Lauren Clark’s journey into the propane industry began at a young age as part of the family business at Bergquist Inc. Despite her family’s involvement, Clark didn’t initially plan to join the business. She pursued her education, earning a degree in supply chain management, and then embarked on a career in manufacturing, purchasing and transportation management roles. After gaining substantial experience in these areas, Clark decided to bring her expertise to Bergquist, joining her father with the intention of eventually taking over when he retired. She started her career at Bergquist in 2009, focusing on researching new projects, and later transitioned to leading the administrative teams. In January 2020, Clark took on the role of CEO, bringing a fresh perspective to the company.
Clark’s involvement in the industry extends beyond her role at Bergquist. She joined Women in Propane as the inaugural vice chair of the membership committee, actively participating in the council for several years. In January 2022, she returned as the chair of the Knowledge Exchange program, demonstrating her commitment to fostering growth and learning within the industry.
She believes that the propane industry can greatly benefit from a blend of fresh and seasoned perspectives. “The seasoned perspective gives us a wealth of institutional knowledge of what was, and how it evolved to our current state of the industry,” she says. On the other hand, fresh perspectives bring new ideas and an ability to look at issues without the bias or weight of the past. “Innovation requires a diverse perspective,” she asserts.
Central to her efforts to think outside the box and drive innovation is her philosophy of treating people well and taking care of her team. She believes that spreading this ethos throughout the industry can inspire others to adopt a similar approach, fostering a more collaborative and forward-thinking environment.
However, Clark acknowledges that the industry faces significant obstacles to innovation, particularly regulatory and legal constraints. Despite these challenges, she remains optimistic, believing that the industry’s alignment in goals and collaboration can help overcome these barriers.
As CEO, Clark doesn’t feel pressured to constantly generate new ideas. Instead, she prioritizes removing obstacles for her team and builds time into her schedule to think and strategize. “My job as a CEO is to take care of my team, to think and remove obstacles we face,” she explains. She understands the importance of seeking new ideas and innovation to avoid stagnation, believing that the alternative would lead to the industry’s decline.
Looking ahead, Clark envisions a future where the propane industry continues to flourish. “My ideal future is one where we continue to have thriving businesses, many that are still family-owned, that provide a clean and safe fuel to people around the world — where people and lawmakers outside of our industry understand all of the benefits of propane and protect it from prohibitive legislation,” she states. Through her leadership and commitment to innovation, Clark plans to continue contributing to this ideal future, ensuring the industry’s growth and sustainability.
