Page 27 - jul-aug 2023

Rainer Montgomery recognized with an

Outstanding Woman in Family Business Award
L
eading family business advisors Meridian
Associates, Inc. announced their 10th annu-
al Outstanding Women in Family Business
Award Winners. The Outstanding Woman
in Family Business Award recognizes professional
women in family businesses for outstanding per-
formance. Nominees are judged on various criteria
including their contribution to a company, their
overall impact on the industry, leadership quali-
ties, and their contribution to those around them
in their business or community. The award starts
with an online nomination, the Top 10 are selected,
phone interviews are conducted and finally, an out-
side panel of businesswomen choose the winner.
This year, Rainer Montgomery of Superior Gas (AL)
won the award in the Owner category and Christi-
na Pittman of Davidson Oil (TX) won the Non-Own-
er category.
Rainer Montgomery's grandfather estab-
lished Superior Gas in 1948. Along with her moth-
er, uncle, and brother, she has had ownership in
the company since the late 80's. Rainer took over
as Managing Director in April of 2021 after the
untimely death of her brother, Bill Montgomery.
Rainer helped to make 2022 the company’s best
business year in a decade. She expressed how
grateful she was for the support from long time
employees and friends in the industry. She con-
siders this one of her greatest accomplishments
and describes how much hard-work she put in to
get Superior Gas, Inc. thriving again. Out of all the Rainer Montgomery, Superior Gas
owners nominated for this award, Rainer’s resilien- women in family businesses to network, strategize,
cy, work ethic, and willingness to step up is what and participate in focused mastermind sessions.
made her stand out amongst the crowd. A highlight of the event is always the Outstanding
Rainer’s advice to other Woman in Family Business Awards The award is
presented by Betsi Bixby, Founder/CEO for Meridian
women is to “remember that Associates, Inc. Betsi says, “Meridian has been at the
you’re just as significant as a forefront of honoring women in the once predom-
inately male petroleum industry. I was in a ladies’
male… you are just as capable of room at the Pacific Oil Conference in 1991 with only
managing a man or employee, three other ladies while the men’s room line was
because you can understand what out the door. I began chatting with Lila Leathers and
she told me she wished more women were leading
they are doing. Don’t be afraid to petroleum companies.

learn.” I believe it was that conversation that
prompted me to begin honoring women through the
The award was presented at the 'Women in
Family Business' Event on June 15-16, 2023, in Holly- Outstanding Woman in Family Business Award 10
wood, FL. This event provides a place for professional years ago.”■

27 Alabama Propane Gas Association | July / August 2023