Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) has appointed Matthew Godlewski as its new president.

The organization represents about 230 companies, environmental groups and government organizations interested in the promotion and use of natural gas in transportation.

Godlewski will succeed Rich Kolodziej, who has served as NGVAmerica’s president since 1996 and has announced plans to retire.

“The NGV market is poised for rapid expansion, and NGVAmerica has a critical role in that growth,” said Ron Eickelman, chairman of NGVAmerica and president of Agility Fuel Systems. “Matt is an experienced trade association executive who has a proven ability to lead effective teams and collaborate with industry allies. He will help elevate NGVAmerica’s mission and brand in the months ahead.”

Godlewski comes to NGVAmerica at a time when the use of American natural gas is seeing exponential growth, officials said. There is expected to be a 20% increase in the purchase of large trucks that run on natural gas over last year. The compound annual growth rate in the volume of natural gas used in transportation is estimated to exceed 11% through 2040.

Companies are building infrastructure across the nation to support this growth among public and private fleets, and to increase adoption in the consumer vehicle sector.

“The road ahead for natural gas as a transportation fuel is full of opportunity,” Godlewski said. “I am excited to join the industry during such a transformational period.”

Godlewski will start his role at NGVAmerica in mid-October. He has more than 20 years of experience building teams, developing and executing strategic plans, and working to shape policy at all levels of government. Most recently, he served as vice president of state affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.