30 Under 30 Program
The 30 Under 30 program was implemented under Young Gassers in conjunction with NPGA and CPA in 2020. This is an industry program that focuses on recognizing 30 individuals under the age of 30 that have shown great potential within the Propane Industry. The 30 individuals that are chosen for the program receive perks such as free registration to certain industry events, individual membership to NPGA and Young Gassers for their year in the program.
Nominations for the program will typically open in December or January and close 6-8 weeks prior to the NPGA Expo (when it is held in April). Requirements for the program are:
- Must be between 18 and 29 years old when the nominations open
- Must work for a company involved in the propane industry
- Must be nominated by someone within the industry (self-nominations are not permitted)
For more information, visit the Young Gassers webpage.
Class of 2021
Kristen Abraham, Superior Plus Propane
Kristen is a well-rounded and driven leader in the propane industry. She's particularly passionate about customer service, operational excellence, and employee engagement. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and reading.
Joey Clark, Intermountain Truck Rebuilders
Joey lives in Montana with his beautiful wife. When he's not enjoying the outdoors with her, you can find him around “propane trucks and equipment."
Austin Davidson, United Pacific Energy
Austin Davidson was born in Reno, Nevada where he currently resides. He began working at United Pacific Energy in August of 2017 as a Rail Scheduler, where he managed the logistics of all rail activity related to UPE’s business. Over the years, Austin learned and helped with truck dispatching which gave him direct communication with customers. In January of 2020, he transitioned into a wholesale marketing role where he enjoys connecting with and helping the many great customers of United Pacific Energy in the California Market. Austin’s favorite part of his position is meeting and building friendships with customers and peers in the industry.
Nathan Deprinzio, Total Comfort Gas, Inc.
Nate DePrinzio has gained a considerable amount of experience over his nine years in the industry. From working hands-on with his co-workers in the field, to ensuring overall customer satisfaction, Nate has been fortunate enough to experience many aspects of the LP business. Inspired everyday to work hard, learn, and succeed, Nate is excited to continue growing and get more involved in the LP Gas Industry.
Andrew Durkin, Durkin Propane
Andrew grew up in the energy industry and has learned the importance of hard work, dedication and learning a trade. He represents the 4th generation of his family-owned business that his great grandfather started when he originally sold feed and coal in 1926. Over the years of the family's ever-changing industry, they adapted to selling fuel oil and eventually bulk drinking and swimming pool water. In 2013, his family realized the need to enter the propane industry. That was the same year Andrew graduated from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, where he studied business.
With the help of another industry professional who mentored Andrew, he quickly fell in love with learning everything hands-on about the trade: from installing tanks/gas piping to service work and deliveries. This job quickly grew into a management role among other job functions, fostering his growth. Andrew enjoys building relationships with customers and making sure they are in a better place after each encounter. There are endless rewarding lessons and skill sets that I have experienced along the way, and he is looking forward to accomplishing more. In Andrew's spare time, he enjoys keeping active, doing anything outdoors, playing softball, golf, fishing, skiing and spending time with my family, fiancé & friends.
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Clinton Foulk, Westmor Industries
Clinton is a graduate of Tulsa Welding School, and then started his professional career as a welder. He then was hired by Westmor as an assembler. Since then he has become a maintenance technician, inspector, and state certified calibration technician.
Tom Holland, Westmor Industries
Tom Holland has been a Quality Assurance Manager at Westmor Industries since 2017. Prior to that he was a Quality Control technician for Westmor. Tom received his Associates of Science degree in Non Destructive Testing from Ridgewater College in Hutchinson, Minnesota. He is passionate about helping influence others to make the right decisions in everyday life, personally and professionally. Outside of work, Tom likes to play sports, ride snowmobiles, work on projects, and hang out with his family and friends.
Bryce Jergenson, Westmor Industries
Bryce was born and raised in Morris, MN and attended the University of Minnesota, Morris. During his time in college, he played baseball and obtained a bachelor's degree in Sports Management. In his spare time, he enjoy sports, fishing, and time on the lake.
Danielle Johnson, Ormond Energy
I am an employee of Ormond Energy and have been with the company since 2014. I have two little girls, Mary (3 yrs) and Elizabeth (1.5 yrs) and they are my pride and joy!
