Meet the Staff of the Compressed Gas Association
Executive Staff
Rich Gottwald
President and CEO
Rich Gottwald joined the Compressed Gas Association as President and CEO in July 2018.
Before joining CGA, Rich served as President and CEO of the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals. He joined APSP in 2013 and realigned the organization to be a unified voice to protect existing markets and to grow new business for its members.
Prior to APSP, Rich served as Executive Vice President for the International Sign Association, where he was responsible for providing oversight and leadership on the regulatory, legislative, and technological challenges and opportunities facing the sign industry across North America.
Before ISA, Rich held senior management positions in several trade associations, including Executive Vice President for the Association of 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.
Rich provides executive leadership for the following CGA committees:
- Board of Directors
- Executive Committee
- Legal Committee
- Nominating Committee
Rich Craig
Vice President, Technical and Regulatory Affairs
Rich Craig is responsible for U.S. and Canadian technical activities and interaction with associated global industry and other groups, including managing U.S. technical participation at ISO TC and SC meetings.
He joined CGA as Technical Director in February, 2011.
Rich has over 44 years of experience in compressed gas facility operations, engineering, and safety.
While with Praxair, Rich worked in cylinder filling plants, small and large ASU plants, regional operations, engineering, and corporate safety.
Positions held included plant engineer, plant manager, operations manager, engineering manager, and director of process safety.
Operations accountabilities included management of single and multiple unit facilities, product transportation, and regional operations. Engineering accountabilities included electrical, mechanical, and auxiliary systems, commissioning and start up, as well as technical support. Safety accountabilities included global process safety for cylinder and bulk plant operations.
He received a BSEE in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from Indiana University.
Rich provides technical management for the following CGA committees:
- Atmospheric Gases and Equipment Committee
- Canadian Executive Committee
- Canadian Heath, Safety, and Environment Committee
- HYCO Committee
- Standards Council
Laura Brumsey
Vice President of Operations and Administration
Laura Brumsey is responsible for working with the President & CEO, Vice President of Technical & Regulatory Affairs, and Board of Directors to provide executive oversight and leadership for the Compressed Gas Association.
She is a passionate advocate for the engagement of young and emerging professionals in CGA activities and for the continuous improvement of CGA’s member benefit programs, work processes, and technology platforms.
During her time with CGA, Laura has been responsible for the development and launch of numerous new programs including personnel certification programs, new education resources, young professionals outreach, and more.
She joined CGA as a Committee Administrator in 2008.
Laura holds BS and MS degrees in Consumer Science from Virginia Tech with an emphasis on consumer hazard communications.
She lives in Sterling, Virginia.
Laura provides administrative management for the following CGA committees:
- Board of Directors
- Executive Committee
- International Harmonization Council
- Legal Committee
- Nominating Committee
- Standards Council
Technical Staff

Rob Early
Compressed Gas AssociationTechnical Manager
- Bulk Distribution Equipment and Standards Committee
- Canadian Pressure Vessels and Piping Systems Committee
- Hazardous Materials Codes Committee
- Hydrogen Technology Committee
- Natural Gas Technology Committee
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 58, Gas cylinders
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 197, Hydrogen technologies
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 220, Cryogenic vessels
Rob also serves as Committee Chair for:
- ISO/TC 58/SC 4, Operational requirements for gas cylinders (Secretariat)

Jerry Sameth
Compressed Gas AssociationTechnical Manager
- Canadian Cylinder Specifications Committee
- Canadian Transportation Committee
- Cylinder Specifications Committee
- Cylinder Valve Committee
- Distribution and Fleet Safety Committee
- Environmental Committee
- Industrial Gases Apparatus Committee
- Specialty Gases Committee
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 58/SC 2, Cylinder fittings
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 58/SC 3, Cylinder design
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 58/SC 4, Operational requirements for gas cylinders
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 158, Analysis of gases

John Willenbrock
Compressed Gas AssociationTechnical Manager
- Canadian Medical, Food, and Beverage Gases and Equipment Committee
- Carbon Dioxide Committee
- Food Gases Committee
- Hazard Communication Committee
- Medical Equipment Committee
- Medical Gases Committee
- Safety and Health Committee
Administrative Staff

Krista Lee
Compressed Gas AssociationCommittee Operations Manager
- Publication editing and production
- Intellectual property protection
- eLearning development
- Committee work process management
- Committee leadership training

Nicole Colantonio
Compressed Gas AssociationCommittee Project Manager
- Bulk Distribution Equipment and Standards Committee
- Canadian Executive Committee
- Canadian Heath, Safety, and Environment Committee
- Canadian Medical, Food, and Beverage Gases and Equipment Committee
- Canadian Pressure Vessels and Piping Systems Committee
- Medical Equipment Committee
- Medical Gases Committee

Tom Deary
Compressed Gas AssociationCommittee Project Manager
- Hazardous Materials Codes Committee
- Hydrogen Technology Committee
- HYCO Committee
- Specialty Gases Committee
ISO Administrator
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 158, Analysis of gases
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 197, Hydrogen technologies

Christina Hartz
Compressed Gas AssociationCommittee Administrator
- Acetylene Committee
- Carbon Dioxide Committee
- Environmental Committee
- Food Gases Committee
- Industrial Gases Apparatus Committee
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas Committee
- Security Committee

Kristy Mastromichalis
Compressed Gas AssociationCommittee Project Manager
- Canadian Cylinder Specifications Committee
- Cylinder Specifications Committee
- Cylinder Valve Committee
ISO Administrator
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 58, Gas cylinders
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 58/SC 2, Cylinder fittings
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 58/SC 3, Cylinder design
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 58/SC 4, Operational requirements for gas cylinders
- U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 220, Cryogenic vessels
Committee Manager
- ISO/TC 58/SC 4, Operational requirements for gas cylinders (Secretariat)
Communications and Marketing

Paul Pflieger
Compressed Gas AssociationDirector of Marketing and Communications
Operations & Support Staff

Michael Federovich
