Propane Personality: NPGA’s Kristen White

White

EDUCATION

University of Maryland
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology
Class of 1991

Events Industry Council
⦁ Certified Meeting Professional

WORK EXPERIENCE

2013-Present
National Propane Gas Association
⦁ Director of Conventions & Meetings

1992-2013
⦁ Prior to her stint with NPGA, White held several positions, including as an independent contractor, in the meetings and events industry.

Career path

White has been in the meetings and events industry for 29 years – a plan she established from the get-go. Growing up in Rye, New York, she watched as her parents hosted parties regularly. She would often serve as the host’s helper. “I use my degree every day,” she says. “I literally wanted to plan meetings. At first, I wanted to be a party planner; I thought it would be more interesting to [plan] meetings.” As far as her career choice, White says, “I like to put smiles on people’s faces. Generally, a party will do that.”

Gold medal gig

White worked several months for CBS Sports during the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. She was tasked with helping to house its 3,200 staff members in blocks of rooms across France. A bonus: attending the Games that year.

About the propane industry

“I love the people. I knew nothing about the industry when I started. It’s been a great learning experience. But what I enjoy most is going to meetings and seeing the faces that I’ve come to know and really admire over the years.”

NPGA’s Propane Expo is set for October in Atlanta. Photo by Craig Huey, Craig Huey Photography

Committee contributions

White works closely with the propane industry in leading the NPGA Conventions Committee. The committee, composed of industry volunteers, meets several times a year to plan the Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo. “The Conventions Committee is amazing because you’re getting so many different perspectives and you can take all of those perspectives and come up with the best solution,” White says.

About this year’s Propane Expo, scheduled for Oct. 18-20 in Atlanta, White says, “I can’t believe it was 2.5 years ago [since our last show]. I’m thrilled that we’re moving forward and we can be together again.”

Winning outcomes

Every day offers its own challenges for White. One includes “renegotiating contracts to the best benefit of the organization and the business that we’re working with so everybody has a win-win,” White says. Another includes maintaining quality event programming within the budget parameter.

Hobbies

White is a big fan of watching sports. A Virginia resident, she attends Washington Nationals and Capitals games. She’s also a New York Giants fan, having grown up in New York. She loves NASCAR. She’s been to races in Daytona Beach, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Richmond, Virginia. Away from the sports world, she likes to relax on the beach.