15 young leaders were introduced in the April issue of BPN.

Propane Industry Announces 30 Under 30 leaders Hostler
Kendall Hostler Central Valley Ag Beloit, Kan. Kendall Hostler was raised on a central Nebraska farm and graduated from Fort Hays State University. After graduation, she moved to Beloit, Kan., where she worked as an energy customer service specialist at Farmway Co-op. Her duties included, but were not limited to, propane contract development and implementation, wholesale and commercial refined fuels and propane bidding, customer service, and receiving and invoicing of all energy-related products and services. Today she is the business support specialist for the energy division at Central Valley Ag (CVA). In her new role, she is crucial in development and data services for the energy operating system. Kendall trains location personnel in three states and is a member of the CVA Energy Leadership Team. She has a two-year-old daughter, Landri.

Travis Hagen

Propane 30 Under30 Hagen
Emergency Response Assistance Canada Calgary, Alta.
Travis Hagen had his start in the field as a tank truck repair technician at the age of 18, at National Energy Equipment. He recounts, I conducted inspections under the B620 regulation. I performed repairs, modifications, and fabrication of tank trucks. From National Energy, I was picked up by Euroway Industrial Services at the age of 22. At Euroway, I was an apprentice welder, as well as a fabricator and tank truck technician. When I joined the Euroway team, I was asked if I would like to work on the dangerous goods response team. After three months I was promoted to team lead of the response team. I spent five years as a welder/fabricator and tank truck tech with Euroway, as well as a dangerous goods response team leader. From Euroway I moved on to CN Rail as a dangerous goods officer, first for Alberta, Canada, then to Saskatchewan, Canada. From CN Rail I have moved to Emergency Response Assistance Canada as a home base coordinator and technical advisor.
He has responded to more than 50 LPG rail incidents, over 80 LPG tank truck incidents, and more than 30 stationary tank incidents involving transfers, repairs, leak mitigation, and fire suppression.
Propane 30 Under 30 Garrett 0620 bpn
Raleigh Garrett G&S Gas Service Inc. Milledgeville, Ga.

Raleigh Garrett is the vice president of G&S Gas Service Inc. in Milledgeville, Ga. Upon graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in finance, Raleigh joined G&S Gas after working as a traveling consultant for a year. He’s been with G&S Gas for seven years and is a third-generation member of the family business. He currently lives in Athens, Ga. with his wife, Anna Lynn.

Propane Industry 30 Under30 Leaders Boese reports BPN
Trae Boese Global Gas Denver, Colo. Trae Boese was first introduced to the propane industry as a teenager, when he worked in the yard painting and power-washing tanks during the summer at a retail location in Kansas. While he didn’t know it at the time, this would be the first stepping stone towards a career in the propane industry. During his senior year of college, he interned with Global Gas. These experiences would make a natural fit for Trae when he rejoined Global Gas shortly after finishing college.

Trae attended Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kan., where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in accounting and business administration. He has been with Global Gas for three years, starting in its accounting department and is now currently the Northeast sales representative. The opportunity to learn and build relationships is what he enjoys the most about being in the propane industry. In college, he worked at Applebee’s for two years, where he gained valuable customer relations experience.

propane industry announces 2020 new 30 Under 30 leaders including Brad Plissey reports BPN the LPG industry leading source for news since 1939

Brad Plissey

JaySan Gas East Freetown, Mass. Brad Plissey started working at JaySan Gas at the age of 16 as an autogas fleet maintenance mechanic while enrolled in a local vocational technical high school. Upon graduation, Brad chose to enter the propane trade as an alternative to a college degree. He learned other roles within the industry, including tank maintenance, tank setting, gas fitting, appliance service, and propane delivery, becoming a versatile member of the JaySan team. Brad is currently an apprentice to a Master Gasfitter and received his intrastate Class A CDL with all endorsements at the age of 19. Most days he drives a bobtail delivering to residential, commercial, and agricultural locations and is transitioning to replace a retiring long-term Class A transport driver. Beyond work, Brad is an on-call member of his hometown fire department with his Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications, is in process for his EMT license, as well as having completed the propane emergency response training through PGANE and the Massachusetts Fire Academy. Brad is 19 years old and lives in his hometown of Freetown, Mass. with his dog, Jesse James, a Belgian Malinois.


