2024 LP Gas Rising Leader: Megan Carr

Company: Paraco Gas / Rye Brook, New York

Job title: Director, logistics and business intelligence

Years in the propane industry: 10

How did you get your start in the propane industry?

Based on my previous logistics experience, a former colleague of mine recruited me to join Paraco. It was quite different than the last industry I was a part of, but I really started to embrace the direct impact we have on the customer’s daily life. I had no idea propane could heat a pool! I quickly learned all of the applications, and it became a mission to provide that peace of mind to our customers.

How do you help lead your company in your current role?

Fast forward the 10 years I have been with Paraco, I now lead the logistics department where I started as a router. It has been so rewarding to work with the current team and watch the successes month after month after month. I bring elements of the organization, outside of logistics, into the department to showcase how their actions have a direct impact to the customer and the business. I believe broadening everyone’s vision of how the entire business works strengthens their skill sets, and we become very intentional with our decisions. We collaborate as a team and talk through changes in process before implementing, considering the impact across the company. It is very important for me to know the team feels heard, and they are comfortable with what is being asked of them. I take the same approach with the other leaders at Paraco as well.

What change would you like to see to the propane industry to ensure its success?

I would like to see the industry get in front of these next generations and promote the trade. We need more technical, hands-on folks joining us in the industry. We should also be educating our communities that propane is clean and renewable and a very reliable energy source that is not going anywhere.

What does your generation offer to the propane industry that previous generations did not?

This generation relies on technology more than previous generations. The advantage of this has been our ability to put ourselves in the consumer shoes and create solutions for our customers that we would want to have. You can see this through the promotion of customer portals, phone IVRs (interactive voice responses) and even apps for account management. How do we make this easier and how can we be more efficient are usually the first questions we ask.

What specific technologies are you using (or you plan to use) to support business operations?

We use several applications to support our business, each with their own unique purpose. These range from customer onboarding, forecasting and routing solutions, service scheduling, tank monitoring, business analytics and more. Paraco embraces technology as a means to streamline processes and increase productivity.

What propane industry associations are you involved with at the state and/or national level?

I currently sit as the president of the ADD Systems User Group (AUG). I have been a member of the AUG for several years, chairing the BI (business intelligence) committee from 2019-23, as well as serving as vice president from 2022-23.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself, your company and/or the propane industry?

Paraco started in 1968 as a welding and gas supplier in the New York City area and is now one of the largest propane companies in the United States. I have participated in over 12 acquisitions, and it has been exciting to watch Paraco continue to grow and expand its footprint and product offerings.