Economist Philip Verleger has been announced as keynote speaker for the 2010 Industry Lunch and Membership Meeting at the PEI Convention, October 7. The PEI Convention will take place October 6-8, 2010, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Verleger was the first economist to write of the emergence of petroleum as a commodity. His 1982 book, Oil Markets in Turmoil, tracked the shift of control of petroleum from multinational oil companies and oil-exporting countries to consumers, traders, and “the market.” Dr. Verleger subsequently served on the New York Mercantile Exchange committee that wrote the first crude futures contract. In the 27 years since the first crude futures contract was traded, Dr. Verleger has chronicled the economic evolution of the oil market in over 100 articles and a second book.  

Dr. Verleger is currently President of PKVerleger LLC and the David Mitchell EnCana Professor of Strategy and International Management at the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. He will speak to PEI members on the future of petroleum motor fuels and trends in the current fuels market. 

Registration is now for the PEI Convention at the NACS Show 2010. Early registration rates are $275 for PEI and NACS members and $425 for all other attendees. This rate is valid through August 31, 2010. Full convention registration includes admission to educational sessions, Expo for all three days, the PEI Industry Reception and NACS Welcome Reception. Educational sessions presented by PEI will address industry issues such as legislative initiatives that affect small businesses, the future of the oil industry, ethanol, social media and the economy. 

Founded in 1951, PEI is comprised of more than 1,600 companies engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of equipment used in petroleum and energy handling industry. Members are located in 50 states and 81 countries. PEI is the leading authority and source of information for the petroleum and energy handling equipment industry and is committed to promoting the value of distributor services and improving the business relationships and practices of its members. The Institute's headquarters are located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For additional information on PEI or its membership, please contact Chris Bouldin at cbouldin@pei.org or visit www.pei.org.