Retailers from all regions attend 8th LP Gas Growth Summit

October 18, 2023 By Brian Richesson

About 70 propane industry members gathered at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Florida, for the eighth LP Gas Growth Summit, where retailers, partners and other leaders explored ways to grow business and improve operations – through one-on-one meetings, education and other networking functions.

The LP Gas Growth Summit features one-on-one meetings between partners like Tankfarm’s Mark Zimora, right, and propane company decision-makers. (Photo by LP Gas staff and Tom Ledford/Ledford Productions)

LP Gas launched its annual Growth Summit in 2015 with the goal of building propane partnerships. The unique event helps propane retailers strengthen their offerings in traditional markets, expand into new markets and increase their operational efficiencies in serving a variety of customers.

More than 20 retail propane companies, representing all regions of the U.S., and a record number of partners (18) attended this year’s Growth Summit.

“We’ve already gotten a tremendous amount of positive feedback from partners and attending marketers,” says LP Gas Publisher Brian Kanaba. “That’s helped us to know that we continue to prove our mantra of building propane partnerships, and we made that happen again this year.”

The opening day of the Growth Summit included “Meet the Partners” presentations and an evening welcome reception and dinner at Eleven Restaurant, atop the resort’s Grande Tower.

On the second and full day of the Growth Summit, propane retailers began their private, 20-minute meetings with partners in the morning. A golf outing on the resort’s Palmer Course, a luncheon for non-golfers and a barbecue dinner in the evening rounded out the day’s events. One-on-one meetings continued on the final day of the Growth Summit.

Educational opportunities are also part of the Growth Summit agenda. This year, Jim Bunsey, director of commercial business development for the Propane Education & Research Council, addressed attendees about the growing list of power generation solutions that propane retailers can offer to their customers.

In addition, industry veteran Randy Doyle of Holtzman Propane participated in a question-and-answer session about a hydronic heating solution that allows propane retailers to convert homes with electric heat pumps to dual-fuel space heating systems.

“At our company, we’re constantly trying to evolve, constantly trying to stay relevant,” says DeWayne O’Brien, general manager of Energy Partners Propane in Missoula, Montana.

“And I think it’s events like this that help small propane companies and large propane companies stay relevant in this marketplace.”

The record number of partners featured ADD Systems, Anova, Blue Cow Software, Cargas, Gray, Gray & Gray, IPS, Legacy Energy Consulting, LP Cylinder Service, NGL Supply Co., Metsa, Mopeka, One-Tank, Otodata, Quality Steel, Rural Computer Consultants, Tankfarm, Tiger Payment Solutions and Westmor.

“It’s a different level of interaction than we’ve experienced before,” says Kevin Jaffe of first-time partner Mopeka. “The marketers that we’re seeing here at this event, they’re coming with specific problems. They’re here to solve problems. They’re not here just to have a talk or find out what’s new.”

This year, the Growth Summit welcomed professional golfer D.A. Points, a guest of Chad Pendill of Legacy Energy Consulting. Points participated in the golf outing and shot a hole in one.

Join us in 2024

If you are a propane retailer decision-maker interested in attending the 2024 LP Gas Growth Summit, please contact Editor Brian Richesson at brichesson@northcoastmedia.net or 216-706-3748. If you are interested in becoming a Growth Summit partner, please contact Publisher Brian Kanaba at bkanaba@northcoastmedia.net or 216-706-3745.

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