About Us
Natural Gas Solutions. Nationwide.
Sapphire Gas Solutions provides nationwide access to CNG, RNG, and LNG solutions. We are a solutions-oriented company that helps public agencies and private businesses incorporate clean-burning natural gas and low-carbon intensity renewable natural gas.
We are an industry leader with a broad range of offerings and products, and We are dedicated to helping our clients find unique solutions for their unique problems.
Our Mission
Sustainability through the widespread integration of natural gas as a clean, reliable energy solution, driving positive change for both America and the world.
Our Vision
A future where innovative solutions transcend the norms of traditional
infrastructure and revolutionize energy delivery increasing natural gas
accessibility worldwide.
Military-Friendly Employer
At Sapphire Gas Solutions, we honor veterans’ service and leverage their unique abilities. Their loyalty, resilience, and commitment align perfectly with our core values, bringing essential skills like leadership, adaptability, and a strong work ethic to our team. Learn more by visiting our Careers page.
Our History
Sapphire Gas Solutions was founded in 2005 and originally focused on providing midstream solutions and support. In 2010 we entered the mobile natural gas solutions business, and developed that into our current nationwide footprint.
We have become an industry leader in pipeline integrity management, mobile natural gas solutions, and renewables.
Meet Our Team
The team at Sapphire is composed of pioneers in the natural gas fueling solutions business. With decades of combined experience providing natural gas end-use solutions, our team is the most experienced in the industry today.
Sam Thigpen
Founder, CEO
Sam Thigpen
Founder, CEO
Sam Thigpen, the Founder and CEO of Sapphire Gas Solutions, is a recognized entrepreneurial leader and avid outdoorsman. He is a 2021 winner of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year® award for the Gulf Coast region and attributes his entrepreneurial success to the field and operations experience gained early in his career. Having been in the natural gas industry for 25 years, Mr. Thigpen has spent two-thirds of that time as an entrepreneur. Since founding, what is now, Sapphire Gas Solutions in 2005, the company has been recognized as an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company twice.
Mr. Thigpen’s background is one of vast natural gas industry experience. It spans working in natural gas processing, SCADA system installation and maintenance, offshore production service, upstream oil and gas operations, international petrochemical and LNG plant service, natural gas pipeline operations, pipeline and facility construction, gas pipeline auditing, CNG/LNG/RNG fueling station construction, CNG/LNG/RNG virtual pipeline operations, and finally, executive management and strategic leadership.
Outside of business, Sam is an avid offshore fisherman, accomplished sporting clays competitor, and enjoys outdoor activities such as pheasant, dove, and quail hunting. Mr. Thigpen is a life member of MENSA and the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry. He is also a Texas Freemason and a member of the Woodlands Church, in The Woodlands, TX.
Uriel Sáenz
Chief Financial Officer
Uriel Sáenz
Chief Financial Officer
Uriel Sáenz serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Sapphire Gas Solutions. Before joining the Sapphire team, Uriel served as the CFO for AlliedUP Cooperative, a startup in the healthcare industry. He has also spent more than 25 years in the Oil and Gas industry with various companies, including Chart Industries, Dresser-Rand/Siemens, and GE, serving as VP of Finance Energy and Chemicals, Sr. Director of Finance and Controller for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Director of Finance for Global Services, Global Financial Planning, and Analysis Manager, and Latin America Finance Manager.
He brings a broad range of international and industry experience and has led organizations in Latin America and Europe. He started his career as an Internal Auditor at Honeywell. Uriel received in B.B.A. in Finance and International Business from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Texas A&M University. Uriel is bilingual in English/Spanish and has a working knowledge of French. He lives in Cypress, Texas, with his wife and child, Marisol and Santiago.
Jeremy Gilliam
Chief Operating Officer
Jeremy Gilliam
Chief Operating Officer
Jeremy Gilliam serves as Executive Vice President of Operations for Sapphire Gas Solutions. In this role, Jeremy oversees field service operations, sourcing, logistics, projects, and engineering. Prior to joining the Sapphire team, Jeremy worked for Rockwater Energy Solutions, the oilfield chemicals division of Select Energy Services, for more than nine years in various senior operations roles, including Vice President of Manufacturing & Distribution, Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Operations Support, and Vice President of Business Analysis. Jeremy began his career in oilfield services as part of the senior leadership team of Mountain Drilling Company, a private equity backed startup drilling contractor, serving as Corporate Controller. Prior to his time in the oilfield, Jeremy held various finance and accounting positions with Brinker International after beginning his career in public accounting with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dallas, TX. Jeremy received an M.S. in Finance and B.B.A. in Accounting from Texas A&M University and is licensed as a CPA in the State of Texas.
Patrick De Ville
Executive Vice President of Gas & Power
Patrick De Ville
Executive Vice President of Gas & Power
Mr. Patrick De Ville has a history of building strong businesses and successful teams for over 30 years. During that time, Mr. De Ville has been an executive in several energy related sectors including commodities trading, natural gas storage, and LNG/CNG supply network expansion and logistics management. In his current role at Sapphire Gas Solutions as Executive Vice President, he oversees all energy supply and logistics for the company as well as operations for the Energy Management division.
Prior to Sapphire Gas Solutions, Mr. De Ville was Vice President of Energy Management at Clean Energy Fuels where he expanded the company’s LNG supply network to the largest in the nation to support the adoption of natural gas fueling for vehicles. Later he restructured the purchasing of all natural gas and electricity for the company and implemented hedging strategies for both Clean Energy and it’s customers to avoid market volatility and price uncertainty.
