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Just six weeks remain until the industry gathers in Atlanta for the 2019 PEI Convention at the NACS Show (Oct. 1-4). This year’s event has one of the best educational programs in memory, a sold-out trade show featuring exciting new technologies, and nonstop networking to help you boost your business. If you haven’t yet registered, there’s still time to save $150.

Here’s a summary of the key sessions, events and opportunities awaiting you in Atlanta. Details, times and locations can be found on the PEI website.

Kick-Off Breakfast: One Team. One Mission. A U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, retired Lt. Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman overcame claustrophobia and a fear of heights to become a decorated fighter pilot with 65 combat missions and 2,650 flight hours. Waldman will show how to win with integrity in highly competitive environments through disciplined training, dedicated teamwork and courageous leadership. Through captivating stories, real-world video and practical business lessons, Waldman will take you on an unforgettable journey of high performance and excellence. ($30 ticket)

2019 Economic Outlook. Back by popular demand, Brian Beaulieu, CEO of ITR Economics, will present his short- and long-term economic forecasts and analyze the possible impact of government actions on economic growth. Beaulieu’s informative and entertaining session also will detail economic indicators you should follow to be ready for whatever lies ahead. Come to learn the upsides, downsides, opportunities and risks that could affect your business.

Aging UST Systems: What You Need to Know. With thousands of underground storage tanks (USTs) soon to meet the end of their warranties, PEI members and their customers are facing decisions on whether to repair, replace or maintain their aging UST systems. This panel will discuss the role of insurance, state funds and creative state assistance mechanisms. Presenters include Tara Rosie, principal scientist with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality; Therron K. Blatter, manager of UST branch, Utah Department of Environmental Quality; and Greg Travis, product line manager with Berkley Environmental. PEI Executive Vice President Rick Long will moderate the discussion.

EMV Adoption Pace

California Approves B20

Colorado Moves Toward ZEVs

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Artificial Intelligence, Amazon Business & the Future of Distribution. Ian Heller, president and chief operating officer of Modern Distribution Management and the most sought-after speaker in distribution today, follows up his successful 2018 PEI Convention presentation with an all-new set of questions — and answers. What do artificial intelligence and related digital disruptions mean for the wholesale distribution industry? How will Amazon Business use its technology, relationships and state-of-the-art logistics to compete with your business? And, most important of all, how should you respond?

Drugs, Drug Testing and Today’s Workforce. Hiring, training and firing employees has never been easy. With today’s opioid epidemic, changing marijuana laws and the proliferation of CBD products, personnel decisions are more difficult than ever. In this timely presentation, Colin Woods, vice president, sales and external operations with DISA Global Solutions, will explain the risks your company faces, and how you can build a bulletproof drug and alcohol testing policy.

Mobile Fueling, EVs and Ridesharing. Learn more about two disruptions destined to affect the future of fueling. Michael Buhr, CEO of Filld, will discuss mobile fueling’s present position and market potential, as well as its relationship to traditional retail fueling. Philip Sheehy, technical director for global consulting leader ICF, will share data-driven insights and surprising predictions for electric vehicles (EVs), ridesharing and other trends on the vehicle side.

Safety: Focus on Four. The PEI Safety Committee is sponsoring this practical discussion of four key safety issues:

• Barricading Work Zones by Buddy Bayliss, BC&C LLC
• Confined Space Best Practices by Blake Hess, The Oscar W. Larson Co.
• Distracted Driving by Joel Feldman, Esq, founder, End Distracted Driving, and the presenter of PEI’s highly successful webinar on the same subject
• Lockout/Tagout by Tim Thickstun, Advanced Fuel Systems

New Rules for New Fuels: Meeting Compatibility Requirements. Fuel formulations are changing. Compatibility issues continue. What’s next for you and your customers? This session will provide practical ideas and a live demonstration of a simple, new UL tool that identifies the correct standards for common fueling system components. Panelists include: Ryan Haerer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Underground Storage Tanks; Roland Riegel, PDE, Flammable Liquids Containment Products, UL; Jason Carr, principal, Fuel System Engineering, Stantec; and Dave Piercey, JD2 Environmental Inc.

Succession Planning: Doing It Right. Many — if not most — PEI members are family-led operations. An effective succession plan will ensure long-term business success and an enduring legacy. Succession expert Sara B. Stern will show how the scientifically based Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) can point owners and other family members to one, unifying vision and language for the business.

Other Sessions and Events
PEI 1-on-1 Roundtables. Continue your learning through small-group conversations with the presenters and enjoy special sessions on regulatory matters, UST data standards and other key topics.
Annual PEI Membership Meeting & Breakfast. PEI President Charlie Burns will address the group, and PEI Executive Vice President Rick Long will present his annual State of the Industry address. Members also will vote on proposed constitutional amendments, elect 2020 officers and install new directors.
Latin American Programming. The 2019 PEI Convention will expand Latin American programming with more sessions in Spanish, a special networking event and simultaneous translation of the Kick-Off Breakfast and Annual Membership Meeting.
Networking and Fun. Special events for PEI 10-Groups, PEI Women and PEI Young Executives will help you connect with peers in a relaxed atmosphere. And the PEI Industry Reception is the perfect setting to share stories and laughs with new and old industry friends.

Fuel Equipment and Services in the NACS Show. Exhibitors in more than 650 booths will showcase new fueling technologies and solutions that will drive the future of fueling. This year, many exhibitors will have Spanish-speaking booth personnel. Just look for the handy “esp” signs in their booths.

With unparalleled educational opportunities, the industry’s biggest trade show and a who’s who of attendees, you can’t afford not to attend the 2019 PEI Convention at the NACS Show. Register now to save $150 on your full registration. And remember to book your hotel through Connections Housing, the official housing contractor for the convention.

