Proulx Oil & Propane Named Best Family-Owned Business

April 13, 2010

NEWMARKET – Proulx Oil and Propane has been selected as the 2010 Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year by the state Small Business Administration office.

This award recognizes successful family-owned and operated businesses that have passed from one generation to another. Nominees were evaluated based on their financial success, increased employment opportunities, and their community voluntary efforts.

For many businesses "change" represents a threat to a way of doing business. When Proulx Oil was started in Epping in 1944, Joe Proulx did so as he embraced the nation's shift from coal to oil. Years later, Maurice Proulx continued in the family business and managed the company as they added propane gas, a cleaner burning product and became Proulx Oil and Propane Co.

Joe and Maurice Proulx understood that methods and practices may change but the core element for their business was rooted in finding and providing energy solutions.

Today, the company is led by the third generation, Jim, John and Tom Proulx who each manage different parts of the business. They have continued to grow as a company through the combination of organic growth of the business and growth through acquisition. With 45 full and part-time employees they service residential and business customers in 34 New Hampshire communities and 10 communities in Maine. They operate from three physical locations and through their emphasis on customer service have established the Proulx name as leader in the New Hampshire heating industry.

Proulx Oil and Propane was nominated for this award by Everett Eaton of TD Bank in Portsmouth. "Jim, John and Tom Proulx continue to grow Proulx Oil and Propane through their commitment to be leaders in the heating industry. Their emphasis on leading through change while maintaining the core values of their family business truly distinguishes them from their peers," Eaton said.