A few years ago, Mason Denius walked into TransTech Energy as a college intern with no background in propane and no expectation that it would become his career.
Today, at 24 years old, he is an Associate Project Manager trusted with customers, complex projects and responsibilities that continue to grow. At any given time, he can have 40 to 50 projects moving through different stages.
His path from intern to project manager happened quickly, but it did not happen by accident. Mason was given the opportunity to learn the business from the ground up, spend time with experienced people in the field and take on more responsibility as his knowledge grew.
Now, he is one of a growing number of young professionals building careers at TransTech Energy, and an example of what can happen when companies make room for the next generation.
Mason joined TransTech Energy during his junior year of college while studying professional sales and supply chain management. He started as a marketing intern before moving into operations and eventually project management.
By graduation, Mason had another job offer in an entirely different industry. But his time at TransTech Energy had introduced him to something he had not expected to find in propane: opportunity.
“Propane, oil and gas, they serve every industry,” Mason explained. The variety appealed to him. There were different customers, applications and projects, and no shortage of new things to learn.
He stayed, and the responsibilities kept growing.
Early on, Mason handled tasks such as ordering materials. Learning those individual components helped him understand what goes into a complete propane plant. Over time, those smaller responsibilities grew into managing entire projects. Today, his work can range from storage tank additions to new propane facilities built from the ground up, along with repair and maintenance projects.
Mason did not arrive with an engineering degree or years of propane experience. His business and supply chain background gave him a process-oriented mindset, but much of his technical knowledge has been built on the job.
He credits Peter Swanger and others at TransTech Energy with helping him understand the technical and business sides of propane. Time in the field has been particularly valuable, allowing Mason to see the equipment firsthand and understand how complete systems come together.
He has also developed an appreciation for the knowledge held by TransTech Energy's experienced field employees.
“They just know how to do it,” Mason said. “It’s pretty impressive.”
Peter is part of a younger generation of propane professionals himself, and his team now includes at least six employees under the age of 35. That creates an environment where younger employees can learn from longtime industry veterans, young leaders who have already developed substantial experience and one another.
For Mason, that combination has helped turn an internship into a career.
Making room for young talent is not only about preparing for future workforce needs. It also gives the business new perspectives today.
Mason's supply chain education taught him to look at processes and ask how they can be improved without sacrificing quality. He also sees opportunities for technology, including AI, to improve efficiency while recognizing that technology cannot replace the experience and judgment required in a safety-focused industry.
His age has not prevented him from putting those ideas into practice or earning credibility along the way. Mason describes himself as an “old soul,” and while being one of the younger people in the industry occasionally earns him a joke, he has found that professionalism and knowledge matter more than age.
“At the end of the day, if you know what you're talking about [and] you're professional, I think they treat you pretty much like anybody else.”
Younger employees can bring familiarity with new technology, different approaches to communication and fresh ideas about how work gets done. Experienced employees bring decades of technical knowledge and lessons learned in the field. The opportunity is to bring those strengths together.
That is especially important in an industry where leaders have placed the average age of propane professionals at around 52. Bringing younger employees in now gives them time to learn from that experience while contributing ideas and skills of their own.
Mason's path is already beginning to repeat itself.
Kasen Taylor, 22, joined TransTech Energy through a similar internship path. After roughly six to eight months as an intern, he transitioned into a full-time Project Management Specialist role.
Today, Kasen supports permitting and Fire Safety Analysis coordination, including working with local fire departments to gather information needed by the engineering team. He is also gradually taking on additional project management responsibilities.
Mason recognizes the progression because he was in that same position not long ago. Now, he can watch Kasen build the same foundation that helped him progress.
Mason and Kasen are two examples within a much larger young team. These employees are not simply being developed for what TransTech Energy may need years from now. They are already contributing to the business today.
Mason still has plenty of career ahead of him. He hopes to eventually move into operations leadership, where he can help improve processes and efficiency while maintaining quality and continuing to strengthen customer relationships.
He is also getting involved beyond TransTech Energy through the Young Gassers Association with Southeastern Propane Alliance (SEPA) and the National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) Young Professionals Council (YPC). Both give young professionals opportunities to connect with others in the industry, continue developing their knowledge and have a voice in conversations about propane’s future. For Mason, those conversations have included how the industry can attract more young people and create stronger pathways for training and development.
When asked what he would tell someone his age considering a career in propane, his answer reflects the path he has experienced himself.
“It’s a good opportunity,” Mason said. “If you bring good ideas and you learn the industry, I think there’s a lot of room for growth and success.”
A few years ago, Mason Denius was an intern learning an industry he had never expected to join. Today, he is managing dozens of projects and building toward a future in leadership.
And with young professionals like Peter Swanger, Mason Denius, Kasen Taylor and others growing within TransTech Energy, making room for the next generation is about more than filling future positions.
It is about giving talented people an opportunity early enough to see just how far they can go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. Mason entered TransTech Energy without a propane background and developed his technical knowledge through hands-on experience, field exposure and learning from the people around him.
Young professionals can bring new perspectives, technology skills and different approaches to processes, efficiency and communication. Pairing those strengths with the knowledge of experienced propane professionals gives both generations an opportunity to learn from one another.
Yes. Mason Denius and Kasen Taylor both began as interns before moving into full-time project management roles. Peter Swanger's team also includes at least six employees under 40, showing that young professionals are already taking on meaningful roles within TransTech Energy.
Developing young professionals gives them time to learn from experienced employees while contributing new perspectives and skills of their own. It helps preserve industry knowledge while developing the people who can carry it forward.
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