These are the fresh faces that have taken on the role of plant manager in recent months. Read their bios below to learn more about them.
Scott Chambliss – West Fork, Ark.
Hometown: Cave Springs, Ark.
Work Experience: I have been in the propane business for 24 years and have spent the last two with MFA Oil. It’s hands down the best company I have worked for.
Favorite Part of Your Job: I really appreciate working for a company that puts the customer and employees first.
Hobbies: I like anything and everything outdoors and spending time with my family.
Tom Cushing – Emporia/Tampa, Kan.
Hometown: I am originally from Inland, a very small rural town in south central Nebraska. I have lived in several different areas of the United States while serving in the United States Army. I currently live near Allen, Kan.
Work Experience: I grew up working in agriculture. I started at a dairy when I was eight and I’ve worked around cattle and swine operations. After college, I worked at Aurora Co-op as a laborer and eventually as the grain facility supervisor. During that time, I joined the Army Reserves and deployed to Germany in support of Operation Desert Storm. After five years in the Reserves, I enlisted in the U.S. Army as a mechanic where I served until retiring in 2015.
During my career in the Army, I had many leadership positions ranging from supervising five soldiers to becoming a First Sergeant and supervising 126 soldiers. I was deployed to Korea for a year, spent four tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. My last deployment to Iraq was as the senior maintenance supervisor responsible for maintaining a fleet of over 400 vehicles for the Commander of the Multi-National Forces in Iraq.
Upon retiring from the Army, I worked for the State of Kansas as the facility supervisor for Pomona State Park. I started working as a service tech with S&S Oil and Propane in Emporia, Kan. one month before MFA Oil acquired the company. I have worked as a BPLP driver, service technician and delivered bulk oil products for MFA Oil. I became the plant manager for Emporia and Tampa in December.
Favorite Part of Your Job: I enjoy the chance to interact with many different individuals and hopefully having a positive impact on their day.
Hobbies: I have been remodeling our home over the last 14 months and am finally on the last room. I enjoy spending time doing things around our 30-acre farm like riding horses and watching goat kids play. I also enjoy spending time with my six grandchildren. Most of all, I enjoy doing things together with my wife, Angel, who has been my motivation and supported me in all my endeavors for the last 30 years.
Drew Felten – Otterville/Pilot Grove/Tipton
Hometown: I grew up in Pilot Grove, Mo. and still live there.
Work Experience: In 2008, I started working part-time for MFA Oil as a summer job. I was working for Don North and Jon Ihler in the laboratory. While I was attending college at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, I worked for Kevin Bentley in Stanberry, Mo. as a fill-in driver and delivered oil and propane bottles. During my final summer in college, I worked with Tracy Barth in the safety and compliance department and I also planted propagation acres for MFA Oil Biomass.
In 2011, after I graduated from college, I worked for MFA Oil Biomass as a harvest manager until MFA Oil sold off the Biomass division. I then transferred to the mergers and acquisitions department for a couple years. After that, I worked as a service tech in Columbia, Mo., where I gained valuable knowledge about our customers’ needs and how to keep them safe. I became plant manager for Otterville, Pilot Grove and Tipton in December 2019.
Favorite Part of Your Job: I like that no day is ever the same, getting to meet new customers, problem solving to meet a customer’s needs, and providing the knowledge and products to help our customers succeed.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my wife, Niki, and our 7-month-old baby boy, AJ (Abel Jackson). I also enjoy working on the family farm where we raise row crops and cattle. If there is any time left, you will find me on the Missouri River catfishing.
Cory Fett – Kahoka
Hometown: I’m from Donnellson, Iowa and now live just down the road in Farmington, Iowa.
Work Experience: I have worked in agriculture for the last 12 years. Before joining MFA Oil, I worked as a location manager for a grain elevator, chemical and fertilizer company, and I also ran a custom applicator business as well.
Favorite Part of Your Job: I’m enjoying learning about MFA Oil Company and its business as well as meeting new people and building customer relations.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my wife and two boys, working in our garden, fishing and spending time in the woods.
Chad Laune – California/Eldon
Hometown: I grew up in New Haven and am now living in Wardsville, Mo.
Work Experience: I’ve been with MFA Oil for almost four years now. I began as an operations manager in the West Central District, before becoming a plant manager. Prior to working at MFA Oil, I spent 15 years working as a manager for Capital Sand Company in Jefferson City, Mo., where I was an MFA Oil customer and first met my district manager, Luke Fitzpatrick when he was my LP driver.
Favorite Part of Your Job: My favorite part of the job is getting to work with my team of fellow employees. I feel very fortunate to have the group of people I have with me on the frontline day-in and day-out. We all have the same goal and that is to take care of our customers to the best of our abilities.
Hobbies: Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends which usually includes sports and the outdoors. It’s a great way for me to unwind from the day-to-day grind we all encounter.
Jared Walters – Chanute
Hometown: I am from Yreka, Calif., and now live in Chanute, Kan.
Work Experience: For the last eight years, I have been a college baseball coach at Fort Scott Community College and an associate scout for the San Diego Padres. Prior to moving to Fort Scott, Kan., I worked various jobs from working as a mechanic to road construction to working on a few different ranches.
Favorite Part of Your Job: I like getting to work with farmers and ranchers. I have a big background in agriculture and very much enjoy getting out in the field.
Hobbies: I love the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing. I am a big sports fan and really enjoy watching baseball. I also enjoy getting to spend time with my beautiful wife.