Strengthens Senior Leadership Team with New Appointment and Formation of First Operating Council to Position Company for Next Chapter of Growth
Meritus Gas Partners LP announced the appointment of Robert (“Rob”) D’Alessandro, who has served as Vice Chairman of the Meritus Board since 2021, as President and Chief Operating Officer (“COO”). In this expanded role, D’Alessandro will work closely with Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Scott Kaltrider to oversee the Meritus portfolio of operating companies and overall strategic direction of the company. D’Alessandro will continue to lead the company’s mergers and acquisitions efforts led by recently appointed Vice President of M&A, Steve Byers, while Kaltrider will spearhead the development of Meritus’ strategy and manage its engineering and large capital projects and supplier relationships.
Meritus also announced today the formation of its first Operating Council, comprised of key leaders from across the Meritus operating companies. The Council, along with the Meritus leadership team, will identify and drive the adoption of best practices among the operating companies, while establishing new policies and operating initiatives designed to inspire growth across the business. The initial members of the Council include:
- Steve Bogard, Chair – Vice President, Meritus West Region
- Ryan Diekow – President and CEO, Oxygen Service Company
- Jeff Palmer – Vice President, Meritus Texas
- Steve Stobaugh – President, Meritus Great Plains
- James Garner – President, Ozarc Gas and Equipment
“Rob, as a co-founder of Meritus, has the industry experience and leadership qualities needed for this expanded role,” said Kaltrider. “He has spent his entire career building best-in-class gas businesses, and I look forward to working with Rob and our talented Operating Council members as we navigate the next phase of Meritus’ growth.”
“I’m excited to take on this expanded role and have the opportunity to engage with our operating company partners,” said D’Alessandro. “Meritus is poised for tremendous growth – both organically, through the efforts of our operating companies, and inorganically, by adding new partner companies to our family. In just four years, we have acquired 30 well-respected companies with over 90 locations and continue to seek platform partners to fill our geographic gaps. We are well on our way to building a nationwide network of independent distributors, and I look forward to executing on our growth plans in this new role.”
D’Alessandro continued, “The Operating Council is an important milestone in Meritus’ continued growth trajectory. The Council will be instrumental in defining the direction of Meritus. It will ensure we are making the best decisions for our partners, capitalizing on best practices and realizing the advantages of being a multi-region player.”
The Meritus executive team provides direction and support for Meritus’ operating companies, which continue to operate independently under their legacy brands. The team includes:
- Cherly Bares – Vice President, Specialty Gases
- Steve Bogard – Vice President, West
- Rich Burke – Director, Human Resources
- Steve Byers – Vice President, M&A
- Allen Jezouit – Vice President, Product Management & Digital Marketing
- Mike Mossbarger – Chief Financial Officer
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