Pat Hyland on retirement: It’s a ‘good time to sail’

Pat Hyland with Sam McTier, a 2012 inductee in the inaugural LP Gas Hall of Fame class. (Photo by LP Gas staff)

After 27 years in the propane industry, Pat Hyland, director of industry communications for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and formerly the editor in chief of LP Gas magazine, will retire Sept. 6.

Hyland

Hyland began his propane industry career in 1997 as editor of LP Gas. The Cleveland-area native and Bowling Green State University graduate ventured into propane after working as a reporter for several daily newspapers in northeast Ohio. He also edited an employee news magazine published by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and, prior to joining LP Gas, he served as the editor of the fourth-largest Catholic newspaper in the country.

With LP Gas, Hyland worked initially under Publisher Zane Chastain, who also oversaw the magazine’s editorial offerings for 23 years before turning over the reins. Chastain described Hyland at the time as a “mild-mannered and perceptive individual” and a 14-year veteran of the media world. Hyland later credited Chastain for introducing him to the industry and to the mission of the magazine.

In 2012, Hyland followed a new career path, becoming the director of industry programs for PERC. He served initially as the liaison between the state/regional propane associations and the council while fulfilling a variety of other responsibilities. His role with PERC continued to evolve over the years.

Hyland explained his decision to leave LP Gas for PERC in a 2012 Q&A with the magazine. As he prepared to step away from PERC and into retirement, he took time to answer our questions once again.

Pat Hyland meets with Propane Resources President Dwain Willingham in 1998. (Photo: LP Gas archives)

LP Gas: Can you explain your decision to retire? Why was 2024 the year for you?

Hyland: At age 66, the wheels keep turning, but they’re running out of steam. Unfortunately, the pace and volume of work won’t accommodate my professional shortcomings. My health is good. Trusted industry friends and colleagues tell me they’ve found retirement to be liberating. It feels like the wind is at my back, so it just seems like a good time to sail.

LP Gas: Your propane industry career was split between 15 years as editor of LP Gas magazine and 12 more with PERC. When you left LP Gas, you shared with us about the time you spent with the magazine. Let’s do that now with PERC. At that time, you told us that you never imagined leaving LP Gas magazine or working for PERC. Looking back now, was it the right decision for you? Please explain.

Hyland: Without a doubt. My duties at PERC enabled me to expand my role as a communicator to the industry, as well as my knowledge and understanding of the industry and the markets it serves. I’ve gotten to work with so many smart, caring industry professionals who I may never have had the opportunity to meet. They pushed me and made me better at my craft.

LP Gas: What about the PERC role gave you the most satisfaction?

Hyland: Being able to help marketers clear hurdles and leverage emerging opportunities. The industry entrusts PERC to smartly invest its assessment dollars to help it grow the sale of propane nationwide. That only happens when we successfully deliver the market insight, strategy, technology, training and supporting resources that retail companies need to thrive in their local markets. Whether speaking at a state association meeting, writing articles for the PERC website or newsletters, or socializing at an industry event, my goal was always to connect those dots. It’s really fulfilling when that work leads to business success.

LP Gas: Who’s going to fill your shoes at PERC, Pat?

Hyland: PERC recently filled out its communication team with three talented, enthusiastic professionals who have hit the ground running. Rhonda McCurry is managing marketing and communications in the agriculture and off-road markets; Tracey Rettig manages that work in the autogas and material handling markets; and Mitchell Mays is overseeing the emerging power generation segment as well as corporate communications duties. They bring far more expertise and marketing sophistication than I could ever muster.

LP Gas: Putting on your reporter cap here, Pat, but if you were still with LP Gas magazine, what story would you tell right now about the propane industry?

Hyland: I see the industry undergoing dramatic changes that will determine success in the decade ahead:

• Domestic fracking has dramatically swung the U.S. from a net importer of propane to the world’s largest producer and a net exporter. Gone is the desperate reliance on slow summer stock builds and imports ahead of peak season demand. That change has bolstered supply and stabilized the volatile price swings that used to handcuff market growth. More than half of that production gets exported, so there is plenty of supply to handle added domestic sales.
• Propane retailers have embraced technology to boost efficiency and improve bottom lines. Not so long ago, frustrated remote tank monitoring, fleet routing and back-office software companies couldn’t get their foot in the door of the industry at large.
• Environmental concerns are driving energy market demand and redefining the competitive landscape. We no longer compete exclusively with legacy fuels on price and service, but against a faulty global mandate to electrify everything. That trend is opening extensive power generation opportunities in all market segments.
• New engine technologies – such as direct liquid injection and compression ignition – are in the pipeline and poised to deliver unprecedented performance to drive on-road and off-road gallon sales.
• It seems our industry is getting younger, more diverse and more sophisticated – matching the profiles of the customers we serve. Those are welcome changes necessary to tackle these new, evolving propane market dynamics.

LP Gas: What main message would you like to leave with the propane industry?

Hyland: Just my genuine appreciation for 27 great years working with such wonderful people. It’s been a blast!

LP Gas: What does the future hold for you, Pat? What’s next in your life?

Hyland: I’ve never been much of a planner. My wife and I are blessed to enjoy eight active grandchildren who will be filling my daily planner. I’m not sure what the future holds beyond that and cheerleading for all things Cleveland. Guess it’s time to find out.

Pat Hyland with, from left, Brian Richesson and Brian Kanaba of LP Gas and Sean Carr of RegO. (Photo by LP Gas staff)

Hear from Hyland

Pat Hyland will serve as the featured speaker at the LP Gas Growth Summit on Sept. 17-19 at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Florida. You also can watch video interviews with him here:

Pat Hyland discusses how the propane industry might evolve

LP Gas’ former editor talks propane and PERC