Propane Sales Forum: Learning and Action for Business Growth

Keynote: Sam Richter

Sam is the founder and CEO of SBR Worldwide/Know More. Through his in-person keynote presentations and online programs, Sam trains leading organizations and entertains tens of thousands of people around the world. Sam’s programs promise to be the highest-content, most take-home-value presentations attendees have ever experienced.

The National Speakers Association inducted Sam into the Professional Speaker Hall of Fame, where fewer than 300 professional speakers worldwide have been honored, and Sam also received the Association’s CSP Designation, reserved for the top 10 percent of the world’s professional speakers.

He was named one of the Top 15 Highest Rated Speakers for Virtual Events, one of the Top 50 Sales Keynote Speakers in the world, one of the world’s Top 100 Motivational Speakers, a Top Sales Coach by the Coach Foundation, and he is also a member of the Minnesota Speaker Hall of Fame.

Jim Rushing

Jim has more than 25 years of propane industry experience, serving in various leadership positions that have involved acquisitions, large P&L operations management, project management, leading staff support teams and effectively implementing safety training, policies, and procedures. Before launching a successful business career, Jim served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve where he was deployed to the first Gulf War as a Combat Engineer. Jim is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

James C. Green

James C. Green graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a minor in Philosophy, followed by a law degree from Marquette University. His career spans over 30 years working in law firms and private sector manufacturing companies managing complex litigation and corporate matters on a domestic and international basis. Currently he serves as President & CEO of Axiom Energy Group headquartered in East Troy, Wisconsin.

Josh Budworth

Josh started his career as an ASE Master Technician. In 2008, he entered the propane industry setting tanks, selling, and delivering propane. In 2015, Josh joined Alliance AutoGas as an industry Specialist selling in the greater Chicago area. He is currently the Vice President of Business Development for Alliance AutoGas working with up-fitters, resellers, service centers, conversion centers, propane marketers, and is now tasked with introducing the Alliance AutoGas products to new national markets.

Dan Giampetroni

Dan Giampetroni is a strategic marketing leader in both B2C and B2B sectors, specializing in the energy and building industries through multiple channels – including the propane market. He currently serves as the Vice President of Power Solutions at Meritum Energy (PICO Propane), where he is responsible for driving the evolution of the company’s power solutions.

Prior experience at Kohler Co., Generac and Gridiron includes product development, market launches and channel development. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing & Communications from Michigan Technological University.

Jay Canada

Jay Canada is the Vice President of Sales & Engineering for Industrial-Irrigation Services (IIS) and their “Reliable Horsepower” brand of industrial spark-ignited engines. With over 20 years of experience in the industrial engine market ranging from production technician to leading the sales and engineering functions for a worldwide supplier of industrial engines Jay focuses on business development and building relationships to bring customized solutions to dealers and OEMs in the industrial engine market. Jay’s passion is helping customers ensure their own business success by utilizing engine packages that are specifically built for their needs and application – not just an off the shelf product. Jay owns and operates a small cattle-feeding operation and lives on a farm outside Hastings, NE with his wife Teresa and their two children Wesley and Caroline. Jay is an avid hunter and outdoorsman and is passionate about having the entire family involved in outdoor activities. Jay is also involved with many local organizations including church council, local chapters of hunting/conservation organizations as well as various other local activities.

Cary Welsh

Cary Welsh is a Senior Program Manager at TRC Companies, North America’s leading transportation consultancy, providing clients with funding and regulatory support to deploy advanced and clean transportation solutions. To date, TRC has secured more than $2 billion in incentives for their clients to deploy clean transportation vehicles and infrastructure. Over the past six years, Cary has worked with some of TRC’s leading OEMs, fleets, and public agency clients on clean fleet strategy and sustainability, market analysis, incentive research, grant applications, and project management. While at TRC, Cary has managed and contributed to over $350 million in grant applications for clean transportation projects, including zero and near-zero emission technology for on-road vehicles, off-road equipment, and infrastructure.

Jill Drury

Jill Drury has spent her career working in public service positions, spending 32 years in the Aging and Transit sectors of local government. Jill began her public transit career as the Transportation & Senior Service Coordinator for Newaygo County Commission on Aging in the early 1990’s. In 2011, she accepted the Director position at Charlevoix County Transit, a rural demand-response system in Northern Michigan. Under Jill’s direction, Charlevoix County Transit was the recipient of the 2018 Propane Autogas Fleet Award presented by PERC at BUSCON, was recognized nationally by multiple agencies for its service to the residents of Charlevoix County during the pandemic and was the recipient of the 2021 CTAA Rural Transit System of the Year award. After retiring in 2022, Jill’s passion for public transit led her to consulting contracts with the Propane Education and Research Council and MP2 Planning.

