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The Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA) hosted its 49th Annual Meeting in Boston, MA at the Westin Copley Place on October 12-14, 2007. A total of 720 attendees put this meeting in the record books as the second largest ever, second only to the 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting at the San Francisco Fairmont in 1998.
“This shaped up to be a fantastic meeting, exceeding all my expectations,” said Richard Salinsky, 49th Annual Meeting chairman and president of Best Petroleum in Lynn, MA. “SIGMA members came out in droves to participate in this meeting. It was a great city and a great event!”
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Attendees were treated to a visit to Ed Burke’s facilities.
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SIGMA signatures, including networking and education, abounded in Boston with boosted receptions and parties thanks to the Official Sponsor of SIGMA’s 49th Annual Meeting Gulf Oil L.P., diamond sponsors Gulf Oil L.P. and CITGO Petroleum Corporation and platinum sponsors McLane Company, Global Companies, LLC, Sunoco, Inc. and Wright Express LLC.
Tours and Education
Experts and analysts provided insight and advice to all eager meeting attendees, who packed the rooms to learn more about their industry’s trends. SIGMA featured a series of educational sessions divided into an alternative fuels track, retail/fuel track, and a fuel management track that addressed the industry’s hottest of topics including biofuels, market outlooks, real estate development and consumer purchasing habits.
SIGMA also offered marketers a choice of tours in Boston including the popular Biodiesel Plant Tour and Visit to Irving Terminal, hosted by SIGMA marketer member Ed Burke of Dennis K. Burke, Inc., who showed participants his operations in Chelsea including where he stores his biodiesel and where he delivers bulk oil and case goods. Additionally, participants attended a Mobile Refueling Tour, hosted by SIGMA marketer member Dan Abrams of Diesel Direct, a Boston by Duck and Walking Tour of the Back Bay and a tour of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Kennedy Library and Museum.
Welcoming Events
On Thursday night, Global Companies treated the attendees to a Boston Orientation. Fresh from their travels, meeting attendees enjoyed a bite with their colleagues.
On Friday night, CITGO Petroleum hosted attendees to the first formal networking opportunity at the Supplier Welcoming Reception, which replicated an evening at Fenway Park, complete with a rendition of the “Green Monster.” Later that evening, attendees were treated to “An Evening at Jillian’s” thanks to Gulf Oil L.P. In the reserved VIP room, attendees came ready to bowl and shoot pool, all while watching the big game on several big screen TV’s. Located behind Fenway Park, Jillian’s is part of a 70,000 foot entertainment megaplex that spans over three floors.
SIGMA Legislative Meeting
First thing Saturday morning, SIGMA’s Legislative Meeting packed the room, where marketers and other interested parties participated in the committee discussion of:
- State BioFuels Mandates and Avenues for Federal Legislative Action.
- Media and Federal Legislative Attention to Retail Motor Fuel Temperature Compensation
- Underwriters Laboratories Notice on E-85 Dispenser Certification.
- Changes in Spot Market Pricing Methodologies
- Discussion of Association Position on New Ozone Non-Attainment Standard under Development at EPA.
The meeting also included guest speaker Representative Edward Markey (D-MA). Markey opened by talking about the Industrial Revolution and how the first factory opened 200 years ago on the Charles River in Boston. Regarding fuel, Markey touched on a myriad of issues, including climate change, oil dependency, price gouging, the renewable fuels standard and flex fuel vehicles. He reiterated that SIGMA marketers cannot “sit on their hands” and let legislation be drafted without their knowledgeable input.
Saturday Social Events
SIGMA did not disappoint with its industry-renowned, All Industry Reception, on Saturday night. SIGMA meeting attendees explored the “Neighborhoods of Boston” sponsored by Sunoco, Inc., Wright Express LLC, CITGO Petroleum and Gulf Oil L.P. Featuring the finest in food and drink, this reception spread will be hard to beat!
Thanks to Gulf Oil, L.P., the Dessert & Cordial Party on Saturday night was a sweet success! Attendees enjoyed a night cap with their choice of dessert; some with their own personal crème brulees, cupcakes, and other delicious confections!
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Conference attendees had ample things to do, from educational events to social functions.
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Business Meeting and General Session
On Sunday, SIGMA ended its recordbreaking meeting with a content-filled General Session and Closing Luncheon. In the morning, SIGMA conducted its association business in between captivating speakers that included Joseph Petrowski and Patricia Woertz.
Joseph Petrowski, Gulf Oil’s president and CEO, has a résumé with a more than 20-year tenure in executive positions with respected energy companies, including Louis Dreyfus Energy, Louis Dreyfus North America and Consolidated Natural Gas Energy. He is also the founder and managing director of JHP Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in supply manage-ment, business development and acquisitions. He talked about the transforming role of the independent marketer. Patricia Woertz, chairman and CEO of Archer Daniels Midland Company, is an internationally recognized business leader, working frequently with government officials, heads of state, business partners and community stakeholders across the globe. She is consistently named by U.S. and international media to their lists of the most powerful business leaders. She is ranked in the top 10 on the Forbes list of “The 100 Most Powerful Women.” She talked about our energy future.
