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Meritus Gas Partners is a platform led by a team of accomplished industry executives to acquire best-in-class independent packaged gas distributors across North America. Meritus intends to assemble a national federation of high-quality independent distributors of industrial, medical, and specialty gases and welding and safety supplies, located in diverse geographies and serving growing end-markets.
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Scott has 37+ years experience in the industrial gas industry. He spent his entire career at Praxair and Praxair Distribution Inc. Scott held various senior executive operating roles at Praxair in the following areas: Healthcare (President), Global Helium/Rare Gases, Energy Services, Electronics & Specialty Gases, Merchant/On-site. He was president of Praxair Distribution, Inc. when he left in 2016.
Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board
Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board
Rob has 25+ years of experience in the industrial gas industry. He was the owner/president of Welco Gases in Newark, NJ making him a 3rd generation independent distributor. Rob merged with GTS to form GTS-Welco and later did a JV with Praxair Distribution, Inc. He moved into a VP Corporate Development role with Praxair Distribution Inc. where he oversaw sourcing, acquisition, integration of >100 distributors.
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Kevin Zimmerman serves as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing strategic planning, finance, accounting, and treasury while supporting local financial teams across the Meritus operating companies. He brings deep expertise in financial stewardship, capital management, and scaling businesses in dynamic markets. Previously, Kevin was CFO of Signia Aerospace, where he helped grow the company from inception into a 24-entity enterprise with approximately $1 billion in revenue. He has also served as CFO of GWS Tool Group and Coastal Credit LLC and spent more than a decade in investment banking. Kevin holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Business Administration from Indiana University.
Region Vice President – East
Region Vice President – East
Mike has 20+ years experience in the industrial gas industry. He held multiple senior management positions at Praxair/Linde following a 16-year career at DuPont. His impressive resume includes financial, operating (P&L), and sales roles.
Vice President Product Management and Digital Marketing
Vice President Product Management and Digital Marketing
Allen has 30+ years professional experience including 25+ years in the industrial gas industry. Before joining Meritus, Allen held senior roles at Linde/Praxair including merchant sales, onsite sales, pricing and product management, packaged gases marketing and ecommerce.
Vice President Mergers and Acquisitions
Vice President Mergers and Acquisitions
Steve has over 30 years in the industrial gas industry, starting at a very young age at his family’s business, Marin Gas Products in Northern California. After selling the family business to Praxair, he spent the next 18 years in various leadership roles at Praxair’s PDI business. The last 4 years at PDI, he was focused on leading mergers & acquisitions. Over the past 10 years, Steve has led various middle market companies in the industrial gas industry.
Vice President Specialty Gases
Vice President Specialty Gases
Cherly started with National Welders out of Charlotte, NC over 40 years ago in building and developing National Specialty Gases. Joined Airgas in the late 90’s to grow and develop Airgas Specialty Gases. Ventured outside the National/Airgas network in 2015 to join Tech Air to develop a Specialty Gas division. Sale of Tech Air to Airgas landed her back at Airgas. Her final role at Airgas was Director, Global Operations.
Region Vice President – West
Region Vice President – West
Steve has 40+ years experience in the industrial gases business including 10+ years at his family’s welding distributor and 30 years working for Praxair/Linde and now Meritus. He leads the day to day operations for our businesses on the West Coast.
Director Human Resources
Director Human Resources
Originally from NYC, Rich has over 35 years Human Resources experience including roles at the NYC Mayor’s Office, Praxair, Alcoa and Amazon. A graduate of Fordham University, Rich holds a Master’s of Science degree in Human Resources from Scranton University and has been a certified HR Professional since 1990. Throughout his career, Rich has focused on leadership development and employee engagement. Rich and the Regional Business Partners are driving HR initiatives across the Meritus Partnership with a focus on maintaining our entrepreneurial spirit.
Board Member
Board Member
Ashley started Gas Innovations as a partner in 2002 with the goal to create a wholesale company to supply the industrial gas industry with hydrocarbons and related products, packages and services. Gas Innovations celebrated 20 years of exciting growth in 2022. They are widely regarded as the leading supplier of hydrocarbon gases in the US.
