________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Lakes Gas
While Trent notes that the business takes a community led, and‘ traditional’ approach to customer service, that’ s not to say that Lakes shies away from modern methods where it sees a benefit. As an example, he highlights a major investment in modernizing its IT structure over the past five years.“ We began the process to help overcome some of the challenges presented by Covid; it has helped us operate in a more remote, mobile, and secure way,” he explains.“ This investment happened alongside the addition of more strategic storage locations, and we now have the largest storage infrastructure in the upper Midwest. This also provides a layer of security for us, which is especially useful given the harsh winters we experience up here. On top of this, we have also been updating some of our local offices.”
Trent continues, now expanding on how sustainability features in the company’ s approach:“ First of all, we believe that propane has a place in a clean energy environment. Throughout the United States, in every state, with perhaps one exception, propane, from source to use, is currently cleaner than electricity. At Lakes, we’ ve invested in generating growth in that market. It is a difficult market because incentives vary as governments and political environments evolve. Not only at the national level, but also state by state. Nevertheless, we want to be prepared for change because we believe in it.”
Dedicated to propane
Keeping abreast of changing regulations, and also promoting the benefits of propane as a fuel are key focuses for Trent and this is reflected in his involvement in the Propane Education Research Council( PERC) and the National Propane Gas Association( NPGA):“ I served as a councilor and officer on the national Propane Education Research Council, and I am now on the board of directors, serving as an officer on the National Propane Gas Association. The Council is exploring ways to provide safe and clean energy through propane, which has been vital to our operations. We strongly believe that we have something to give back to the industry because it has been so beneficial to the Sargeant family and to all of us.”
Trent concludes by outlining the company’ s ambitions for the coming years:“ We expect to continue organic growth through customers who prefer a local approach and the ability to talk to someone in their community. We also expect growth through acquisitions, both within our existing footprint and in adjacent areas around the Great Lakes, including Northern Illinois and especially the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.” ■
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