McKenna Klemz, Baker's Propane
McKenna Klemz has been actively involved in her family business, Baker’s Propane, Inc., since she was 16. Upon graduating from the University of Toledo with a Bachelors in Accounting and Finance, she left the industry for a brief period and worked in public accounting where she was on the audit team of several Fortune 500 companies. Through this experience, McKenna was able to obtain her CPA licensure. She then returned full time to her family propane business and began attending the University of Toledo law school night program. McKenna is now licensed to practice law in three states. She really enjoys the propane industry because of the people and the ever changing challenges that it presents each year.
Jill Krielkamp, Boehlke Bottled Gas Corp.
Jill was raised on a dairy farm in southeastern Wisconsin, where she learned the value of hard work. Along with farming, her father and brother drove truck for a local company/family friend, where she would sometimes ride along when she was younger. Since then, Jill graduated with an associate’s degree in Accounting in 2012. She worked in the accounting department for a Peterbilt dealership before starting at Boehlke Bottled Gas. Jill has greatly enjoyed the friendly customer interaction and working on accounts receivable for the past four years. She got married in 2019 to her wonderful husband, Chandler, and enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and reading in her free time. She also enjoy the occasional ride on weekends along with my husband when he’s trucking for our cattle/grain business.
Skylar Kruse, Ed Staub & Sons Petroleum
Skylar Kruse was born and raised in Eastern Oregon and started working for Ed Staub & Sons in 2017, helping the bobtail drivers deliver fuel in the winter months. After the winter rush, he quickly acquired his CDL and became a full time service technician. Shortly after, Skylar was promoted to lead service tech of La Grande. He has learned a lot in the last several years and looks forward to continuing his growth in the propane industry. Skylar married his wife, Micah, in 2016 and has two daughters, Baylen and Brynlee. He loves spending his free time in the outdoors with his family. They spend a lot of their time in the mountains, enjoying activities such as hunting and camping.
Kathryn Lewis, ThompsonGas
Kathryn Lewis is a Human Resources leader with 7 years of experience. She began her career in the propane industry three years ago at ThompsonGas, LLC. As the Director of Human Resources, Kathryn is responsible for employee relations, acquisition due diligence, and assisting with the development of HR initiatives to support the growth and engagement of employees and overall success of the business. Kathryn is a Business Administration and Management graduate of Shippensburg University and resides in the MD–WV Metropolitan Area.
Laura Mabey (Lunn), BASE Engineering
Laura joined the BASE team in 2017 after she graduated from NBCC Saint John with the Business Administration - Marketing program. She handles all aspects of advertising, social media, event planning and web design.
Noman Mazhar, Engro Corporation Limited
Although Noman has only been in the industry for a couple of years, his passion and knowledge for his work shines through. Noman is happy to look at things through a different lens and determine how else our world can utilize propane. He currently works as a Business Analyst at Engro Corporation.
Austin Melton, JJ Propane Co.
When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling with my wife and dog and spending time on the golf course. If I’m not doing that, I’m probably watching sports. Go Chiefs!
Jamie Ocasio, Paraco Gas
I am an employee of Paraco Gas, and work out of our cylinder refurbishing facility in Waterbury Connecticut. I started as a production line employee and have been in a position to earn several promotions. I am currently heading up all of the cylinder recovery operations out of this facility.
Daryl Patjas, Maxquip Inc.
Daryl Patjas recently celebrated his five year anniversary in the propane industry and with Maxquip. Starting as a Technical Sales Representative, he has taken on the role of Regional Manager for the Province of Ontario for the past two years. The Ontario operations consist of a propane vehicle conversion facility and a propane equipment distribution office/warehouse. Daryl is currently the Vice Chair of the Canadian Propane Association’s Ontario Committee and also participates in the Auto Propane and Transportation Committees. Daryl is proud to work with the wonderful team at Maxquip, and grateful for the people he has had the pleasure to work with in the propane industry.
