GPA Midstream Association bolsters government affairs team

TULSA, Okla., Aug. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- GPA Midstream Association announces the hiring of Laura Chandler as manager of state government affairs. In this role, Chandler will focus on midstream advocacy efforts in Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas.

Chandler holds a Master of Business Administration from St. Edward's University and two bachelor's degrees from the University of North Texas. Prior to joining GPA Midstream, she worked as a lobbyist on midstream and energy issues for the Texas Energy Lobby in Austin.

"Laura knows GPA Midstream and midstream issues and will be an asset to us in Austin where she has focused her efforts over the past several years. She will also help GPA Midstream expand its footprint in Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico," said GPA Midstream President and CEO Mark Sutton.

In April, GPA Midstream added another level of staff support in its Washington, D.C. office with the hiring of Charlotte Sawyer as manager of government affairs. Sawyer's responsibilities include participating in the implementation and management of GPA Midstream's federal legislative strategies and serving as a lobbyist before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies.

Sawyer holds a Bachelor of Arts in politics and history from Ave Maria University in Florida. Prior to joining the association, she served as external affairs manager for the National Review Institute.

Both Chandler and Sawyer report to GPA Midstream Vice President of Government Affairs Matthew Hite.

Founded in 1921, the GPA Midstream Association is a trade organization with nearly 100 corporate members of all sizes engaged in the gathering and processing of natural gas, commonly referred to as "midstream activities" in the energy sector. Natural gas is one of the world's primary energy sources and much of it must be purified, or "processed," to meet quality standards and regulations and to make useful everyday products for homes, factories and businesses. Gas processing includes the removal of impurities from the raw natural gas stream produced at the wellhead, as well as the extraction for sale of natural gas liquid products (NGLs) such as ethane, propane, butane and natural gasoline. GPA Midstream members account for more than 90 percent of NGLs produced in the United States from natural gas processing. GPA Midstream members also operate hundreds of thousands of miles of domestic gas gathering pipelines, in addition to pipelines involved with storing, transporting and marketing natural gas and NGLs.

SOURCE GPA Midstream Association