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JS West and Co.
July 1, 2009 By: Brian Richesson LPGas
JS West’s 100 years in business mark more than just a celebration. They mark a way of life in the fourth-generation, family-owned company.
“What sets us apart is that we’ve been in business for 100 years, and there’s a reason why,” says Eric Benson, president and CEO of the Modesto, Calif.-based company and great grandson of founder James Stewart West.
“It creates confidence in the consumer arena and the employee arena. That job security is phenomenal, and people want to be part of the company because of that.”
JS West has about 300 employees across all segments of the business, and it honors the most loyal with longevity awards.
This loyalty also makes a difference in the community, says Hank Easton, vice president of propane operations, because “potential customers see how happy employees are when they’re working.”
Adds Bette Best Easton, sales representative, on the 100-year milestone and the 60 community events that will comprise the celebration this year, “Everybody is excited. Everybody feels involved and part of the success.”
Another staple of JS West’s success is the diversity in its business model. In addition to its propane retail operation, the company has branches in egg production, feed, hardware and lumber, and furniture.
JS West’s entry into propane sales and delivery started in the 1930s as an energy-source replacement for coal and wood. It converted stoves and heaters to propane to build its customer base. Today, about 100 employees work on the propane side, serving more than 20,000 customers from seven locations. Propane is used in residential, agricultural and industrial applications.
JS West benefits from its location in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, one of the greatest agricultural areas in the nation. The company has several large agricultural customers, Benson notes, with propane used for dairy, crop drying, greenhouse heating and chick brooding. The company also supplies propane for motor fuel and forklifts, among other applications.
“As long as customers need service by a solid, independent company, we’ll continue to build that business,” Benson says of its propane operation. “History and the reputation of service seem to appeal to people.”
TEAM: JS West’s Sonora team (above)
LOCATION: Modesto, Calif.
FOUNDED: 1909 (propane operation launched in the 1930s)
EMPLOYEES: About 300 total (one-third in propane)
SPECIALTY: JS West is a diversified company with a propane retail operation, which serves more than 20,000 residential, agricultural and industrial customers. It benefits from its location in the agriculture-rich San Joaquin Valley of central California.
ONLINE: www.jswest.com
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