KNG Energy is a natural gas distribution company serving residential, commercial and industrial customers in Hancock, Putnam, Henry, Wood and Seneca counties. KNG also handles the operations for company Utility Pipeline in five additional counties.
Company Name: KNG Energy
Employee Name and Role: Sandy Roller, President
About the Company: What do you do? What do you enjoy about working here?
Sandy Roller, President of KNG Energy
Sandy Roller was hired at KNG in December 1991, just 6 months after the company started laying its first pipeline in Kalida. In the beginning, it was a two-person shop, with one field technician and Roller in the office handling customer service, new business and billing. Now president of the company, Roller has been through KNG’s entire 33-year duration. She enjoys the variety in her work and stayed the course through its initial growing pains to see KNG blossom into 11 employees serving five counties.
“We stuck with it and now we’re flourishing,” she said. “It does make me feel good to be a part of that. It is satisfying that I had a part of building the company to where we are today. I have grown with the company. I know every aspect of it, from the construction side to the customer side to the business side, so it’s a lot of diversity.
“I love my job – I love coming to work every day and being a part of this – all that we do. It’s become such a part of me.”
About the Company: What is produced / created / services offered by the company? What makes you stand out?
KNG is a natural gas distribution company serving residential, commercial and industrial customers. The company began in Kalida by laying pipelines to rural areas that did not have access to natural gas. In 2020, KNG merged with Utility Pipeline Ltd., a move that expanded its service area. KNG now provides service in five counties: Hancock, Putnam, Henry, Wood and Seneca, and handles the operations for Utility Pipeline in five additional counties.
Being a smaller company, Roller said KNG stands out by providing a personal touch to its customers and providing natural gas to areas that do not have access to it.
“We will look into any opportunity,” Roller said. “If it makes economic sense, we will go after it and will take risks for the final outcome.
What is your founding story?
KNG, originally Kalida Natural Gas, was the idea of Findlay local Scott Rothey, who had a vision to supply Kalida from a transmission pipeline outside of the village. After that, along with the shareholders he brought into the company, Rothey financed a high-pressure pipeline that brought KNG to Hancock County. “We continue to follow Mr. Rothey’s lead and always look for unique opportunities to grow the company,” Roller said, “It was Rothey’s vision, and is still our vision today.”
Company Culture and Values:
“We are small, and we care about our employees and our customers,” Roller said. “Everything is very personal to us. It’s really important to everybody who works here to work as a team and to help each other and help our customers.”
Why did your company choose to locate in Findlay Hancock County / Why is Findlay a great place to do business?
Hancock County is home to KNG’s largest customer base, and the company moved its headquarters to Findlay in 1992. Roller sees Hancock County as a thriving community in part because of the work of Findlay Hancock County Economic Development. She served on the FHCED Advisory Council for three years.
“I love the way our economic development team is always striving to continue to bring new business and growth to the area,” she said. ED will contact us and say, ‘Hey, do you have pipelines in this area, or can you provide that?’
She enjoys collaborating with FHCED to attract new business.
“We don’t have the entire footprint of Findlay, but we do serve the north and west side where a lot of development is happening now.”
“I love that part of it – meeting with potential businesses looking to locate here and seeing how we can craft our service for them. As a small company it gives us a big advantage in providing what a potential customer is looking for,” she said.
If there were one take-away you would want people to have about your company, what would it be?
“KNG offers friendly, personal customer service,” Roller said. “We pride ourselves on making our customers happy. Natural gas is an alternative fuel source, but a more affordable one. We want to make sure our customers are happy with their choice.”
To Learn More: KNGenergy.com
For Job Opportunities: Utilitypipelineltd/careers
A KNG Energy utility truck, ready for service!