Eric Pirkl, Pirkl Gas / ThompsonGas
Eric's journey in the propane industry began when he started working at his family-owned propane company, Pirkl Gas, at the age of 14 by painting storage tanks. Upon graduating high school, he left for college and would return in the summers to help with service work. In 2015, Eric graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Stout with a degree in Engineering Technology and joined the family business full time. He began delivering propane and doing basic installs, and gained industry knowledge by watching his mother and father operate the business they grew and loved. In the fall of 2020, Pirkl Gas was acquired by ThompsonGas and Eric was named Branch Manager of the Owatonna, MN location. Eric is excited to be apart of a dynamic company that has some of the brightest minds in propane, and is committed to providing industry leading customer service and safety. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, playing with his two golden retrievers, and competitively fishing.
Austin Rothstein, Lakes Gas Co.
Austin works with Lakes Gas Co. in Richmond, MN as a service driver. He has been in the propane industry for 3 years and loves it. When he's not working, he is enjoying time with his three children and wife, Lucy.
Garrett Salmon, S&S Gas
Garrett has grown up around the propane industry for all his life. He is a proud, 4th generation representative of his family’s propane business - S&S Gas. Garrett currently works alongside his grandfather, Mike Salmon, who has devoted his life to the family business.
Garrett graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University in 2019, where he studied Industrial Engineering and Logistics. Garrett and his wife, Mekala, reside in Summerville, Georgia.
Will Turner, Jernigan Oil and Propane Co. Inc.
Will Turner is currently 23 years old, and lives in Ahoskie, North Carolina. He has been working for Jernigan Oil Company for the past four years in the service department, current as Propane Service Supervisor. Will enjoys his profession because he gets to meet a lot of new people and there is never a dull moment. When he is not working, he enjoys hanging out with friends and family or training his dog, Waylon.
Stephanie Ulam, Berkeley Propane Company
Stephanie started working for Berkeley Propane in 2018 as a Customer Service/Sales Representative. She held that position for two years before she was promoted to Office Supervisor. When Stephanie started back in 2018, she was completely new to the industry with no prior experience in propane. In this position, she has been granted numerous opportunities, such as the 30 Under 30 program, to grow in the industry. She is looking forward to becoming more involved in the future.
Caleb Warner, Bergquist, Inc.
Caleb Warner has been with Bergquist Inc. (Toledo, Ohio) since December of 2018. He is the area sales manager for Iowa, Missouri, and parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Caleb enjoys building relationships with propane marketers while traveling his territory. In his free time he enjoys scuba diving, golfing, hunting and spending time with his wife Danielle and their daughter Murphy.
David Wells, Baygas Propane
David Wells was born and made for the propane industry. He grew up in Angleton, Texas, and graduated high school in 2016. After that, he went straight to work at Baygas Propane in League City, Texas, digging trenches and setting tanks. Since working at Baygas, David has obtained his Service Technician Certification from the Texas Railroad Commission, along with his CDL. At such a young age, he has an unprecedented knowledge of propane systems, and is never afraid to get his hands dirty.
Trevor Wendt, Wendt's Propane
Even though he grew up painting and filling tanks, Trevor’s father, Paul, had always told him to get a “real” job before working in the family business. After college, Trevor was a police officer before finally coming aboard with his family at Wendt’s Propane and Oil. Fast forward to 2021, Trevor now is Vice President at Wendt’s Propane and Oil and gets to work with his wife Rachel, his best friend, and his father. When he’s not sitting at his desk, Trevor enjoys running the company’s transport, paying a round of golf, or shooting at the pistol range.
Martin Zenk, Propane Ninja
Martin first entered the propane industry in the spring of 2016, a year after completing his B.S. in Finance from Florida State University. As Propane Ninja's first full time employee, Martin has worn many hats, though his primary responsibility has always been growing the company's market share in the Tampa Bay area. With a passion for small business and entrepreneurship, he has continued to help Propane Ninja capitalize on new market opportunities, as well as develop internal company procedures that have helped them scale to over 20 full time employees who serve over 1,000 customers in the region. He now directly oversees all sales, marketing and customer success teams to ensure the company's growth and profitability goals are consistently met. In his free time, Martin enjoys camping, golfing and spending time outdoors with his fiance, Gabrielle, and their friends.