Mr. De Ville’s passion is to improve the performance of companies by driving out operational inefficiencies and developing novel strategies to expand the company’s market presence and profitability. He strongly believes that approaching business challenges or opportunities with win-win solutions is the best way to build trust with partners as well as achieve the best results for all involved.
Patrick is a 1988 graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelors degree in Finance as well as a 1993 graduate of the University of North Texas with a MBA in Finance.
Katherine Lowe
Vice President of People Operations
Katherine Lowe
Vice President of People Operations
Katherine Lowe, SHRM-CP, MA is a well-versed human resources professional with over 17 years of experience and nearly a decade in the energy and chemical industry. Mrs. Lowe specializes in the areas of talent acquisition, talent development, and employee relations. Katherine’s connection with others and relentless perseverance to meet goals allow her to be a key resource. Mrs. Lowe provides quality results in high-pressure situations, effectively handles multiple priorities while demonstrating exceptional business judgment and discretion.
Scott Johns
Chief Commercial Officer
Scott Johns
Chief Commercial Officer
Mr. Scott Johns serves as Chief Commercial Officer for Sapphire Gas Solutions. Scott is a business leader, responsible for development of corporate strategy, business building, strategic M&A activity, and performance improvement activities for Sapphire. Prior to joining Sapphire, Scott lead the commercial activity for CLEANCOR LNG LLC as President of the distribution business, including marketing, sales and business development for virtual pipeline and fleet fueling. Scott has served in various senior leadership positions including Vice President of Sales for Applied LNG Technologies, a merchant liquefaction production platform based on the West Coast and is responsible for hundreds of millions of gallons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel sales across the nation in his career.
Scott is an environmentally focused individual whose understanding of the relationship between fuel choices and quality of life has led to regulatory change. In 2007, Scott successfully lobbied for changes in the shore power/Cold Ironing regulation passed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reduce emissions from ocean going vessels calling at ports in California. He holds a B.S. degree from California State University Long Beach. With his scientific background in chemistry and industrial fuel applications allied with an in-depth environmental knowledge base and regulatory understanding, Scott is frequently in demand as a conference speaker.
James Ainsworth
Vice President, Transportation
James Ainsworth
Vice President, Transportation
James Ainsworth serves as Vice President, Transportation for Sapphire Gas Solutions. As the head of this newly formed and expanding Division, Mr. Ainsworth leads all functions regarding truck transport fuel and equipment deliveries, logistics, dispatch, and fleet management of both heavy and light duty assets.
Mr. Ainsworth began his career in the energy industry at Ferrellgas, a major propane marketer, where he had P&L and executive responsibility for the company’s internal 200 truck transport fleet, safe delivery of up to one billion gallons of LP Gas annually, and advocated for both company and industry interests in state and national propane industry association roles.
Mr. Ainsworth believes that a primary responsibility of senior leaders is to put the right people, operations, infrastructure, processes and metrics into place to ensure the success of the organization and has demonstrated this ability throughout his career.
In his personal life, Mr. Ainsworth is a devoted husband and father of three daughters and enjoys time with his family. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas A&M University.
Preston McDonald
Director of Sales
Preston McDonald
Director of Sales
Preston McDonald serves as Director of Sales for Sapphire Gas Solutions. In this role he spearheads the company’s expansion into key markets. Joining the company as one of its earliest employees after graduating from Texas A&M University, Preston has spent 12 years shaping the trajectory of Sapphire’s success.
Central to his role is the cultivation and guidance of a dynamic sales team equipped to cater to diverse industries. His emphasis lies in fostering talent, delivering comprehensive training, and implementing effective management strategies to ensure optimal performance. With a keen eye on industry trends and a passion for innovation, Preston remains dedicated to positioning Sapphire as an industry frontrunner.
Preston emphasizes the company’s commitment to staying ahead of industry trends and embracing innovation driving both growth and sustainability for future generations. His relentless pursuit of excellence has been instrumental in shaping the company’s trajectory and driving its growth.
Beyond his professional endeavors, he enjoys spending time hunting and fishing with his wife and two daughters
Matt Short
Director of Safety and Compliance
Matt Short
Director of Safety and Compliance
Matt Short brings over two decades of invaluable experience in safety management and emergency response to his role as Director of Safety and Compliance at Sapphire Gas Solutions. Joining the company in May 2023, Matt’s distinguished career commenced with 24 years of service at the City of Stockton Fire Department in California, culminating in his retirement as a Paramedic/Fire Captain.
Throughout his tenure with the fire department, Matt specialized in Hazardous Materials Emergency Response, Hazardous Materials instruction, and Heavy Rescue, honing his expertise in mitigating risks and ensuring the safety of both personnel and the public in high-stakes environments.
Since joining Sapphire, Matt has seamlessly transitioned into his role, demonstrating a deep commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety. As a member of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), Matt contributes his expertise to the Continuous Improvement committee, leveraging his wealth of experience to drive ongoing enhancements in safety protocols and procedures within the organization.
Matt’s responsibilities extend to the development and continuous improvement of safety planning processes, ensuring that Sapphire remains at the forefront of safety standards in the industry. Additionally, he diligently monitors compliance with these standards, ensuring that safety remains a top priority as the company continues to grow and expand.