EMV ADOPTION LAGS
A recent Conexxus survey shows just 13% of participating retailers have fully EMV-compliant forecourt payment systems. Another 42% said they expect to be compliant by the Oct. 1, 2020, liability shift. Respondents that have not yet decided to upgrade cited cost and a questionable ROI as the top two barriers. The survey results were based on responses from individuals and organizations that operate a total of 26,284 retail sites.

CALIFORNIA APPROVES B20
The California State Water Resources Control Board approved the underground storage of diesel blends containing up to 20% biodiesel (B20), effective Oct. 1. The new regulation states that B20 "shall be recognized as equivalent to diesel for the purpose of complying with existing approval requirements for double-walled USTs, unless any material or component of the UST system has been determined to not be compatible with B20."

Under the state’s previous regulation, owners and operators wishing to store B20 had to prove the compatibility of every UST system component.

COLORADO MOVES TOWARD ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES
After a three-day hearing, Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission on Aug. 16 mandated that approximately 5% of Colorado vehicle sales be zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) beginning in 2023. The mandate increases to approximately 6.1% by 2030.

Backers of the proposal stressed the air quality improvements ZEVs will bring to the state. The Denver metro area has not met federal air-quality standards since 2008.

ALTERNATIVE FUEL UPDATES
Minnesota’s June E15 sales nearly doubled from 2018 to 2019. According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, June 2019 E15 sales totaled 6.3 million gallons, as compared with 3.66 million gallons in June 2018. Retail facilities offering E15 in the state also increased by 18%.
The U.K. will double funding to install EV charging points on residential streets. The additional 2.5 million (approximately $3 million) will support an expected 1,000 additional on-street chargers, which can be built into lampposts and other existing structures.
Canada awarded Vancouver-based Hydrogen Technology & Energy Corp. (HTEC) $875,000 CAD to develop and commercialize a next generation hydrogen fuel delivery system. HTEC’s system will function at retail fueling sites and in heavy-duty transportation applications.

PEI MEMBER NEWS
Insite360 added Anthony Rodriguez to its senior business development team. Rodriguez is the incoming chairman of the Wranglers Council for the Texas Food & Fuel Association.
Jones & Frank acquired M.L. Leonard Inc., a full-service petroleum equipment distributor based in Blue Ridge, Virginia.
National Oilwell Varco (NOV) acquired Denali Inc. and its operating subsidiaries, Containment Solutions Inc., Ershigs Inc., Belco Manufacturing, Fabricated Plastics Ltd. and Fibra S.A. The company resulting from the acquisition will market under the name NOV Fiber Glass Systems.
PumpTex Inc. promoted Brandon Von Quintus to branch manager of its Central Texas operation, based in Buda, Texas. Von Quintus previously was outside sales and service manager. Toby Harrington will provide outside sales for the Central Texas branch.
Tuthill Transfer Systems named Rick Wiedemann president. Wiedemann, who joined Tuthill in 2015, most recently was vice president of sales and marketing. He has an MBA from the University of Kansas and bachelor’s degrees in manufacturing engineering and engineering management from Miami University.
Tuthill and FuelCloud announced a technical partnership to develop Fill-Rite FMS, a fuel management system for organizations managing their own fuel.
Western Global appointed Mike Nelson national accounts manager for infrastructure in its Fuel Solutions Group of the Americas. Nelson has nearly 15 years of sales and leadership experience in the construction industry. He will be based in Calgary, Alberta.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
South African service company. Combe90 Engineering, P.O. Box 527, Glenvista, Johannesburg, Gauteng 2058, South Africa, applied for service and construction division membership. Brian Makombe is director of the firm, which was established in 2015. Combe90 Engineering provides fuel management solutions to the commercial and retail petroleum sector. Sponsored for PEI membership by Gabe Messerly, Vaporless Manufacturing, Prescott Valley, Arizona.
www.combe90.co.za

Texas manufacturer. Hughes Tank Co. Inc., P.O. Box 570, Venus, TX 76084, applied for manufacturer division membership. Vickie Hughes is CEO of the company, which was established in 1989. Hughes Tank Co. manufactures tanks, customizable containment plans, custom remote-fill spill containment and plumbing packages. Sponsored for PEI membership by Brad Holmes, Clay & Bailey Manufacturing Co., Kansas City, Missouri.
www.hughestankcompany.com

Connecticut distributor. Quality Petro Services, 46 Beaver Brook Road, Danbury, CT 06810, applied for distributor division membership. Collin Searle is national sales manager for the firm, which was established in 1975. Quality Petro Services is a petroleum equipment distributor and provides maintenance, repairs and replacement services for fueling facility owners. Sponsored for PEI membership by Edward Kubinsky, Crompco LLC, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.

Arkansas consulting company. Imagine Commercial Solutions, 1570 Glastonbury Drive, Centerton, AR 72719, applied for affiliate division membership. Stephanie Wood is a principal of the firm, which was established in 2017. Imagine Commercial Solutions provides project management, consulting and permitting services for construction, fueling facilities and other projects. Sponsored for PEI membership by Ron Fair, AEC Services Inc., Tampa, Florida.
www.ics24-7.com

ADMITTED TO PEI

• Jeff Sexten, XPO Logistics Freight Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan (operations and engineering)
• Miriam Barranco, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston, Texas (operations and engineering)

© 2019
Petroleum Equipment Institute
P. O. Box 2380
Tulsa, OK 74101-2380

The TulsaLetter (ISSN 0193-9467) is published two or three times each month by the Petroleum Equipment Institute. Richard C. Long, Editor. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the Editor. Basic circulation confined to PEI members.