SIGMA also elected a new slate for Board of Directors by a membership vote at the Annual General Session Business Meeting in Boston, MA, on October 14, 2007. Members include Paul Reid, president of Reid Petroleum Corp. in Lockport, NY, for SIGMA president; Carl Boyett, CEO of Boyett Petroleum in Modesto, CA for SIGMA first vice president; Frank P. Greinke, chairman of United Fuel & Energy in Midland, TX, for SIGMA second vice president; and Jack Pester, chairman of Pester Marketing Co. in Houston, TX, for SIGMA secretary-treasurer.
The membership also installed four new Board of Director members to serve three-year terms including William “Graham” Baughman, president and CEO of Thorntons Inc., in Louisville, KY; Richard K. “Rick” Clark, member/manager of Fastrac Markets, LLC, in Canastota, NY; Joe Stark, president and CEO of Top Star, Inc., in Emmaus, PA; and Don Stephenson, president of Cary Oil Company, Inc., in Cary, NC.
Annual Awards Luncheon
During the Annual Awards Luncheon sponsored by CITGO at the 49th SIGMA Annual Meeting, the association honored the Distinguished Statesman of the Year—Don Borzilleri and its four exiting board members.
Said SIGMA President Paul Reid, “Everyone knows Don Borzilleri because Don Borzilleri has wanted to know you. Whether SIGMA veteran, new member or prospective member—Don is part of the glue that binds our SIGMA network together. Don knows SIGMA and he wants others to know us too. There is a reason why all of us know Don. He’s always there with a hello or a handshake (or to collect tickets). His enthusiasm and infectious personality draws people to him—obviously a good quality for a salesman. But the word salesman isn’t fitting for Don. In his career at Gilbarco, he was much more.”
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Tom Schmidt and Paul Reid.
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Tom Finneran.
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Paul Reid and Dave Collins.
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Grady Chronister and Paul Reid
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Don’s award plaque reads:
Don Borzilleri is one-of-a-kind. He’s always there with a handshake and a smile. He’s there to help in any way he can, and he’s never looking for anything in return. Don Borzilleri is an unmatchable friend to all who know him. His philosophy—both personally and professionally—is to put other peoples’ needs first, rather than focusing on his own.
This philosophy embodies a selfless family man, who, along with his wife Joan, has enjoyed the world and savored every moment. Don’s SIGMA family knows how special he is as well—his humility, understanding, and sense of humor is unparalleled in this organization. Don is always where the action is and his life has not had a dull moment.
Don’s career took off when he hired on with Gilbarco Inc in 1967. He was District Sales Manager in the Lift Division serving the Chicago, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin area. This was followed by a move to Boston in the same capacity, then to the home office in Greensboro, NC. Seeing the growth potential in the South, Don made the case for a Regional Office for gasoline dispenser sales in Atlanta. Don was put in charge of that office in 1977 and was made Eastern Regional Manager of Distributor Sales in 1981. He kept this position until he took early retirement in 2000.
Don was renowned for providing customer satisfaction, providing added value, and developing win-win solutions for the long-term. Don raised the bar in the profession and those who were privileged to worked closely with him learned from his wisdom and expertise. Even in retirement, Don is still a part of the action. He is a constant supporter of SIGMA in so many ways. It is that support that has helped make SIGMA the strong and vibrant organization it is today.
It is our great privilege to honor Don today for his knowledge, enthusiasm, and zest for life.
“I am so honored,” a teary-eyed Borzilleri said during his acceptance speech. “I appreciate it very much.” Don was accompanied by several family members at the luncheon, including his wife Joan and grandchildren.
SIGMA also recognized its exiting board members during the Closing Luncheon and extends its sincere thanks to these individuals for contributing their time, money and expertise to better the association. Those members included Grady Chronister, president of Chronister Oil Company in Springfield, IL; David Collins, vice president of Wilson Fuel Co., Ltd., in Halifax, NS, Canada; Tom Dwelle, general partner of Nella Oil Company in Auburn, CA; and Tom Schmidt, executive chairman of the Board of U.S. Oil Co., Inc., in Combined Locks, WI.
Closing the luncheon was Former House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran. Finneran was a member of the House of Representatives since 1979. From 1991 to 1996, former Speaker Finneran served as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He was elected Massachusetts Speaker of the House in April 1996 and was re-elected in January of 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003. In 2002 he was elected by the Speakers of 49 states to serve as the president of the National Speakers’ Conference. In January 2007, radio station WRKO announced the arrival of Finneran as the new morning drive talk host. Finneran talked about a variety of current events including the upcoming presidential election.
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Conference attendees had ample things to do, from educational events to social functions.
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Upcoming Meetings
After one of SIGMA’s biggest and best events in Boston, you won’t want to miss the next opportunity to mingle and learn at SIGMA’s upcoming meetings.
- SPRING CONVENTION, May 18-20,
Hilton Head Island, SC
- ANNUAL MEETING, November 13-16,
San Francisco, CA
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