SIGMA's 2005 Spring Convention

Martha and Stewart Spinks candidly caught smiling upon a successful Spring Convention. Good job Mr. and Mrs. Chairman!

Golfing and industry-renowned educational sessions marked the Society of Independent

Gasoline Marketers of America’s Spring Convention, held in Amelia Island, Fla. on May 3-6, a great success — among the best in SIGMA history!

One participant even said this year’s convention ranked among the best ever because of the educational content, hotel and networking opportunities. High attendance — approximately 526 industry representatives — also landed this year’s Spring Convention in the SIGMA record books, as the highest attendance since September 11th.

Well-attended educational sessions included SIGMA’s own committee meetings and programming, plus a unique pairing with OPIS that brought a new angle to the package, the OPIS/SIGMA “Gasoline Marketing Track.”

One marketer said the best programs seem to have direct involvement with Stewart Spinks (the Spring Convention Conference Chairman) — they provide valuable information on real problems.

“We took a new approach to education in 2005 — the old ‘two heads are always better than one’ idea,” said Kenneth Doyle CAE, executive vice president with SIGMA. “Our members and other industry associates showed up in record numbers to the Gasoline Marketing Track, and I think teaming up with OPIS played a big role in that success.”

Tom Schmidt and David Atwater pose for a quick picture during the Supplier Welcoming "Pub Crawl" Reception.

OPIS also attracted key speakers like John Melo, BP’s president of U.S. fuel operations, and Jim Keyes, 7-Eleven’s CEO, to SIGMA’s General Session. Melo, clearly the favorite among meeting participants, climaxed his address on May 5 by saying: “You have to have clarity and focus in your core business. When you’re clear in what you want to do, then do it with deep capability.”

To achieve that focus, Melo said petroleum marketers are going to have to accept some simple truths: U.S. refining production is not likely to catch up with imports; the U.S. fuels market is now a global market and will become even more global; consolidation in the refining sector will continue; and an integrated approach will be needed to serve the marketplace.

Another participant felt this convention was more valuable than those he previously attended because the topics appeared to be more focused.

Marketers get a chance to explore eight local gas stations, c-stores, and car washes in the vicinity of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess on Friday afternoon’s highly-rated Motor Fuel You call this a trade show? Marketers got a chance to mingle with suppliers in a very relaxed setting at the “Payment SystemFUNdamentals”poolside trade show. The always-popular Motor Fuels Outlet Tour took attendees on a two-state, four-hour bus trip to see first-hand what works at four unique sites, including the Cisco Travel Plaza II, Inc. in Kingsland, Ga., that takes advantage of its favorable market dynamics to pump more than 2 million gallons of fuel per month.

While members and associates worked hard during the day, the special events offered throughout the convention gave many people the much-needed break from the business they deserved. From the SIGMA Scramble Golf Tournament to the All Industry Reception, these networking opportunities rolled function into fun, despite the rain.

For the first time in recent SIGMA history, it rained at the SIGMA Scramble golf tournament — not just sprinkles, but downpours with high winds and cool breezes. With the gracious help of SIGMA’s sponsors, those who did golf in the rainy tournament seemed not to mind as much.

“We try to make sure our meeting stands out from all the others, and part of that included SIGMA’s Theme Dinner ‘Havana Nights,’” said Spinks, Spring Convention Chairman and CEO of Spinx Oil Company, Greenville, S.C. “We had Latin dancers, desserts in the foyer, a piano bar, and cigars on the
patio, which turned out to be the perfect range of entertainment for everyone.”

“The volume of learning opportunities for marketers of all types,” said one marketer, “plus the convention’s good energy and great social events — particularly Havana Nights — made this convention stand out from the rest.”

The All Industry Reception ended the Spring Convention with a bang, with cuisine from all parts of the world and excellent refreshments. This reception, the last opportunities to network with meeting participants, went well past the 2-hour-allotted timeslot and always seems to be a meeting favorite. SIGMA's General Session captivates meeting participants with keynote speaker John Melo of BP.

SIGMA reached its participation goal for the Spring Convention and now it is in the process of changing gears: To do the same for the upcoming Annual Meeting in Philadelphia from October 21-23.

“Philadelphia is the perfect city to learn about what’s going on in the industry today,” saidJoe Stark, Annual Meeting Chairman and President of Top Star, Inc. “Its historical roots will encourage members to learn from past mistakes and forge into the future with a renewed energy.”

LEGISLATIVE MEETING

Another SIGMA meeting staple, the Legislative Committee Meeting, featured SIGMA’s general counsel: Tim Columbus and Greg Scott of Collier Shannon Scott PLLC. It updated motor fuel marketers on important topics including various components of the Energy Bill and new legal strategies to address credit-card fees and marketers’ bottom line.

The main topic of conversation focused on the recently passed House of Representatives’ version of the energy bill, labeled H.R. 6. Overall, it took a step forward for marketers’ interest. Scott graded the 2003 version Energy Bill a “D” as it related to fuel marketers, whereas the 2005 version received a B/B+ grade. “We’re not done with this,” Scott added, “but it’s a heck of a lot better bill than the one in 2003.”

The other major hot-button topic touched on at the Legislative Committee Meeting tackled potential legal, regulatory and legislative efforts to address increased credit-card fees and the impact the fees might have on motor-fuel marketers.

To entice customers to leave their credit cards in their wallets, many marketers offer discounts for cash purchases.

Another option is to prompt customers to use their card purchases as a debit transaction rather than a credit-card purchase. Short of that, there aren’t many options available to marketers right now.

“There’s no easy answer on this,” Columbus said. Perhaps there will be one by October, the next opportunity for SIGMA’s full membership to gather for the Annual Meeting. That meeting will be held in Philadelphia from Oct. 21-23 at another top-of- the-line location, the Loews Philadelphia Hotel.