News
12 August 2014

WLPGA Attends Florida Propane Gas Association (FPGA) Annual Convention

With the 27th World LP Gas Forum & 29th AIGLP Congress due to take place in Miami in October (www.wlpgas2014.com), Alison Abbott WLPGA Communications Director went to Florida to support the FPGA annual convention and spread the word about the major event coming to the association’s doorstep and meet the Florida propane community.

The FPGA annual convention was held at the Hammock Beach Resort and Club, in beautiful Palm Coast, Florida and was an impressive event with 125 registered attendees (with spouses and families it totaled 255 people in attendance).

L-R Tucker Perkins, Alison Abbott and Jeff Petrash

Tony Autorino receiving his Hall of Fame award

New FPGA officers L-R  Jeffrey Williams, Williams LP Gas, President; Todd Lawrence, Farmers Cooperative, President-Elect; Greg Blazina, Florida Public Utilities, Vice President; Craig Fisher, Gas Equipment Company, Secretary/Treasurer; and Ken DePrinzio, Total Comfort Gas, Immediate Past President.

New FPGA officers L-R Jeffrey Williams, Williams LP Gas, President; Todd Lawrence, Farmers Cooperative, President-Elect; Greg Blazina, Florida Public Utilities, Vice President; Craig Fisher, Gas Equipment Company, Secretary/Treasurer; and Ken DePrinzio, Total Comfort Gas, Immediate Past President.

L-R Tucker Perkins, Alison Abbott and Jeff Petrash

L-R Tucker Perkins, Alison Abbott and Jeff Petrash

The committee meetings and general membership meetings were extremely well attended and extremely informative. Along with Tucker Perkins, Chief Business Development Officer, PERC and Jeff Petrash, General Counsel, NPGA, Alison addressed the General Assembly to outline the exceptional opportunity available to Florida propane professionals later this year.

One of the many highlights of this year's convention the attendance of Tony Autorino a retired industry pioneer who received the prestigious Hall of Flame Award.  Tony has worked in the propane industry for 64 years and still provides consulting services to companies in Florida, Central America and Caribbean Islands.  Other representatives from the Bureau of LP Gas Inspection and the Florida Department of Agriculture's marketing division were also present.

A new award was created and presented by Mat Jones, previous president of the Florida Young Gassers (FYG), to Michael Mooney, outside sales manager with Leran Gas Products, who received the Florida Young Gassers Achievement Award.  The award was created to recognise a deserving, young, propane professional and the FYG officers believed Michael to be the perfect individual who will bring a many new ideas to the Florida association with his vision and passion for the industry.  The FPGA has a new slate of officers and board of directors that will lead and guide the association to new heights for the 2014-2015 term and we thank them for their support and leadership.

WLPGA would like to sincerely thank the FPGA, and the Florida propane community, for their very warm welcome and we look forward to seeing you in Miami later this year.

For more information on the FPGA visit www.floridapropane.org