Platinum Perspective – Steve Wambold, President and CEO of Ferrellgas

This month Forum Voice chatted to Steve Wambold, President and CEO of Ferrellgas to hear his view on the event and also hear his thoughts on the opportunities facing the LP Gas market in the USA today.

Forum Voice:  Steve, thanks for taking the time to talk to us and welcome to Ferrellgas as Platinum Sponsor.  First of all, what attracted you to becoming a platinum sponsor of the Miami Forum?

Steve Wambold:  Ferrellgas has long been a supporter of the World LP Gas Association (WLPGA) and of the vital programs that support the association’s mission to stimulate the development of LP Gas markets throughout the world. Our involvement with the WLPGA began many years ago with our Chairman, Jim Ferrell, who served two terms as president of the WLPGA. We’re proud to serve once again this year as a Platinum sponsor of the World LP Gas Forum, and we’re thrilled to welcome industry leaders from around the world back to the United States.

FV: What are your thoughts on the key opportunities for LP Gas in the USA?

SW: I’ve never been more excited than I am today about the tremendous opportunities for LP Gas here in the United States. Autogas remains the fastest growing segment of our industry, as many of our country’s school districts, municipalities, and private businesses are discovering the benefits of our economical and environmentally friendly alternative fuel. I can envision a day when the use of Autogas in the United States rivals that of many of the top using countries around the world. We’re working extremely hard together to make that a reality. The fast adoption of LP Gas commercial-grade lawnmowers has helped make landscape contractors another rapidly growing segment here. Thanks to LP Gas’ proven benefits, and the meaningful incentives put in place by the Propane Education & Research Council, we expect this growth trend to continue. Combined with advances we continue to make among our strong nucleus of residential, industrial, and agricultural LP Gas users, these new uses are stimulating growth throughout our industry.

FV: Why should delegates attend the Forum?

SW: The World LP Gas Forum is an annual gathering unlike any other, as it brings together the brightest minds in the global LP Gas industry. The opportunities and challenges faced by businesses in Europe, Australia, South America, and Asia are no different than our own, but those companies may be pursuing the opportunities and solving the challenges in ways that are different than our approaches here. The Forum offers the perfect opportunity to visit with and learn from LP Gas companies from across the globe. It’s also an opportunity to forge long-lasting relationships with our industry’s leading equipment manufacturers and consultants.

FV: What are you most looking forward to in Miami?

SW: Miami is one of our nation’s most beautiful cities. As a major center of culture, entertainment, and the arts, and as the home of many large national and international companies, it’s the logical host city for the 2014 World LP Gas Forum. I look forward to welcoming many good friends from around the world and to meeting and learning from many new ones.

For more information visit www.blossmangas.com and www.allianceautogas.com