Propane Personality: JD Buss

December 31, 2025 By Brian Richesson 0 Comments

JD Buss

President, Westlark Advisors

Education

Southwest Baptist University
Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Management/Marketing
Class of 1997

Work Experience

June 2025-Present
Westlark Advisors
⦁ President

December 2021-June 2025
Twin Feathers Advisors
⦁ President

August 2008-January 2022
Twin Feathers Consulting
⦁ Trading/Risk Management

February 2007-July 2008
Jeremy D. Buss CPA LLC
⦁ Owner

January 2004-February 2007
Picture Perfect Lawns Inc.
⦁ President

October 2002-January 2004
Johnson County (Kansas)
Register of Deeds
⦁ Accounting Manager

January 2002-September 2002
UBS Warburg Energy LLC
⦁ Natural Gas Marketing

May 1999-January 2002
Enron Corp.
⦁ Transaction Structuring/Risk Management

June 1997-May 1999
Koch Industries
⦁ Risk Management

Energy transition of his own

After a few years in traditional accounting roles, Buss broke into the propane industry with energy adviser Twin Feathers in 2008. He spent the early part of his career in oil and natural gas, including a stint with energy trading giant Enron. “Everyone has different experiences, but I’ve enjoyed the fact it’s been much more relationship-driven than some of the other energy commodities,” he says of the propane industry.

‘Message of hope’

Buss has taken some big steps with Twin Feathers. Not only did he purchase the company in 2021 and become president, but he took it a step further this year with a rebrand to Westlark Advisors, based in Overland Park, Kansas. The chosen name is based on the western meadowlark, the state bird of Kansas. It’s considered a songbird and a messenger of spring. “It’s a message of hope,” he says. “There are challenges out there, but we want to bring a hopeful look on how to meet those challenges.” The company is also branching out beyond North American borders.

Buss attended Liquid Gas Week in Rio. (Photo courtesy of JD Buss)

Winter assessment

In mid-November, the U.S. propane industry was positioned well from both a physical supply and pricing standpoint, according to Buss. He also advised retailers to have backup supply plans. “We try to help people look at their alternatives prior to the season, and we can bring more price transparency to what they’re doing,” he says.

Nontraditional solutions

The company’s work also reflects the global industry’s push toward renewables. Westlark can help
clients who are committed to reducing their carbon output. “The policies surrounding [the concept of climate change] have an impact on business,” Buss says. “You may bump into customers that are very committed and have a strong opinion on climate change or carbon neutrality. We’re trying to identify what are alternative cost-effective solutions to do that.”

Looking at 2026

What should the industry expect in 2026? More U.S. export capacity and more attention on the U.S. market from international buyers owing to the attention that tariffs created, Buss says. It all underscores how the U.S. propane industry continues to be influenced by global market forces. “The [U.S.] retail segment has gone from a super majority to a super minority of the daily propane barrel,” says Buss, who looks for that gap to widen further as exports grow.

Hobbies

JD and his wife, Kelly, have five boys and just became grandparents for the first time (to twin girls, no less). He enjoys the outdoors, hiking, playing disc golf and rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs.