APGASIF Staff

John Erickson

John Erickson is the Chief Operating Officer of the SIF. He joined APGA in August, 2004 as Vice President, Operations, responsible for the APGA Operations Committee and its Safety and Education subcommittees. He is responsible for liaison with the federal Office of Pipeline Safety, the National Transportation Safety Board as well as state pipeline safety associations. He monitors federal regulatory activity affecting public gas engineering and operations, prepares analyses on key issues and advocates APGA’s positions with key government agencies.

From 1981 to 1996 he was with the American Gas Association where he served as the primary contact between the AGA’s members and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety, the National Transportation Safety Board and Congress. He was directly involved with dozens of rulemakings as well as the Pipeline Safety Acts of 1988, 1992 and 1996. From 1989 to 1996 he was Vice President, Operating and Engineering Services with responsibility for all of AGA’s technical services, including developing safety standards.

From 1996 to 2004 John was President and founder of Safety and Compliance Evaluation, Inc., a consulting firm providing products and services to assist gas distribution and energy pipeline companies with design, construction, operation and maintenance. In this capacity he developed operator qualification programs, operating and maintenance manuals and public awareness plans; performed compliance audits and testified in gas accident cases for many oil and gas operators, including many public gas systems. In 2002, APGA hired SCE to provide technical support to its Operations Committee, so John has a long history of working with APGA and its member systems.

He earned his Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from The George Washington University and is a registered professional engineer in Virginia.

Todd Brady

Todd is Director of Operations and Administration for APGA. He is a fourth generation Kansan with strong ties to agriculture and business. Over the decades, Todd’s family has become involved with the energy industry on various levels. For the last thirty years, it has become common to see oil and natural gas pumps in the middle of rolling wheat fields, including his family’s farm.

Todd finished his undergraduate work at Kansas State University in Biological Science and Secondary Education. He then taught high school Biological, Chemical, and Physical Science for one year in Manhattan, Kansas and two years in Atchison, Kansas. He also served as an adjunct Physics professor for Benedictine College. Todd decided to go to graduate school as a Political Science student at Kansas State University. While in graduate school, Todd was able to work for Representative Jim Ryun (R - KS) in Washington D.C., Governor Bill Graves in Kansas, and the Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh.

Todd moved to Washington D.C. in June 2004 after finishing graduate school. While in DC, he was Assistant Manager at the Pier 1 Imports Home store in Tysons Corner, Virginia, helped with several political campaigns during the fall election cycle, and filled an internship on the staff of Congressman Robin Hayes (R-NC). He joined APGA in 2005.

Gerald Lee

Gerald Lee is currently OQ Program Manager for the APGA Security and Integrity Foundation. Prior to this position he was with City Utilities of Springfield for 28 years in varying leadership capacities including Assistant General Manager and COO. He graduated from the University of Missouri – Rolla with Bachelor of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Gerald went on and got his MBA from Missouri State University.

He was very active in APGA serving as a board member since 1991 chairing several committees and task forces. In 1997-98 he served as President of the association. Gerald has also been very active with the Midwest Energy Association for the past 25 years, chairing several committees and serving as Board Chairman in 2003-04. Recognized for his leadership in APGA, Gerald has received the APGA Personal Achievement Award, the APGA Distinguished Service Award and the APGA Special Recognition Award. In 1999, Gerald was named Outstanding Gas Manager of the Year by Gas Industries Magazine.

He is very active in the Springfield community serving as President of several community boards. Gerald’s family includes his supportive wife, Lynne, and three children Greg, Christie and Abby. Gerald enjoys all sports, traveling and spending time at their cabin on the lake.