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2  0  2  5 F    all G       a t he     r ing R       e  c  ap
                             2025 Fall Gathering Recap

                     APGA held its Annual Fall Gathering event
                     on September 24th  - 25th at the Auburn
                     Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand
            ANational in Opelika, Alabama. The Fall
            Gathering event is a great opportunity to relax, catch
            up with industry friends, and to enjoy each other's
            company before Friday's scheduled Committee and
            Board of Director's meetings. We had a great turnout
            for this year's event - with several new faces for the
            golf tournament, dinner, and the Committee and
            Board of Directors meetings.
                   Thursday's activities began with a golf scram-
            ble at the Lakes Course at the Robert Trent Jones   from Jason Erwin (Warm Thoughts Communications).
            Grand National Golf Course. Thursday evening, we   Jason provided an in-depth look into how embracing
            kicked off the celebration with a Welcome Reception   AI could help create smarter marketing strategies
            full of new faces! After the reception, guests joined   that would produce stronger results for businesses in
            together for a scrumptious dinner buffet filled with   the propane industry. Attendees learned that AI and
            southern soul food favorites  - all with a fall theme,   automation aren't just the future, they're essential for
            including a fabulous sweet potato bread pudding.   better marketing, smarter sales, and faster growth in
            Throughout the night, names were drawn for raffle   today's market. During the Governmental Affairs Com-
            prizes - with several of our new members winning   mittee meeting, APGA's lobbyists, Alison and Phillip
            Propane® hats. Congratulations to raffle prize win-  Kinney (Barton and Kinney, PC) discussed the upcom-
            ners, Robert Ruff (AmeriTrain), Jeff Watts (Enterprise   ing election year and key races to follow. During the
            Products), and Jeff Gresham (Crum & Forster). Just   Convention Committee meeting, APGA announced the
            after dinner, the golf award was announced, with   2026 APGA/LPGA Joint Summer Convention will be
            Chad Chavers (Blossman Gas) and Jeff Gresham, win-  held on June 29 - July 1, 2026 at the Pensacola Hilton,
            ning the prizes. Next, APGA President, Daniel Brown   in Pensacola, Florida.
            (Economy Gas Service) presented Jason Gamble
            (Southeastern LP Tank Inspections) with an award           The Fall Board of Directors meeting was called
            for his work in coordinating the day's golf game. Bill   to order immediately following the committee meet-
            Mayo (Blossman Gas) won the very last raffle prize   ings. Meeting highlights included the approval of
            before we wrapped up for the evening.              the 2026 Budget, 2026 Strategic Plan, final approval
                                                               of the 2025-2026 Training Program, 2025-2026 Safe
                   On Friday morning, members gathered to-     Installation of Appliances Rebate Program, and the
            gether for a breakfast buffet including all the coun-  2025-2026 Regulator Replacement Rebate Program.
            try fixings. After breakfast, APGA President, Daniel   After the meetings, the final raffle prizes were award-
            Brown, called the meetings to order. There were sev-  ed, with Kerry Gresham and Josh Morgan winning the
            eral highlights to share from the morning's Commit-  prizes.
            tee meetings. During the Safety and Education Com-
            mittee meeting, the committee discussed the status         APGA would like to thank everyone who came
            of the 2024-2025 training program and the applianc-  out to support the annual Fall Gathering event and
            es and regulator rebate programs. Next the commit-  meetings. We hope to continue to see more mem-
            tee reviewed the proposed 2025-2026 training and   bers and new faces at association events in 2026. For
            rebate programs that would be presented to the     details on upcoming events and meetings, please visit
            APGA Board for approval. After the programs were   APGA's Events page or contact APGA Executive Direc-
            reviewed, attendees were treated to a presentation   tor, Laural Strength, laural@alabamapropane.com.■



    18                                 Alabama Propane Gas Association  | November / December 2025
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