Please describe your current role. Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana propane equipment sales manager at CUI.
Can you describe your involvement in the Alabama Propane Gas Association (APGA)? How did that opportunity come about? By being in the propane gas industry all my life and being a supplier member with the APGA, I was asked to serve as secretary of the association the first year and rotated to vice president and then to president. My term ended in July.
How did you get your start in the propane industry? When I was a teenager, I was hired by a local propane company to paint tanks while I was out for the summer in Carthage, Mississippi.
If you could change something in the industry, what would you change? I have been in the business since the mid-’80s and have seen a lot of changes. Most have been good, so I wouldn’t change much.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? When dealing with propane, be willing to be open-minded and willing to learn something new every day.
Who do you admire in the industry? There are many that I admire, and it would be hard to name just one.
What qualities make a strong leader? Be honest and fair with employees and coworkers — clearly seeing where the team/organization should go and inspiring others to move toward it.
Describe some of the biggest professional challenges you’ve experienced over your career. Being a district manager in the propane industry dealing with employees, collections and keeping margins up.
What’s your favorite part of the workday? Visiting with friends and customers.
What are some of your hobbies outside of work? Bass fishing and spending time with family and friends — especially grandchildren.
What do you want your legacy to include? That I was known as the ‘Gas Man,’ that I was honest and that I loved the propane industry.
What’s your funniest and/or favorite work memory? I was in a stressful managers meeting, and we all were not enjoying the meeting. One manager’s ringtone was ‘Take This Job and Shove It” by Johnny Paycheck, and his phone rang. We all laughed and the guy speaking said that was perfect timing.