Mary Gaiski

Mary Gaiski has been with the Pennsylvania Manufactured Housing Association since 1986 serving in the positions of legislative assistant and vice president prior to being named Executive Vice President in 1994. Prior to that, Mary worked for 9 years with an insurance and finance company specializing in manufactured housing.

She currently sits on several state advisory committees covering such issues as housing, building codes, transportation and water/wastewater systems and is Secretary of the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee, and Past Chair of the PA Housing Research Center at Penn State. She was honored by her peers with the State Executive of the Year award in 1999 and again in 2014 with a communications award.

Kevin Koch

Kevin Koch is the Director of North America of Operations for Robur Corporation. He leads a team of sales and technical professionals in the Evansville, IN Headquarters. His mission is to continue to provide Heating and Cooling to Commercial and Residential customers. At our facility in Evansville, ROBUR Corporation manufactures and distributes natural gas and propane operated heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems that are highly energy efficient and have a low environmental impact.

Tony Ranallo

Tony Ranallo is a principal at BOILERSOURCE and the COO. Tony has been in the industry as a manufacturer’s representative since 1979 and with BOILERSOURCE since 1984. He is a past president of the Illinois Chapter of ASHRAE (2005-2006) and a member of AESP, ASPE, IDEA, and ABMA. Tony has presented multiple times for HESNI, ASPE, ASHRAE-IL, PHCC, SMACNA and numerous other organizations. He is a Trade Ally & regular presenter for Nicor, Peoples and North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency Programs and has hosted webinars about Gas Absorption Heat Pumps (GAHP) and mCHP (Micro Combined Heat and Power). Tony is a co-author of the patent: High Efficiency Closed-Loop Steam System. He is also on multiple manufacturer advisory groups.

Bill Moore

Bill Moore is the Sales Manager for Conger LP Gas, Inc., and has been in this role since 2018. He was the company’s Alternative Fuel Sales Manager beginning in 2011.
In his current position, Bill oversees sales operations and training, manages appliance selection and purchasing, and collaborates with the IT department to address service needs. He also plays a key role in maintaining strong relationships with area builders, implementing the Propane Education and Research Council Builder Program, and managing the Propane Education and Research Council Farm Incentive Program for agricultural producers.
Beyond his company responsibilities, Bill is actively engaged in industry leadership. He is a member of the Propane Education and Research Council Communications and Marketing Strategy working group, serves on the Clean Cities Georgia board, and contributes to the Southeast Propane Alliance Autogas Committee.
Before transitioning into the propane and alternative fuel sector, Bill gained valuable experience in media and construction. He served as the Advertising Manager for the Moultrie Observer newspaper and spent four years with Heartwood Homes as a Marketing and Construction Manager. There, he played a pivotal role in developing Tifton’s first planned community, overseeing the construction of 65 residential homes, six multi-family apartment buildings, and a commercial space.

Armistead Mauck

Armistead obtained an undergraduate degree, majoring in Mathematics and Economics, from Hampden-Sydney College. During the next 9 years he served as a loan officer in Private and Business Banking as well the role of City Executive working at both Wachovia and First Citizens Banks in North Carolina. In 1995 he left the Banking industry to join a family business operating convenience stores and a refined fuels distributorship. In 2005 Armistead and his partner purchased their first of two Propane Companies.

During his past 30 years as a business owner in the Petroleum and Propane industries, Armistead has led numerous business acquisitions as well as software enterprise installations including accounting, CRM, and dispatch automation. In 2022 he started a consulting business working within the industry to commercialize new technology and assist other business owners seeking operational improvement.

Todd Mouw

Executive Vice President
ROUSH CleanTech

Todd Mouw is executive vice president of ROUSH CleanTech, the clean technology division of Roush Enterprises. Mouw has played a key role in taking the company from start up to a sustainable and profitable business with about 40,000-unit sales to Fortune 500 fleets, school districts and government fleets. Mouw drives the company’s teams for government affairs, customer success, marketing and national business development.

A recognized thought leader in the advanced clean transportation industry, he has traveled the nation speaking and has been featured in hundreds of media interviews and bylined articles. He is a recipient of the Green Fleet Sustainability All-Star Award and served as the former president of NTEA’s Green Truck Association. He is currently a Board member for NTEA.

Mouw’s decades of experience in the automotive and high-tech industries also include extensive sales and marketing experience with Ford, GM and Chrysler’s dealer, fleet and consumer communications programs.