With more than 30 years of experience in the downstream energy industry, Steve has been involved in the acquisition or sale of over 200 retail energy marketers providing a range of consumer products and services like propane, fuel oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, trucking, and HVAC.

Steve has consulted with and performed financial and operational evaluations on hundreds of retail energy businesses all over the United States. He’s built numerous financial models to evaluate and project future performance, enable benchmarking and provide frameworks for operational improvement.

Steve is recognized as an expert in the field of end-use energy company valuations by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in both the District of Connecticut and the Southern District of New York, and the Connecticut Probate Court. He has also served as a Chief Restructuring Officer appointed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Several industry publications have published articles written by Steve on subjects such as improving operational efficiencies, business valuations, hedging techniques, cash flow management and mergers and acquisitions. He is a regular speaker at the Atlantic Region Energy Expo, National Propane Gas Association, Propane Gas Association of New England and the New England Fuel Institute on topics including acquisitions, valuations, process improvements, cash flow management and strategic planning.

Jeff has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the propane, distillates and HVAC sectors. He has held senior-level positions in operations, sales and marketing for some of the industry’s largest consolidators. His extensive experience in the entire acquisition process, including post-acquisition integration activities, comes from having been involved in more than 70 transactions throughout the eastern United States.

Jeff began his career as an accounting manager for a privately held multilocation marketer and quickly advanced to general manager of those businesses. A few years later he became regional sales manager for Petro-Star Gas. He then went to HOP Energy, where he served as their director of operations during a decade of significant growth. Jeff’s next stop was Inergy Propane, where he was recruited to serve as division president for the company’s largest region, both in customer volume as well as earnings contribution.

Prior to joining Cetane, Jeff spent five years with Energy Distribution Partners as their Regional Vice President - Eastern US. These years included growth of more than 20 acquisitions followed by the complete integration of each business unit. Jeff’s ability to develop relationships with the sellers contributed significantly to the success of those integrations.

Over the years Jeff has been active in various industry associations, serving on the Board of Directors for PPA and PGANE’s Legislative Committee, as well as a variety of officer roles in regional associations. Jeff’s broad industry knowledge and significant acquisition experience strongly supports the activities of Cetane’s origination and deal execution teams.

Barrett Conway is Managing Director at Cetane Associates, engaging in M&A advisory, business value estimates and transaction analysis, leading the firm’s deal execution team. He contributes more than seven years overall experience in the professional financial advisory space. As a member of the National Propane Gas Association, Barrett was named to the propane industry’s inaugural class of 30 Under 30 in 2020.

Prior to joining Cetane, he worked for five years as an associate in the wealth management area of HighTower Advisors in Houston.

Outside of work, Barrett has been involved in various organizations in Houston including Young Professionals in Finance, Yes Prep, and CHARM Ministries.

Barrett received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University with a concentration in Finance.

As the founding chair of the national business council Women in Propane, Nancy Coop has worked diligently to help create a collaborative professional development environment for men and women.

Her work history includes owning a nationwide bobtail-building company and serving as a business development executive for the nation’s second-largest major marketer. Nancy earned a reputation as a propane industry advocate and now brings her experience to the Cetane team.

Nancy’s propane career began when the bobtail manufacturing company Jarco, founded by her father, needed a new leader. She acquired the business in 2005 and stepped in as president to ensure the family business stayed vital. She built a sales force, maintained quality and grew revenues. In 2010, Polar Company expressed interest in a strategic acquisition, a transaction completed the same year.

By then, Nancy was on the National Propane Gas Association’s board of directors and worked consistently toward the future success of the industry. In 2013, Ferrellgas tapped her to represent them in industry relations and in their acquisitions efforts. She continued to serve on NPGA committees and on the Western Propane Gas Association’s board of directors.

In 2020, Nancy was inducted into the LP Gas Hall of Fame. Her personal warmth, communication strengths and integrity are appreciated by her colleagues and clients.