Board Member
Board Member
Jason co-founded Gas Innovations with Ashley Madray in 2002. The company is a leading supplier of hydrocarbon gases in the US.
Board Member
Board Member
James Cain has over 30 years of experience in the industrial gases and metal fabrication industries. He currently serves as President of Atlas Welding Supply and sits on the board of Meritus Gas Partners. Prior to joining Atlas, James was a Vice President at Morgan Stanley.
Board Member
Board Member
Dick has 38+ years experience in the packaged gas business in Canada and the US including significant experience in operations, business performance management, sales process, acquisitions. Some of his roles included VP Packaged Gases for Praxair Canada as well as VP Operations and later President of Praxair Distribution Inc.
Board Member
Board Member
Alan joined AEA in 1989 as a Partner and currently co-heads the AEA Small Business Funds and is a Partner of the AEA Middle Market Funds. Alan serves on the boards of CIMSense, Dayton Parts, LoneStar, Meritus Gas Partners, Omega, Pexco, SBP, SGLT, Sparrows, Spectrum Plastics Group, Unisyn Precision Components and Veseris. He has also served on the boards of former AEA portfolio companies Aramsco, Balboa Instruments, Behavioral Interventions, Flow Control Group, Implus Corporation, In the Swim, Kranson, NCS, Phillips Pet Food and Supplies, PLZ Aeroscience, PPC, Shoes for Crews, SRS Roofing Supply, and Troxell Communications.
As a Partner from 1989 to 1999, Alan concentrated his investment activities in Industrial and Consumer / Retail companies, overseeing many of AEA’s successful investments during that period. Alan left AEA in 1999 and joined Peter Solomon Company, a boutique advisory firm, and then returned to the private equity business in 2002 with Saratoga Partners. He rejoined AEA in early 2004 and helped establish the AEA Small Business Funds.
Prior to joining AEA, from 1984 to 1989, Alan was with Lehman Brothers, first in the mergers and acquisitions department and then with the principal investment group. Previously, Alan worked at Citicorp and Pricewaterhouse and became a Chartered Accountant in England in 1980.
Board Member
Board Member
Dan joined AEA in 2008 as a member of the Small Business Fund team and was promoted to Partner in 2020. Dan currently serves on the board of 50 Floor, Meritus Gas Partners, Omega and SBP. He also served on the board of former AEA portfolio companies Colony Hardware, Galco and NCS.
Prior to joining AEA, Dan was a strategy consultant with L.E.K. Consulting.
Board Member
Board Member
Blake is a Vice President on AEA’s Small Business Private Equity team. In his role, he focuses on investment opportunities in the industrials, consumer and services sectors. Blake serves on the boards of Meritus Gas Partners, Chemtron RiverBend, Rees Scientific, and 50 Floor.
Prior to joining AEA, Blake worked as an investment banking analyst at Lincoln International.
Director of Business Development
Director of Business Development
Dave has 40+ years of experience in the industrial gas industry. He has executive and senior leadership roles at Praxair, NuCO2, Air Products, and Union Gas. Dave was VP M&A at Praxair Distribution and President of P.G. Walker Industrial Welding Supply.
Director of Mergers and Acquistions
Director of Mergers and Acquistions
Lucas Skaras has nearly a decade of financial and M&A experience. Prior to joining Meritus, he was an associate at AEA’s Sammls Business Private Equity team where he focused on investments opportunities in the consumer, services and industrial sectors.
Director of Mergers and Acquistions
Director of Mergers and Acquistions
Mike has 14+ years of professional experience. He began his career as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps where he served 7 years. Mike completed his MBA at UCLA Anderson School of Management and joined EY-Parthenon as an M&A consultant in its Value Creation practice. Mike left consulting and joined Meritus Gas Partners in the Spring of 2024 where he is now working as a Director of M&A and Controller for Meritus’ Northern California business.
