Rich Gottwald joined the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) as President and CEO in July 2018. Under his leadership, CGA has strengthened its position as the leading authority on safety standards for industrial, medical, food, and specialty gases and equipment. He has focused the organization on long-term, sustainable growth—expanding member engagement, modernizing communications, and building new initiatives such as the Safe Hydrogen Project and the CO₂ Solutions Coalition. Rich has also overseen the development of new technical summits, the launch of e-learning programs, and the digitization of CGA’s flagship publications, ensuring that the association continues to deliver value and expertise to its members and the broader industry.

Before joining CGA, Rich served as President and CEO of the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP), where he realigned the organization to unify its voice, protect existing markets, and grow new business opportunities for members. He joined APSP in 2013 after serving as executive vice president for the International Sign Association, where he provided oversight and leadership on regulatory, legislative, and technological issues across North America.

Earlier in his career, Rich held senior management positions in several trade associations, including executive vice president for the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, president of the Plastics Pipe Institute, and executive director of the Society of the Plastics Industry.

Rich holds a BS in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE). He lives in Washington, DC.