Rich provides executive leadership for the following CGA committees:

  • Board of Directors
  • Executive Committee
  • Legal Committee
  • Nominating Committee

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.