Digital Marketing Manager
Digital Marketing Manager
Logan Evans serves as the Digital Marketing Manager for Meritus Gas Partners, leading marketing technology, data strategy, and digital infrastructure. He joined Meritus from Volunteer Welding, where he helped modernize digital processes and support sales growth. Before that, he worked at Ribbow Media as a Data Scientist and Comptroller in film and entertainment marketing.
Purchasing and Productivity Manager
Purchasing and Productivity Manager
Makayla has over 8 years of experience in the welding and industrial gas industry. Prior to joining Meritus, she spent her career at Red Ball Oxygen where she served as Director of Purchasing and was an active member of the company’s quality team, contributing to process improvements and operational standards. Makayla is a proud graduate of Louisiana State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in financial analysis and a Master of Business Administration.
Asset Specialist
Asset Specialist
Mitch plays a key role in supporting our operating companies on capital projects, conducting asset inventory studies, and supporting long‑term asset planning initiatives. Over time, he will also be deeply involved in the rollout and implementation of Advanced Cylinder Management (ACM)—our cylinder tracking and lifecycle management program—across Meritus operating companies.
Mitch is based in Chicopee, MA, and comes to Meritus from M&T Bank, where he completed their management trainee program. His background in financial analysis, operational efficiency, and all around “just get it done” attitude will contribute meaningfully to our growing asset management and product strategy capabilities.
Human Resources Business Partner
Human Resources Business Partner
Krysta Cyr is a seasoned human resources professional with over 13 years of experience in the welding and gas industry, including a decade in human resources. She began her career at Red Ball Oxygen Co. in 2012, advancing through roles, ultimately serving as Human Resources Director. In 2024, she joined Meritus Gas Partners as a Southern Region HR Business Partner, supporting partners across the southern region.
Manager of Employee Engagement and Culture
Manager of Employee Engagement and Culture
Jenna is a third-generation member of the Oxarc family business with over 20 years of experience in operations, safety, and leadership. She began her career in high school, working her way through roles in administration, insurance, fleet management, and executive leadership. Now with Meritus, Jenna leads company-wide initiatives focused on employee engagement, leadership development, and culture—helping unify teams while honoring the unique legacy of each operating company.
Controller
Controller
Melissa has 20+ years of professional experience in corporate finance and accounting, with a background spanning industrial distribution, biotech construction, and SaaS startups. Before joining Meritus, she held lead finance roles overseeing audit and compliance, financial reporting, budgeting, treasury, and cash flow management. Known for her structured approach, Melissa focuses on process optimization and operational efficiency to drive scalable financial operations. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she is a longtime fan of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. Melissa holds a Master of Science in Finance from Saint Mary’s College of California.
Director of Business Reporting
Director of Business Reporting
Amber has nearly 30 years of industrial gas industry experience from her time at Praxair/Linde as a leader in various Financial and IT roles. She has an MBA from the University of Iowa and a BA in Accounting from Grand View University. Prior to joining Meritus, her most recent role at Linde was Associate Director, IT. She previously excelled in roles such as Project Officer Manager (ERP Implementation), Financial Analyst and Supervisor of Accounting including acquisition and joint venture accounting. Amber is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Six Sigma Green Belt.
Quality Director
Quality Director
Dr. Bergdale is the Director of Quality at Meritus Gas Partners, where she combines a deep passion for quality with a commitment to excellence. With a PhD in Chemical Engineering, she ensures the highest standards in quality management. Before joining Meritus, Terran served as the VP of Operations at A-OX Welding Supply, a family-owned business where she pioneered the specialty gas production and analysis from the ground up. Her achievements include expanding specialty gas sales, securing ISO 17025 accreditation, developing medical-grade purification methods, and conducting R&D studies. Her 11 years of experience in Specialty Gases have reinforced her belief that innovation flourishes at the intersection of science and business.
Director IT and Systems Integration
Director IT and Systems Integration
IT Coordinator
IT Coordinator