Matt Silk
Propane Industry Announces 2020 30 Under 30 leaders Matt Silk of Jennings Oil & Propane reports bpn the industry's leading source for news since 1939

Jennings Oil & Propane Danbury, Conn. Matt Silk says, although brief, his experience in the propane industry has been rewarding. Following my graduation from the University of Connecticut in 2015 I began helping out the Jennings during busy winters to supplement my woodworking job and found that the trades were a better fit for me than office work. I’ve always been mechanically inclined and enjoy working with my hands. There’s always an ongoing project in my life, whether it’s a car or motorcycle. I love learning how things work. Appliance installation and maintenance, as well as piping installations, offer a satisfying challenge. Field work also drew me toward propane. Operating the crane or excavator to set tanks is enormously more exciting to me than sitting at a desk.
He began his career as an oil delivery driver for Jennings Oil and is currently working his way through the propane aspect of the industry, as both a delivery driver and technician. He explains, I’m eager to learn all I can about the fuel business and feel I am moving up steadily. There’s plenty of work to keep me busy and I’m excited to see how the industry evolves as time moves on.
Propane announces ignagural class of 30 Under 30 LPG leaders Daniel Guglielmo of Paraco reports BPN

Daniel Guglielmo

Paraco Mt. Vernon, N.Y.

Daniel Guglielmo started working at Paraco when he was 16, sorting BBQ tanks and conducting yard maintenance during summer breaks at our Mt. Vernon, N.Y. facility. He says, although it was physically demanding, I quickly fell in love with the fast-paced work environment, and my co-workers whom I now consider family. At 18, I started to work on the loading dock while attending college. As soon as I turned 21, the minimum legal age required to be a hazmat driver, I got my CDL and hazmat endorsement. For the next few years, I would deliver cylinders full-time Wednesday through Sunday, and attend full-time undergraduate classes Monday and Tuesday. Finally, after graduating from college, I was given the opportunity to take a new role as the workforce manager for our customer experience department. I get to work with the best team every day, and together we turned the customer experience department into an efficient, customer-centric operation that is always looking to improve. Right now, I am attending graduate courses at night with a concentration in information systems, so I can add more value to our team. At 26, I am very fortunate to have already put in 10 years with a great company like Paraco, and look forward to a long career.


Cody Reeves RegO Products Elon, N.C.
Ppeople Reeves
Cody Reeves entered the propane industry more than 12 years ago as an apprentice with a propane marketer under a work-study program. He obtained his journeyman license to work on gas systems in the state of Connecticut at the Mitchell Oil Co. shortly thereafter. He continued to pursue and obtain his contractor’s license for the state of Connecticut at Durkin Propane. While at Durkin Propane he assisted the startup of a new propane retailer where they encouraged safety and training. It didn’t take long for Cody to discover his passion for creating a safety culture. After moving, Cody began working for a major marketer, Superior Plus Propane, where he encountered a team of safety professionals that had encouraged the need for training professionals in the industry. Cody, his wife and four children, have since relocated to North Carolina after he transitioned to the technical services specialist role at RegO in 2019. He has since facilitated both regulator and distributor training for more than 400 people across the U.S. When not supporting RegO marketing and training efforts, you’ll find him playing at the park with his wife and kids.
Propane industry announces leaders 30 Under 30 Shaffer

Elliott Shaffer Shaffer’s Bottles Gas Hooversville, Pa.

Elliott Shaffer is proud to represent the fifth generation of a family business that began in Hooversville, Pa. in 1901. He attended the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and currently is employed as plant manager of Shaffer’s Bottled Gas. Elliott and his wife, Sally, live in Hooversville. He enjoys working with his dad, Jeff Shaffer, and intends to emulate his father’s leadership and compassion for others.

Propane industry 30 Under30 DeWitt
Tanner DeWitt
 Ed Staub & Sons
Boise, Idaho

Tanner DeWitt has been around the propane business his whole life. I am 3rd generation in the industry. I started in grade school painting and refurbing tanks as a summer job, and helping count inventory. After college, I worked for Ed Staub & Sons Propane as a yard guy, before moving to the construction side of the business, building cardlocks in Oregon and California for gas and diesel with a man named Gene Alvis. He helped me through this industry. I then started bulking oil at our main office in Klamath Falls, Ore., before transferring to our Nampa, Idaho plant. I helped building storages, then I drove part time til I got my own route. I began driving through the winter, then went into service at the start of 2015. I was trained by my now leaders, Rod Taylor and Bryce Clark. I’ve been a technician ever since and now am training upcoming technicians in the company with Rod Taylor. I have a beautiful family with my wife Karen and our two daughters, Boston, who is 4, and Harley, who is 8 months old.

