South Dakota marketer named NPGA board chairman

From left, NPGA officers Chris Earhart, chairman elect; Jerry Brick, chairman; and Denis Gagne, treasurer. Randy Thompson, vice chairman, is not pictured. Photo by Brian Richesson

Jerry Brick hailed the propane industry and called on members “to be aggressive” after his swearing-in as National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) chairman at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

“It’s up to you, me, all of us in the propane industry,” said Brick, propane operations manager at North Star Energy in Aberdeen, South Dakota, about taking an initiative to lead.

“We need to become marketers again and sell our products,” he added. “The days of [just] pumping gas from a big tank to a small tank are coming to an end. We have the ability to adapt and grow our businesses.”

Brick, a propane industry veteran of more than 40 years, assumed the board’s top position for the next year from Blossman Gas President and CEO Stuart Weidie. Brick also plans to continue the integration among NPGA, the Propane Education & Research Council and the state associations, and to promote propane as a clean, safe energy source.

Joining Brick as NPGA officers for one-year terms are Chris Earhart, chairman elect, of Dixie Gas & Oil; Randy Thompson, vice chairman, of ThompsonGas; and Denis Gagne, treasurer, of Eastern Propane.

Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, who spoke at Propane Days, the industry’s annual lobbying event, called Brick a friend and told NPGA members that they have chosen the right leader.

“He’s quiet, but he’s thoughtful,” Rounds said of Brick. “He’s the kind of guy you want representing this industry – not just in D.C. but across the nation.”