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People often assume that life as a military child is lonely. In his adolescence, Joseph Figueroa lived in Washington, Alaska, Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. Growing up in a military family has its challenges, but the oldest of four children persevered. Everywhere he went, he had a welcoming community of people who believed in the importance of family, faith, culture, and education—the values his Cuban and Puerto Rican parents preached in the Figueroa household.
Figueroa has nurtured those values his entire life. He now relies on them to fuel his work at Ferrellgas, the second-largest propane company in the United States. The passionate leader is known for his expertise in business operations and process improvement. He uses his unique combination of strategic expertise and personal experiences to help the publicly traded propane company fuel strategic growth.
There was a time when it would have shocked Figueroa to picture himself as a corporate leader at a Fortune 1000 company. In high school, he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). In college, he was part of a different kind of team—Figueroa played Division I college football as a proud North Carolina Central University Eagle.
“I’m very competitive, and my biggest competitor is myself.”
Joseph Figueroa
Upon graduation, Figueroa traded his cleats and pads for boots and a cadet cap as he spent more than three years in the US Army. During his tenure as an Army officer, Figueroa oversaw supply and people movement within the Quartermaster branch. That experience put him on a new path.
“I’ve always had a broad interest in all things business as well as a passion for continuous improvement,” Figueroa says. “The military gave me the opportunity to experience logistics and see how these things can come together to help teams achieve great results on a grand scale.”
Interacting with leaders of various backgrounds prepared Figueroa for leadership roles in a civilian environment. After finishing his time in the military, he transitioned to an operations role with Target. Later, as director of logistics, Figueroa implemented lean methodologies to improve supply chain and procurement processes at Bear Communications.
In 2020, he was ready for a new challenge and joined the team at Ferrellgas. Figueroa began on March 16, 2020. The next day, he started working from home as Ferrellgas faced the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thankfully, Ferrellgas was well prepared for what was to come, and seamlessly transitioned corporate employees to a virtual environment. The company, which also operates the Blue Rhino tank exchange brand, was also able to meet the increased demand in the outdoor living space as many Americans began to work remotely.
Figueroa was ready to create and implement a management development program. He met with other leaders to solicit feedback and create goals before building a system that trains the company’s logisticians of tomorrow. The chance to make a lasting impact drove Figueroa to perform at his best.
“Success in my role is all about bringing people together to accomplish one big task at hand.”
Joseph Figueroa
“I get the most fulfillment from seeing people I lead directly or indirectly achieve what they are capable of and work to reach their max potential,” he says. “This program will have lasting success as a driver of diversity and talent development within the organization.”
Today, Figueroa is Ferrellgas’s vice president of mergers and acquisitions. The role fits Figueroa well because it allows him to have a sizable impact on the organization holistically through all lines of business. To execute an acquisition, the ability to coordinate and collaborate is essential.
“Success in my role is all about bringing people together to accomplish one big task at hand,” he says. The former college athlete and military officer developed his style through his stints on playing fields and battlefields. He believes in individual effort, knows that no team can succeed without numerous contributions, and is careful to remind everyone involved about the overall goal.
“I’ve always had a broad interest in all things business as well as a passion for continuous improvement. The military gave me the opportunity to experience logistics and see how these things can come together to help teams achieve great results on a grand scale.”
Joseph Figueroa
For Figueroa, leading others brings a chance to refine himself. “I’m very competitive, and my biggest competitor is myself,” he says, adding that he’s always looking to think bigger and do more.
Figueroa carries the continuous improvement mindset home with him, where he’s focused on being the best husband and father possible. He and his wife are raising their two daughters to be proud of who they are so they can “become strong Hispanic women.” This past Christmas, the Figueroas took a family vacation to Puerto Rico to expose their daughters to the culture of the island. It’s one more way he’s carrying on his family’s legacy. One day, he hopes his girls will do the same.
For him, the sacrifice of others who support him brings a responsibility to reach higher. “I have always felt that when you become complacent or uninspired, it’s disrespectful to those who believe in you,” he said.
