Celebrating Women’s History Month – Women in Propane: Catherine Quinlivan

Meet our Director of Safety, Catherine Quinlivan who has been part of Team Suburban Propane for 10 years. Catherine’s initial role at Suburban Propane was in the Mid-Atlantic area as a Safety and Project Engineer. As a result of the company’s growth with the acquisition of Inergy, her position changed to Area 2 Safety Manager. She then became Director of Safety after the retirement of her predecessor in 2015.

Catherine has worked as a Safety Professional for 34 years in the areas of Loss Control, Steel Fabrication, Food Manufacturing (Kellogg’s) and Worldwide Research & Development (electronics). She has remained in the safety field for so many years because she enjoys the unique learning experiences and intellectual challenges that are part of her every day in the industry. Despite her 30+ years of experience, Catherine is “surrounded by people with over 30 years of experience in the propane industry, so I consider myself the ‘Rookie’ in our Safety Department.” Catherine is passionate about advocating for women in propane industry, recognizing the importance of diversity and the unique perspectives that women bring to the field. She actively mentors young professionals, encouraging them to pursue careers in safety and related sectors. Her commitment to fostering an inclusive environment is reflected in her efforts to build strong networks among women professionals, promoting collaboration and support throughout the industry. Catherine embraces the opportunity to learn from her seasoned colleagues and values their insights as pivotal in her professional growth. As she continues her journey as a Safety Professional, she remains passionate about mentoring the next generation of women in the field, especially during initiatives like celebrating women’s history month. This commitment to empowering others is what drives her to promote diversity and inclusion in safety-related roles. Catherine also actively participates in events that highlight the achievements of women in various industries, believing that sharing stories of success can inspire future leaders. As part of her advocacy, she often contributes to initiatives that provide a national women’s history month overview, emphasizing the significant yet often overlooked contributions of women in safety and related fields. By doing so, she hopes to create a more inclusive environment that encourages women to pursue careers in safety and beyond.

Catherine has remained a dedicated employee because she “couldn’t imagine working with a greater group of individuals than the entire Safety Department including our Area Technicians, Elk Grove Terminal, Safety Managers, Technical Training, and the Compliance Specialists who always encourage me to make a difference in our workplace Safety Program.” Catherine’s commitment to her role and her colleagues has not gone unnoticed, as she has often been recognized for her contributions during the national women’s history month celebration. This event provides a platform for her to share her experiences and inspire others to embrace their roles in safety and teamwork. She believes that by empowering one another, they can continue to foster a positive and effective work environment. Participating in events that honor the achievements of female leaders has only strengthened Catherine’s resolve to promote safety and collaboration within her team. Celebrating women’s history month allows her to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that still lie ahead, motivating her to advocate for continued growth. Through her involvement, she hopes to inspire the next generation of women to take on leadership roles and make impactful contributions to the workplace.

“My family supports my profession in a big way, as travel and being on-call 24/7 are part of my daily schedule…hats off to my husband, four children, my daughter-in-law and two grandchildren for their patience.”

In her spare time, Catherine enjoys gardening, exploring the outdoors, ice hockey and spending time with her pets.

#WMNHIST #WomensHistoryMonth #WomeninPropane #SuburbanCares