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SOUZA PROPANE-----A QUEST FOR CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT

 The year 1936 marked the beginning of what would become a three-generational family propane operation for Souza Propane. Independently owned and family operated, Souza’s has always taken pride in their ability to promptly respond to the needs of their customers.

 In the early days of business, Souza’s founders, John J. Souza and Zelda Souza, established a milk transport service encompassing the extensive agricultural area within the northern San Joaquin Valley. Soon after, it became apparent that the customers on the milk transport route were in need of propane-fueled appliances. John Souza recognized this need and proceeded to expand his company a step further to accommodate the needs of his customers. This is when the propane dream began to be realized starting with a simple delivery system consisting of a 500 gallon tank attached to a flatbed truck with deliveries made to small 20 and 40 gallon tanks. Souza initiated the first delivery route, which consisted of a 25-mile radius service area. Distribution began with establishing large tanks in communities to be served with lines to customer’s homes. This progressively grew and developed into an efficient routing system serving customer’s specialized tank needs. Eventually, as the routing system grew, demands increased. The present-day tank storage facility with a 175,000 gallon fuel capacity was constructed to further support the established and expanded routes. In 1945, a furniture department was added to the business as a complement to the propane appliances and home products.

 Currently, Souza Propane is staffed by a team of long-term employees and family members that are dedicated to client satisfaction and optimum propane service stemming from the early visions and dreams of John Souza. Along with the present owners, Lawrence and Judy Souza, John’s son and daughter-in-law, Souza family members currently included in the business are Lawrence and Judy’s sons Kyle Souza, Mark Souza and his wife Crystal Souza.

 The Souza Propane team offers to its service vicinity an expanded one-stop parts and accessories center for all LP gas needs. Along with an extensive inventory, Souza Propane’s staff is capable of customizing tank installations and assemblies specific to their customer’s needs.

 Souza Propane is proud of its commitment to on-going industry compliance and certification of its employees and equipment to maintain a competitive edge in the propane industry. In addition to in-house training, Souza Propane also provides safety training for its propane customers and users by request as an additional service to the community to ensure proper use and handling of product. Local emergency response agencies and fire departments have and continue to utilize Souza Propane's facilities and expertise for training purposes.

 Although Souza Propane is a small propane company, it strives to maintain a competitive status with the contemporary expectations of its customer base and work force. The management has extended the business hours to suit the needs of the customers in their service area and often gives personal attention to after-hours calls and needs. Management takes a personal interest in, and is directly involved with, the daily functions of the business and is devoted to its progressive development and maintenance. It has always been the intent of Souza Propane to extend a ‘family feeling’ toward their work force and customers by identifying with their needs and requirements.

 Souza Propane has, from the earliest days, always been personally committed to efficient use and reuse of all its resources to maintain business integrity through cyclical economic and industry events. Operational diversification, which is often only possible in their distinct type of organization, has enabled Souza Propane to maintain steady growth through adverse economic events including shortages, energy crises, and refinery problems. New technological applications, including fuel cells, which are on the industry’s horizon, will bring added convenience and comfort to energy consumers and help to resolve energy–related problems. This will require the participation of Souza Propane in ever-expanding technological improvements for future growth to meet their customers' needs. It is the intent of the current owners to encourage the next generation of Souza Propane to carry on the long-standing tradition of personal service to its customers, industry excellence, and commitment to the community. The family looks forward to meeting the changing demands and needs of their service area and industry.