Pam Giordano has deep experience in the delivered fuels and HVAC industries including accounting, office manager, director of operations, and general manager. In January 2021, Pam became an independent business consultant and began her work as a valuations analyst for Cetane Associates, using her more than a decade of experience running operations and managing the books for home heating companies.

For nearly two decades Pam has been involved with EMANH (Energy Marketers Association of New Hampshire). In the spring of 2019, she was named Member of the Year. She had previously served as the first woman Chair of the organization in 2016. In the fall of 2021, Pam was honored in receiving the NEFI (New England Fuel Institute) Legends of Oilheat award, presented to those who have made an indelible difference in the heating industry.

Tamera Kovacs has been in the retail propane/delivered fuels industry since 1998, with much of that time performing M&A advisory, business consulting, transition planning, and business valuation services. Tamera is a regular speaker at industry trade shows and she is a published author for business trade journals.

Tamera has touched every aspect of sale transactions including financial modeling, valuation analysis, confidential marketing, due diligence, contract review and negotiation of final closing documents. Her experience and skills are the perfect fit for clients seeking an experienced professional advisor.

Before joining Cetane Associates, Tamera spent 23 years with Propane Resources in various roles including senior advisor for their M&A consulting group. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri–Columbia as well as an Masters of Business Administration from Baker University.

Fred brings over 40 years of experience in the delivered fuels industry in various operational and financial management roles.

Before joining Cetane, Fred had been with HOP Energy and its predecessor as its corporate treasurer for over 25 years where he worked on over 50 acquisitions and multiple refinancings. He has been active in industry trade associations and is currently on the executive committee of the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association.

Fred has been involved in numerous acquisitions during his career. His expertise extends the capabilities of Cetane’s transaction execution team. Fred brings wide-ranging experience and a friendly manner that is so important in bringing transactions across the finish line.

Fred holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Furman University, an MBA from the University of Connecticut and a law degree from Western New England University School of Law.

Bob Williamson has handled over 40 acquisitions during his career and has visited many diverse service companies across the country, sharing ideas that can help companies grow and prosper. He serves on the Pennsylvania Pesticide Advisory Board, is former President of the Lawn Care Association of Pennsylvania and former President of Warrington PA Rotary Club.

For over 30 years, Bob worked with Moyer, a large Mid-Atlantic Residential Service provider. The list of services Bob has managed includes Heating Oil, Propane, HVAC, Plumbing, Home Security, Swimming Pool, Lawn & Tree Care, and Pest Control. His management tenure at Moyer covered 25,000 customers and 250 employees.

Bob has a BS in Agronomy from Penn State University and an MBA from LaSalle University. He and his wife Kathy have 2 children. His hobbies include reading, distance running, golf, and trivia of any kind. He has also completed over 30 marathons and has directed a local 5k race for over 25 years.

Tyler Machado joined Cetane Associates’ Washington, D.C. office as an analyst in April 2022. He provides analytical support to the firm’s M&A deal execution team.

Prior to joining Cetane, Tyler worked as an analyst in the asset-based lending group at MidCap Financial in Bethesda, Maryland. Earlier in his career, Tyler worked in business development and sales at Binary Fountain, a subsidiary of Press Ganey, in Northern Virginia’s tech hub.

Tyler holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Penn State University.

Tara McCauley joined Cetane Associates in 2018 as the company’s Administrative Manager. Her role is to support the firm in areas of accounting, administration, information technology, advertising and marketing.

Tara coordinates and manages the firm’s participation in trade shows and other sponsored events. Tara holds a BA in Fine Arts from Molloy College.

Before joining Cetane Associates, Tara worked in the entertainment industry as well as in quality control management.

Prior to joining Cetane, Ford DuBose was a certified general real estate appraiser with more than six years of experience in the valuation industry. Most recently, he was a senior valuation specialist at Colliers International (Dallas office), where he specialized in appraising multitenant retail centers. He has also appraised a variety of asset types, including office and industrial buildings, land, special purpose properties, subdivision, and recreational facilities. During his tenure at Colliers, Ford was involved with the north Texas chapter of the Appraisal Institute.

