Langston Named FUELIowa President and CEO

Ronald N. (Ron) Langston will become President and Chief Executive Officer for FUELIowa, effective Jan. 20, 2020. The association’s Board of Directors voted to hire him as the successor to Dawn Carlson, CAE, who has been with the fuel industry trade organization for the past 25 years and held the top leadership role since 2003.

“After conducting a nationwide search, we have found a highly credentialed and capable executive to lead our association forward and build upon the proud legacy that Dawn Carlson has created,” said Jason McDermott, FUELIowa Board Chair. “We are excited to work with Ron Langston and put his vast leadership experience and extensive skill sets to work for our association, our industry and fuel consumers statewide.”

In addition to his association executive duties, Langston will assume President and CEO responsibilities for HealthAlliance Benefit Plan, a Multiple Employer Welfare Association (MEWA) operated by FUELIowa and providing benefits services to member companies. He also will serve on the Board of Directors for RINAlliance, a for-profit company owned by FUELIowa that helps member and non-member clients from across the nation manage RIN economics and profits under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Langston returns to Iowa from Washington, D.C., where he has been working as a Senior Consultant and Director of Small and Medium Enterprises with The Stevenson Group, as well as Principal Consultant for Langston Global Enterprises, LLC.

While in the nation’s capital, Langston served two administrations with a presidential appointment to the U.S. Department of Commerce and served as the first National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency and initiated the U.S. Commerce Global Minority Enterprise Initiative. He also served as a Special Assistant in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Ronald N. Langston “It’s great to be back in Iowa and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running,” said Langston. “Dawn is leaving the organization well positioned for great things, I look forward to working with her over the next several weeks to connect with the membership and develop plans to lead the team and take FUELIowa to new levels of success.”

During his previous time In Iowa, Langston was appointed by the Governor to serve as Iowa State Transportation Commissioner at the Iowa Department of Transportation. He also worked as Vice President of Administration and Organizational Management for EMCO Manufacturing, Statewide Economic Development Director for the Institute of Social and Economic Development, Director of National Marketing for the Principal Financial Group, and Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Federation.

Earlier in his career, Langston worked as a Legislative Assistant for the U.S. Senate and as a Research Analyst for the Iowa Legislative Services Bureau.

Langston has a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He also earned a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College at City University of New York, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Iowa.

Dawn Carlson is leaving her position at FUELIowa in February 2020 to spend more time with her family, and place more energy on mission work and professional opportunities through her equestrian business, River Heights Ranch.