Chris, Ken, and Josh Kauffman of Kauffman Gas
ATGLEN – In 1943, Elmer Kauffman founded Kauffman Gas with the goals of building a family legacy and helping his neighbors.
Three generations and more than 5,000 satisfied customers later, the Kauffman family continues to proudly serve Chester County as a leading propane gas supplier and through their commitment to the Cochranville Fire Company.
Chris and Josh Kauffman, the fourth generation of Kauffman Gas, are volunteer firefighters at Station 27. Chris is secretary of the board and has been with the company for nine years. Josh is the treasurer and is a 10-year veteran. Their father, Ken Kauffman, has served as past deputy chief.
Chris says he greatly enjoys his role as a firefighter:
“It always been a part of our family’s lifestyle. We love doing it, even when making a run can seriously disrupt our day.”
Kauffman Gas will celebrate their 75th anniversary during a Customer Appreciation Day at their headquarters in Atglen on Friday, June 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are offering free refills of 20 lb. propane tanks to all current customers who come in that day, just in time for the Fourth of July.
Additionally, during the month of July, anyone who comes into the Atglen office will receive half-price refills on their 20 lb. propane tanks.
Each generation of the Kauffman family has played a significant role in growing the business into the powerhouse it is today. Elmer’s son and daughter-in-law Elwood and Barbara took over in 1958. During the same year, the building in which Kauffman Gas is currently operated out of was built. In 1969, a four-bay garage was built and is still used in the company’s daily operations.
Elwood’s son Ken joined the business in 1980 and is still heavily involved in operations today. Elwood’s daughter, Carolyn, joined the business in 1995. In 2002, three 30,000 gallon propane storage tanks were added, which brought the total storage capacity to 138,000 gallons. Ken and Carolyn are working with Chris and Josh to ensure that the family’s legacy of outstanding customer care continues for many years to come.
The company has been praised as an innovator in the propane service delivery field. They installed WESROC tank monitors on their accounts to improve delivery efficiency while also eliminating delivery mistakes.
“We are service oriented,” Chris explained. “We make sure no one runs out of gas, and we take care of them after hours. Back when propane was mostly for cooking gas, my great grandfather’s saying was, ‘We’ll be there before the stove gets cold.’ We operate the same way today and just try to be that top-notch service company that is always there for the customers.”
Kauffman Gas is a trusted propane gas supplier, serving Chester County, Lancaster County, Delaware County, and Northern Delaware. The company provides 24-hour service for its automatic delivery customers for many types of propane appliances. The company’s highly trained and qualified service technicians and drivers are always ready to help.
For more information on Kauffman Gas, visit www.kauffmangas.com.
