PROPANE MANAGEMENT
William G. Powers, Jr.
President
Mr. Powers joined Heritage in March 2004 as Vice President of Northern Operations. Prior to joining Heritage, Mr. Powers served as Executive Vice President and member of the office of the President Star Gas LLC, overseeing the heating oil division Petro. Mr. Powers was employed by Petro from 1984 to March 2002 and served in various capacities, including Regional Operations Manager, Vice President of Acquisitions, and President from December 1997 to March 2002. From December 1993 to November 1997, Mr. Powers served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Star Gas Corporation, a propane marketer and Petro subsidiary. Prior to joining Petro, Mr. Powers was employed by The Augsbury Corporation, a company engaged in the wholesale and retail distribution of fuel oil and gasoline. Mr. Powers earned an MBA degree from the University of Vermont and a B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame.
R. Paul Grady
Sr. Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Grady joined Heritage in June 2006 following the acquisition of Titan Propane Partners where he served as Chief Operating Officer since January 2005. Prior to joining Titan, Mr. Grady was Chief Executive Officer of Juice Bowl Products, Inc., a business started by his family, which he sold in 2004. From 1995 until 2003, Mr. Grady worked in senior operating positions at AmeriGas Propane; including its Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President from 2000 to 2003, and Vice President of Sales and Operations from 1995-2000. Before joining AmeriGas, Mr. Grady was Vice President of Corporate Development for UGI, Inc. He also spent five years as Director of Business Development for Campbell's Soup Company. Mr. Grady earned a B.A. in Marketing at Stetson University and a J.D. from Stetson College of Law. He is a founding council member of the Propane Education and Research Council and served two terms ending in 2003.
C. Stephen Sheffield
Vice President of Northeast Operations
Mr. Sheffield joined Heritage Propane in 1997 as a Regional Vice President and has over thirty years of experience in the propane industry. Prior to starting with Heritage Propane, Mr. Sheffield held various management positions in Georgia, Minnesota, Texas, Florida, and New England with Union Texas Petroleum, Texgas Corporation, and its successor Suburban Propane. He is presently an active member in the Propane Gas Association of New England, Vermont Fuel Dealers Association, and the New York Propane Gas Association. Mr. Sheffield holds a B.A. from the College of Wooster (Ohio) and an MBA from Syracuse University.
Van Peterson
Vice President of Northwest Operations
Mr. Peterson joined Heritage Propane in 1998 serving as the Regional Vice President for retail operations in California and Nevada. Mr. Peterson’s career in the propane industry spans over thirty years, beginning in 1975 with Pargas and eight years with Suburban Propane as Regional Manager. Mr. Peterson has been active in the Western Propane Gas Association for over twenty years and served as the Chairman of the Board from 2005 to 2006.
Mark A. Darr
Vice President of Southeastern Operations
Mr. Darr joined Heritage in 1991 serving as District Manager, and as Vice President and Regional Manager before his election to Vice President of Southeastern Operations, in July 2000. Prior to joining Heritage, Mr. Darr held various positions with Texgas Corporation, and its successor Suburban Propane. Mr. Darr has served as President of the Florida Propane Gas Association and as the Florida Director of the National Propane Gas Association. Mr. Darr received his undergraduate business degree from the University of Tennessee.
Phil Comstock
Vice President of Southwestern Operations
Mr. Comstock joined Heritage Propane in 2001 with the acquisition of Pro-Flame Gas Company, where he served as District Manager for eleven years in one of their largest and fastest growing retail districts. During his tenure with Heritage Propane he most recently served as Vice President and Regional Manager of seventeen stores in Southern California. Mr. Comstock’s career in the propane industry spans over twenty-five years of operations experience, starting in 1984 with Buckeye Gas Products. Prior to his career in propane, Phil served in the United States Air Force at George AFB as a Security Specialist reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant
Jim Hamilton
Vice President of Central Operations and Metro Lift Propane
Mr. Hamilton joined Heritage Propane in January 1995. He began his career as a District Manager of the Jacksonville, FL district. In November 1995, Mr. Hamilton was promoted to Vice President and Regional Manager in South Florida. In October 1997, Mr. Hamilton transferred to Tennessee and served as Vice President and Regional Manager of sixteen locations in Tennessee and two in Mississippi. Mr. Hamilton’s career in the propane industry spans over twenty years of operations experience, starting in 1985 with Cal Gas. He also held management positions with Suburban Propane and Star Gas.
M. L. Marty Baker, Jr.
Vice President of Heritage Propane Express
Mr. Baker joined Heritage Propane in 2008, and is currently serving as Vice President of Heritage Propane Express grill cylinder operation. Mr. Baker’s career spans over thirty years in the propane industry and has held various operations, sales, marketing, and consulting positions throughout the United States. Mr. Baker began his career in 1979 with Pargas, its successor Suburban Propane, and Titan Propane. Mr. Baker is a past chairman of the Kentucky Propane Education and Research Council.
Eric Beatty
General Counsel
Mr. Beatty joined Heritage Propane 2007 as General Counsel. Prior to joining Heritage, Mr. Beatty spent more than fourteen years in private practice representing product manufacturers and energy companies in litigation and transactional matters throughout the United States. Mr. Beatty has been a member of the Propane Gas Defense Association since 1994. Mr. Beatty holds a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University and a Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law.
Karen Z. Hicks
Vice President of Finance – Propane Operations
Ms. Hicks has served as Vice President of Finance – Propane Operations since 2008, having served as Vice President and Controller of the General Partner from 2002 to 2008. Ms. Hicks has spent over twenty years in the propane industry, all of which have been with Heritage Propane. Ms Hicks started her career with Heritage as Accounting Manager and was promoted to Manager of Financial Reporting when the partnership went public in 1996. Prior to her career in the propane industry, Ms. Hicks was a bank examiner for the State of Montana for three years.