Ford holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in real estate from Texas A&M University. A native Texan who enjoys landscaping, hunting, and fishing, Ford is married and lives in a Dallas suburb.

Before Dalton Brooks joined the Cetane team, he was a project manager at Southwest General Contractors in Amarillo, Texas, doing large scale commercial construction. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M University (2014) and a law degree from Texas Tech University (2017).

Also a native Texan, Dalton was born, raised, and still lives in Amarillo. Married and father of a son, Dalton is a runner, golfer, hockey player, fly fisher, and occasionally remodels houses.

Duncan McMurchie, CPA, joined Cetane Associates at the beginning of 2023. He provides analytical support to the firm’s M&A deal execution team. Working from his Dallas, Texas home office, Duncan is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant.

Prior to joining Cetane, Duncan worked in public accounting at Turner, Stone & Company, LLP in Dallas, where he assisted with the firm’s audit practice.

Duncan holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in Accounting from Texas A&M University—Commerce.

For over 30 years, Joe Rosengrant has earned an outstanding reputation working in the propane and delivered fuels industries.

Most recently, Joe served in business development roles at ThompsonGas, Superior Plus Corp., and NGL Energy Partners. Earlier in his career, he held diverse roles in operations at Suburban Propane, Piedmont Natural Gas’s Piedmont Propane division, and Heritage Propane.

Joe is well-known across the country and has been an avid supporter of various industry trade associations. He enjoys travel to meetings where he lends his happy and positive attitude to every encounter he makes. His deep industry knowledge along with his extensive valuation and transaction experience bring a level of professionalism and trust to all his client, colleague, and industry relationships.

Joshua joined Cetane in 2013 and oversees the deal execution team. In his current role, Joshua has worked on more than 40 successful sale assignments and numerous valuation engagements.

He is a former corporate and investment banker, with more than a decade of relationships and credit portfolio experience in the domestic energy sector. He has extensive knowledge on exploration and production, midstream services, petroleum refining and oilfield services.

Joshua has held a variety of marketing and analytical positions at the energy groups of Mizuho Corporate Bank (USA), ABN AMRO Bank N.V., and Crédit Lyonnais. He received a Bachelor of Business from Emory University and holds the Charted Financial Analyst designation.

As a 40-plus year veteran of the delivered fuels industry, Doug has gained a reputation as an industry advocate and a champion for his clients. Doug strives to always do the right thing and his reputation is synonymous with integrity.

Doug began his career in a family-owned business, Sinkler Inc., in Southampton, PA. After modernizing and growing the company, he sold the business and joined the Purchaser as Director of Governmental and Industry Affairs and Director of Acquisitions.

Doug has always been deeply involved as an industry leader and has contributed to its betterment of the industry through his numerous industry affiliations including the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association (past president), Better Home Heat Council, PMAA (past regional vice-chair), NPGA, NORA, East Coast Energy Council, American Energy Coalition and Delaware Valley Fuel Oil Dealers Association, where he is currently serving as the executive vice-president.

Doug has been involved in over 100 acquisitions on both the buying and selling sides. His wide range of familiarity and involvement in so many aspects of the delivered fuels industry make him one of the most knowledgeable advisors in the field today.

Trey Brasseaux has more than six years of client advisory experience in financial roles with professional services businesses.

Prior to joining Cetane Associates, Trey worked as an Associate at J Wolf and Company, an independent investment bank centered on raising capital for acquisitions in the lower middle market. Before his tenure at J Wolf, Trey spent five years in Houston at Opportune LLP where he worked across the finance/accounting service lines as part of the corporate finance team. His clients included private and public energy companies in upstream, midstream, downstream, and minerals.

Trey holds Bachelors degrees in Business Honors and Finance and a Master of Financial Management degree from Texas A&M University. Additionally, he holds FINRA Series 79 and 63 licenses.