AmeriGas group director named PERC chairman

Daniel Dixon of AmeriGas Propane received the customary gavel – albeit virtually – and became the new chairman of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).

PERC recognized its new executive committee leadership during its public meeting last week. Dixon will get support from Casey Cramton, vice chairman of marketers from Dead River Co.; Bruce Leonard, vice chairman of producers from Targa Resources; Jeff Kerns, treasurer, of ThompsonGas; and Stuart Weidie, secretary, of Blossman Gas.

In becoming chair of the 21-member council for a one-year term, Dixon credited past chairmen from whom he learned, including outgoing chairman Rob Freeman of Freeman Gas.

Dixon, the group director of business development at AmeriGas, aims to help PERC execute its strategic plan, which is built around workforce development, and safety and technical training; increasing propane’s voice in the national energy conversation; growing the autogas market; and engaging in commercialization efforts that help foster market growth opportunities.

Dixon said he wants PERC to focus its spending on fewer projects that have a greater impact and to use metrics to drive council decisions.

“We can’t do it alone,” he added. “We must have council and industry engagement and adoption for us to move forward.”

Dixon also said councilors must work to challenge PERC President and CEO Tucker Perkins and the PERC staff “to never settle” and “to create more uses and users” of propane.

Dixon succeeds Paula Wilson as AmeriGas representatives who have chaired the council. Wilson, who held the position from 2013-15, is now the director of industry engagement at PERC.