Scott Dougherty
BPN reports the new Propane 30 Under 30 Leaders including Scott Dougherty with Superior Energy Systems june 2020
Superior Energy Systems Elyria, Ohio Scott Dougherty has been with Superior Energy Systems (SES) for seven years, beginning his career with SES while still in high school. Initially, he was hired to sell 20- to 100-lb cylinders. As his industry knowledge and education base grew, he was promoted to draftsman and now works as a sales engineer. Scott takes the lead on multiple sales opportunities simultaneously, and works directly with customers to ensure success. He is currently working on his senior project, which includes new computer-based programming for midstream terminal operations. Scott enjoys working in various facets of the NGL industry, including midstream, industrial and autogas. Some of his accomplishments at SES include leading the CSA/UL, Measurement Canada, and NTEP processes for certifying SES’ full autogas dispenser line; coordinating large autogas infrastructure plans for fleets; and initiating 3D, CAD modeling techniques for more advanced design drawings for midstream and autogas installations. Prior to college, Scott achieved Eagle Scout status with the Boy Scouts of America. Scott will graduate from Cleveland State University in May with a degree in electronics engineering technology and continue his career with SES.

Denver VanderYacht

2020 Propane 30 under 30 Leaders including Denver VanderYacht reports bpn the industry's leading source for news since 1939
VanderYacht Propane Lynden, Wash.

Denver VanderYacht grew up in the propane industry. His parents, Bryan and Mary VanderYacht, started VanderYacht Propane in 1989. Denver was born in 1994, and ever since he can remember he was helping his mom and dad around the office. Full-time employment started in 2016. Denver graduated from high school in 2012, then furthered his education at Washington State University. During college he still managed to work for VanderYacht Propane. When he was home in the summer, he would help out in the service department or drive a bobtail. After graduating in 2017 he hit the ground running. First starting in the bobtail delivering propane and not long after he was placed in a service truck. Now Denver is the sales and marketing manager for VanderYacht Propane. The first-hand contact with the customers and helping them out each day is what he loves. He enjoys building those relationships with customers, making sure they are better off each time he hangs up the phone, or when he leaves the customer’s location. In his spare time, you will see Denver spending time with his wife Miranda; his two sons, Calvin (2), and Kruze (5 months); and his Labrador, Stanley.

BPN reports new Propane 30 Under 30 leaders including Drake VanderYacht of VanderYacht Propane in Washington state 06-20
Drake VanderYacht
 VanderYacht Propane
 Lynden, Wash.
 Drake VanderYacht was born in March of 1995. His parents, Bryan and Mary VanderYacht, started VanderYacht Propane in 1989. Since he can remember he has always been a part of the company, whether it was going up to the RV parks in the hills and reading tanks during Christmas break as a kid or driving around and pressure-washing propane tanks during the summer months. Drake always knew he wanted to work for his parents, but also wanted to venture out and work for someone besides his parents to get a different view on things. In 2014 he applied to work at Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island, Wash., where he was in charge of placing boats and yachts in slips as they came into the harbor. This job quickly grew into a management role, where it helped him develop great communication, organization, and management skills. Drake is currently driving a bobtail for his parents’ company, but is working into more of the dispatching, property mangement, and sales side of things. He is excited to start getting more involved and can’t wait to see what the future years have to bring. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with friends and family especially his nephews, Calvin (2), and Kruze (5 months).
Ryan Wine E.P. Wine Inc. Barre, Mass.
BPN reports the propane industry salutes new 30 Under 30 leaders incuding Ryan Wine EP Wine Inc

Ryan Wine is the fourth generation involved in his family-owned and -operated propane business, E.P. Wine Inc. His journey in the industry began in high school during his summer breaks, when he would refurbish tanks the old-fashioned way, with a scraper and paint brush. While attending Merrimack College, Ryan juggled between helping out at E.P. Wine and playing college soccer at a high level.

After graduating from Merrimack College in 2017, Ryan started full time, driving bobtails and making deliveries. He was also a crucial part of getting his company online with a website and social media pages.
Today Ryan is much more involved with the service side of the business, learning more about propane equipment each day. He is a jack of all trades within the company, able to help out driving, servicing equipment, answering phones, and managing the company’s online presence. Austin Dodge Woodfin Propane Inc.

Richmond, Va.

BPN introduces new Propane 30 Under 30 leaders featuring Austin Dodge Wabash Propane june 2020
Austin Dodge is the current operations manager for Woodfin Propane Inc. (Richmond, Va.). After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2015 with a degree in Finance, he began his career at Woodfin Propane, a local petroleum company, where he assumed a number of job functions from bobtail driving, to overseeing operations at company-owned convenience stores, to maintenance on the company fleet of fueloil and propane delivery vehicles. In his three years in the propane industry, he has helped drive Woodfin from a start up to a solid player in the central Virginia LP market. Daily job functions include regulatory compliance, permitting, scheduling, inventory, and installing LP systems. His goal for the immediate future is to continue to foster growth within the propane market while maintaining outstanding customer relations and compliance within the industry.

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