2025 Propane Expo preview: Another go-round in Charlotte

The propane industry’s largest trade show returns to Charlotte, North Carolina, after making its debut there in 2024.

“Year 1 was a success, and we’re looking forward to building on that success,” says Steve Kaminski, president and CEO of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), which has modified the name of its show slightly as the Southeastern & International Propane Expo.

Charlotte has become one of two host cities for the annual show, which will return to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2026 for a three-year stay.

Kaminski indicated that NPGA will return to Charlotte after 2028.

“Charlotte’s a beautiful city. The layout of the city is perfect for this event,” Kaminski says. “The convention center is a really manageable size. There’s a lot of hotels within walking distance, a lot of restaurants and clean, safe areas with a lot of opportunities. It is a great location.”

The first year in Charlotte drew 3,214 total attendees, including exhibitors and their personnel. The attendance number was a noticeable drop from the initial, record-breaking years of 2016 and 2017 in Nashville with more than 4,000 total attendees. But Kaminski says the feedback after last year was less about numbers and more about the type of attendee.

“Last year, one of the things we heard from a lot of the exhibitors that they really liked was the fact that there were so many decision-makers at the show, on the show floor,” he says. “The numbers weren’t quite as high as Nashville, but we also heard the decision-making authority was a positive, really noticeable and impactful.”

North Carolina will host the event less than a year after parts of the state were decimated by Hurricane Helene. One of the educational sessions, moderated by Southeast Propane Alliance President and CEO John Jessup, will focus on the impact of the 2024 hurricane season in the Southeast.

Another highlight among the educational sessions, Kaminski notes, is the outlook for the U.S. propane market. Rusty Braziel of RBN Energy will lead that session.

Visit npgaexpo.org for more about this year’s event.

Featured speakers

Steve Spurrier – April 4, 3-4 p.m.

Spurrier, former football coach and player, will be this year’s keynote speaker. A Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Florida in 1966, Spurrier went on to coach his alma mater to 122 career wins, including the 1996 national championship. He is the winningest head football coach at Florida and South Carolina. Spurrier was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player (1986) and coach (2017), and into the National High School Hall of Fame (2016). He is an ambassador and consultant at the University of Florida and part owner of Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille in Gainesville, Florida. Spurrier will speak about how he’s succeeded in football and life.

Niki Hardy – April 6, 7:30-9 a.m.

A breast cancer survivor, Hardy is a national speaker and the author of Audi Award-nominated “Breathe Again” and the best-selling devotional “One Minute Prayers for Women with Cancer.” Her next book – “God, Can We Chat?” – releases in March. Hardy has been featured in places like the Hallmark Channel, Life Today, Relevant magazine, “100 Huntley Street” and Premier Radio. She will speak about her life and faith.

Where to find LP Gas in Charlotte

April 3 – LP Gas Hall of Fame induction dinner: The LP Gas Hall of Fame welcomes the Class of 2025 during an induction dinner and ceremony at the JW Marriott, 600 S. College St., in downtown Charlotte.

April 4-6 – Trade show: Visit the LP Gas staff in booth 517.

Upcoming propane expos

• 2025 – Charlotte
• 2026 – Nashville
• 2027 – Nashville
• 2028 – Nashville

5 other shows to mark on your calendars

• May 12-16 – Western Propane Trade Show & Convention, Reno, Nevada
• May 18-21 – Eastern Energy Expo, Atlantic City, New Jersey
• May 19-22 – North Central Convention & Trade Show, LaCrosse, Wisconsin
• June 29-July 2 – Mid-States Propane Expo, Osage Beach, Missouri
• Aug. 7-9 – Crossroads Propane Expo & Conference, Galveston, Texas

For a full schedule of events, visit npgaexpo.org.