In memory of the GPA’s Mark Sutton

The propane gas industry lost a champion recently. Because he spent most of his career in the midstream segment of the industry, many – perhaps most – on the retail side may be unaware of his valuable contributions.

Mark Sutton was the president of the Gas Processors Association (GPA). When I began my involvement with the industry in early 1994, Mark’s was one of the first calls that I received. His Oklahoma upbringing meant the call opened with a gracious welcome. He pivoted quickly to business though, stressing the need to work as allies to advance the whole industry.

NPGA had just launched an effort to pass legislation that would authorize the first energy check-off program in the nation. Mark was an early and reliable advocate. Since many legislators felt that such a program should have the support of major industry segments, Mark’s endorsement and that of his volunteer leadership was essential. It’s hard to imagine the Propane Education and Research Act (PERA) ever becoming law without GPA’s and Mark’s active involvement.

Mark knew that a sustained program to enhance safety, through research, and safety education and training was bound to benefit everyone, regardless of their position in the value chain. He also saw an opportunity to strengthen GPA’s research program on a long-term basis.

Once enacted, PERA required two referenda to establish the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC): One referendum was to be conducted among propane marketers, the other among propane producers. Voting was to be on a volumetric basis.

Over 90 percent of the gallons voted in the producer referendum were cast in favor of PERC’s establishment. Once again, it is hard to imagine such an outcome without Mark’s steadfast support.

Everyone has some idea about the traits they believe are common to effective leaders. The two that come to mind in Mark’s case are adaptability and the ability to see around the next corner. Few industries outside of tech have experienced as much cathartic change as the energy industry. In our professional lifetimes, we have gone from the once-prevailing expectation of energy shortages to the reality of energy abundance.

That seismic shift affected how companies organized and reorganized themselves. GPA’s membership, once composed of global integrated corporations, became more focused on midstream operations.

I used to say that if you look outside your office window and notice that things outside are changing faster than things inside, you’re heading for trouble. Mark and GPA’s leadership foresaw the coming changes and moved to adapt at just the right time. GPA became GPA Midstream to better position itself to serve its evolving membership.

Mark served in leadership roles at GPA and GPA Midstream for 37 years – a period roughly equivalent to one-third of the lifetime of the propane industry. That kind of commitment is hard to come by these days.

In 2012, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the propane gas industry. Perhaps when the time comes to commemorate its sesquicentennial, we might add the name of Mark Franklin Sutton to that long list of notables whose contributions made a difference.

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Richard R. Roldan served as the president and CEO of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) from 2002 to 2019.

Read Sutton’s obituary here.