Williams Energy Services has acquired full ownership ofVolunteer Energy Corp., increasing its stake from 50%.

Bill Weygandt assumes the role of president and CEO ofVolunteer, and Tom Lawson has been named chief operating officer.Weygandt is vice president of Williams retail gas and electric.Lawson is director of sales management for Williams retail gas andelectric.

Volunteer, headquartered in Columbus, OH, provides gas andelectricity services to industrial, commercial, and residentialcustomers in North America and the United Kingdom. The company’sU.S. operations serve more than 6,000 customers in 15 states.

“Williams is acquiring Volunteer Energy Corp. as an integralpart of its strategy to leverage Williams’ assets by offeringenergy solutions to retail customers in key regions of the UnitedStates,” said Weygandt.

Lawson said Volunteer has grown its customer base significantlyduring the last year. Volunteer is active in Ohio, Illinois,Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia and has about 86 employeesdomestically and internationally. Weygandt said he did not knowwhat Williams would do with the company’s international office inEngland. “We’re just looking at all our options right now withregard to the international office.”

Joe Fisher, Houston

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