Tom Clark on the Importance of Industry Advocacy at a Federal, State & Local Level

Describe your current role at your company.

Executive director is basically the CEO — the CEO of a nonprofit organization with two employees. Sounds easy, but it’s not that easy. Membership is voluntary. We don’t have any golden handcuffs. Members are constantly consolidating, and cost of business keeps going up.

My main role is keeping the Rocky Mountain Propane Association (RMPA) relevant, which means keeping propane relevant; fighting for propane on local, county and state levels; fighting electrification of everything; and natural gas expansion. The propane industry needs a larger voice. My job is to bring the members together and make that voice be heard.

How did you get your start in the propane industry?

I grew up in the industry. I was vice president of several businesses that my father owns — Intermountain Truck and Mountain States LP Gas. I was involved in the propane association for many years.

When the opportunity for executive director came up, I took it. Family business is not an easy venture; leaving the family business was a blessing in disguise. My relationships with family have been great and the RMPA has never been stronger.

What overarching industry trends have you seen in recent years?

There have been so many changes over the last few years at PERC, NPGA and other state associations. All these changes have brought the most communication and collaboration I have ever seen.

It’s all been great and makes our industry so much stronger.

Describe an average day on the job.

Every day is different. Four large states are a lot to cover. Keeping an eye on legislative action keeps me busy during session; meeting and event planning is a large task that takes months of prep.

Training season is always busy; planning and conducting Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) classes has a lot of behind-the-scenes work.

Managing all the different state Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) projects is a whole other animal that can consume an entire day and feel like you’ve just put a dent in it.

What do you think would surprise someone about the job you do?

I traveled around the world doing training classes when I worked for my father. I now do all the training classes for the association, including propane emergencies and CETP. This has saved our association money by not having to hire a trainer.

What’s one thing you wish you knew earlier in your career that you know now?

Change is inevitable. You will lose your best account. That buyer you think you know so well will leave that company. That owner you are buddies with will sell out. Your own company may be acquired. Be everywhere, and be known. The more people who know who you are, the better off you will be surviving the inevitable.

What’s the most interesting area of the propane industry right now?

Definitely renewable propane and dimethyl ether (DME). This is coming, and we need to embrace it. Describe your favorite interview you’ve conducted as the host of the ‘State of Energy’ podcast/radio show. James Rockall, CEO of the World LPG Association. He called us from France, and it was great to get a world perspective on propane.

What is your goal for people to learn through the ‘State of Energy’?

We are trying to connect to the front-line propane people — bobtail drivers, service technicians and sales people — and give them talking points and discussion superpowers to have a conversation with consumers that propane ‘CARES’ (Clean, Abundant, Resilient, Efficient, Safe).

These are the people who are in front of the customer but get the least amount of information about how great propane is.

Why do you think it’s important for people in propane to keep up to date with what’s going on across the industry?

Billions of dollars are being spent to electrify everything, while at the same time fossil fuels are under attack. We need to fight for our existence and let everyone know we are here, clean and ready.

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

Mountain biking and skiing.