Bart Fromuth and Gus Fromuth (Photo Courtesy of Freedom Energy Logistics)

Bart Fromuth and his dad, Gus, bring different perspectives to the family business, and that’s part of the reason why Freedom Energy Logistics has grown into one of New England’s largest energy consulting companies, Bart says.

“He has some skills that I don’t have, and vice versa,” Bart says. His father has a pioneer’s spirit, willing to take risks to explore new opportunities. “I don’t think I could have started a company from scratch. My skills are in taking something that exists and improving on it.”

Energy consulting is a dynamic arena, created by deregulated electricity markets that allow consumers to buy their power from the primary suppliers. Gus founded the firm, based in Auburn, in 2006. Freedom Energy Logistics now has 37 full-time employees, operations in Ohio and California, and is planning for more growth. It is among the 20 fastest growing companies on this year’s list of the Top Family-Owned Businesses in NH.

“We have a legacy of solving niche problems,” Bart says. “We were the first and only company in the region that brought large industrial clients into the wholesale pool.” Since then, they’ve expanded to assist smaller purchasers with the same services and helped clients who want to explore self-supplying their own electricity and virtual net metering. They also work with communities that want to aggregate all of their buyers into one buying pool to access better rates.

The company took a big step in 2021 when Bart became CEO and Gus assumed the role of managing director and majority owner. That change has allowed Gus to focus on networking and legislative efforts, while Bart, a lawyer by training, oversees the business.  The arrangement works because of their deep connection.

“As father and son there’s a significant amount of trust and benefit of the doubt that is given to the relationship,” Bart says. “It is also a real joy to be able to work every day with my father and to have that closeness.”

“Family business is in our DNA and in our model and in our veins. No business is perfect, we’ve had our challenges,” Bart says. “I wouldn’t trade my father for any other business partner in the world. It would be great to share that with one of my daughters or [my] nephew someday.” 

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