Propane Personality: Kim Godlewski

Kim Godlewski

Co-Owner, IPS and IPS Equipment

Education

University of Michigan-Flint
Master of Business Administration
Class of 1999

Adrian College
Bachelor of Business Administration
in Marketing
Class of 1994

Work Experience

2008-Present
IPS/IPS Equipment
⦁ Co-Owner

2003-Present
IPS Equipment
⦁ Vice President of Sales
⦁ Sales Manager

1994-2003
NRG Distributors
⦁ General Manager
⦁ Operations Manager
⦁ Purchasing

1991-94
Fuelgas corporate office
⦁ Intern

Permanently propane

Even before she graduated from college, Godlewski was working in the propane industry as a summer intern at Michigan marketer Fuelgas in Flint. She worked in the mailroom, accounts receivable and marketing. She even handled projects for LP Gas Hall of Famer Tom Jaenicke, from whom she learned a lot about marketing. After graduating from college and working in distribution for about 10 years, she came home to use her marketing and management skills with the family business.

She says the people have kept her in the propane industry: “I work for a family business, but the industry has that family feel.”

Honored to lead

Since the beginning of her propane industry career, Godlewski has contributed her time to several volunteer roles at the state and national levels. She currently chairs the conventions committee for both the Michigan Propane Gas Association (MPGA) and the National Propane Gas Association. She’s also a past president of the MPGA, notably during the challenging polar vortex winter of 2013-14.

Ownership team

Godlewski is one of three owners of an equipment and service company that her grandparents founded in 1968. After her parents retired in 2008, she took over Industrial Propane Service (IPS) with her brothers, Jeff Vandemark and Rob Vandemark. As vice president of sales, she manages the equipment division (known as IPS Equipment), while Jeff oversees the plant division and Rob oversees the truck division. “We each have our own area of expertise,” says Godlewski, who also handles the company’s HR functions.

What’s new?

IPS has evolved over the years, expanding from its roots in Byron, Michigan, to having warehouse locations in Ohio and Wisconsin and serving the entire industry. Godlewski says the company, with 35 employees, is always trying to come up with “the newest, latest and greatest things.” It’s invested in its autogas division, cylinder evacuation systems and bobtail designs, for example. “We’re always trying to come up with something unique that we can offer,” she says. “That’s been our focus for at least the last five, 10 years.”

Hobbies and family

Away from the office, Godlewski often can be found on the high seas as an avid cruiser (about three a year). She recalls cruises around Rome and Alaska as well as a transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to Florida. Of the latter, she says, “It was an amazing vacation. We were at sea for seven days. It was the most relaxed I think I’ve ever been.” She also likes to golf, bowl and spend time with her family, including her 1-year-old granddaughter.

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