CGA Honors Industry Leaders for Safety, Environmental Excellence, and Lifetime Achievement at 2025 Annual Meeting

Palm Beach Gardens, FL – April 30, 2025 – The Compressed Gas Association (CGA) recognized exceptional safety and environmental achievements at its 112th Annual Meeting, held this week in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Each year, CGA presents a series of prestigious awards to honor member companies and individuals whose efforts drive the compressed gas industry forward in safety, sustainability, and innovation.

“These awards highlight the incredible work being done across our industry to improve safety outcomes, advance environmental responsibility, and build a stronger future,” said Rich Gottwald, CGA President and CEO. “We are proud to celebrate the individuals and companies leading by example.”

Environmental Recognition Awards

Sponsored by Messer North America, the Environmental Recognition Awards celebrate outstanding projects that reduce environmental impact while enhancing operations. This year’s honorees include:

  • Airgas Dry Ice, for its EV Forklift Implementation Project. By converting propane forklifts to electric across 61 facilities (70% complete), the project eliminated 125 metric tons of CO₂ annually and saved over $200,000 in fuel costs.
  • Linde Gas & Equipment Inc., for its Nitrous Oxide Loss Reduction Project. Through telemetric monitoring and data-driven analysis, the project reduced emissions by 150 metric tons and saved over $716,000 in product losses.
  • Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., for its innovative reuse of 5.4 million pounds of construction waste from the Edmonton Net Zero Hydrogen Energy Complex, turning slurry into backfill for local residential projects.

Fleet Safety Excellence Awards

With more than 455 million miles driven by CGA members in the U.S. last year without a single fatality, fleet safety remains a cornerstone of CGA’s mission. Sponsored by Linde, the 2025 Fleet Safety Excellence Awards recognized:

  • Western International Gas & Cylinders, Inc., for leading performance in bulk gas transport (under 20 million miles) and cylinder transport (under 3 million miles).
  • GenOx Transportation, Inc., for bulk gas transport exceeding 20 million miles.
  • Matheson, for cylinder transport exceeding 3 million miles.

Leonard Parker Pool Safety Awards

Named for a pioneer of safety in the compressed gas industry, these awards are presented to companies with the greatest improvement in safety performance over two years, based on OSHA-defined total recordable case incidence rates. Sponsored by Air Products and Chemicals, this year’s recipients are:

  • Air Products, Group 1 (more than 2 million employee exposure hours).
  • FIBA Technologies, Group 2 (2 million or fewer employee exposure hours).

New Committee Member of the Year

Sponsored by Chart Industries, the New Committee Member of the Year Award recognizes enthusiastic newcomers making an immediate impact on CGA’s standards work. The 2025 recipient, Elizabeth (Beth) McCall of Chart Industries, joined CGA in late 2022 and has since participated in 16 work items across multiple committees, including Canadian Transportation, Pressure Vessels, and Hydrogen Technology. Her inclusive leadership style and commitment to collaboration set an inspiring example.

Charles H. Glasier Safety Award

Sponsored by American Air Liquide, the Charles H. Glasier Safety Award is one of CGA’s highest individual honors. This year’s recipient, Tom Hannigan of Air Products, was recognized for more than 37 years of service to industrial gas safety. A founding member and long-serving chair of the Hydrogen Production Committee, Hannigan helped develop vital safety guidance for reformer operations and catalyst handling.

H. Emerson Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award

Named in honor of CGA’s longest-serving leader, this award recognizes extraordinary lifetime contributions to CGA and the industry. For the first time, the 2025 award was presented to two recipients:

  • John Willenbrock, Technical Manager for CGA, was honored for a career of outstanding service and leadership within CGA and the broader industry.
  • Rich Craig, CGA Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs, recognized for his decades of commitment to safety standards, regulatory advocacy, and mentorship within the association.

“These award recipients exemplify the values that define CGA—safety, excellence, and service,” said Gottwald. “We are grateful for their leadership and their dedication to making our industry better every day.”

For more information about the CGA Annual Meeting and Safety Awards Program, visit www.cganet.com.

About the Compressed Gas Association

The Compressed Gas Association (CGA) is a global leader in the production, storage, distribution, and application of industrial, medical, food, and specialty gases and equipment, with nearly 400 safety standards developed since 1913. Recognized by international organizations like ISO, NFPA, and the United Nations, CGA’s standards are widely adopted by regulatory bodies worldwide. The association supports over 34,000 jobs in the U.S. and contributes over $10 billion to the American economy, with each job in the industry creating more than five additional jobs in related sectors. CGA is committed to promoting safety, innovation, and professional development in the compressed gas sector.