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Dear PEI Member:

It’s time to “Get Back Together Again!”

That’s the theme of the 2021 PEI Convention at the NACS Show, which will be live and in-person Oct. 5-8 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our industry has dug deep to keep essential transportation and supply chains moving.

Now it’s time to reconnect with one another and look toward a future in which PEI members continue to lead and prosper.

The convention begins with Kickoff Breakfast speaker Josh Linkner. The founder of five tech companies and author of four books, including New York Times bestsellers Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention, Linkner is chair of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training and consulting firm. He twice was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year and won the U.S. Presidential Champion of Change Award. Linkner’s PEI presentation will explore how you can use creative problem-solving to overcome adversity and seize new possibilities.

We hope you will join us in Chicago! Please note:

• Early bird registration. Early bird attendee discounts end June 11 — one week from today. Early bird rates are $295 (members) and $545 (nonmembers). After June 11, rates increase to $445 (members) and $695 (nonmembers). PEI member companies registering five or more attendees get extra discounts.
• Housing. Book your housing now. The 2021 PEI headquarters hotel is the Hyatt McCormick Place. PEI has other room blocks at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the Marriott Marquis Chicago McCormick Place, Palmer House Hilton and the Sheraton Grand Chicago. You also may book at hotels with NACS room blocks. Please book your hotel through Connections Housing. Official PEI and NACS hotels will not honor the convention rate for direct reservations or those made through third-party vendors.
• Safety. PEI recognizes that travel remains challenging for some individuals and organizations. Rest assured we are working with NACS, local, state and federal health officials and our venue partners to protect attendees and exhibitors. For information on safety protocols and cancellation policies, see the 2021 Convention FAQs.
• Exhibitors. More than 150 PEI member companies already have booked 53,000 square feet of exhibit space on the NACS Show floor. Limited booth space remains available for other exhibitors. Contact Julie Shank at jshank@pei.org or 918-236-3965.
• Sponsorships. Several high-visibility convention sponsorship opportunities also are available. Contact Tom Leibrandt at tleibrandt@pei.org or 918-236-3962.

PEI Convention: Early Bird Ends June 11

EEOC Issues COVID-19 Vaccination Guidelines

PEI Board Candidate Deadline: June 16

Hydrogen Fueling in Oklahoma

Fall Protection Committee Deadline: June 4

Respond to this Newsletter

by e-mail to the editor, Rick Long at rlong@pei.org

EEOC VACCINATION, INCENTIVE GUIDELINES
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued formal guidance May 28 for employers’ COVID-19 vaccination and vaccination incentive programs. Key principles include:

• Vaccination requirements. Federal employment law does not prevent employers from requiring vaccination of employees entering the workplace, if the company’s policy meets the “reasonable accommodation” provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Incentives. Federal employment law does not prevent employers from using incentives to encourage employees to show proof of vaccinations administered by third parties. However, employers must keep vaccination information confidential.
• Coercive programs. Employers that administer vaccines may offer vaccination incentives to employees, as long as the incentives are not coercive. The guidelines caution that some employees might interpret a large incentive as encouragement to disclose protected medical information during required pre-vaccination screening questions.
• Education and awareness. Employers may educate employees and their families about COVID-19 vaccines and the benefits of vaccination.

PEI BOARD CANDIDATE DEADLINE: JUNE 16
On May 28, PEI emailed procedures for this year’s board of directors elections to official representatives in odd-numbered districts.

Under PEI’s constitution, an official representative or a duly appointed alternate must request that his or her name be included on the ballot. Official representatives and duly appointed alternates who would like to serve must complete and submit the Put My Name on the Ballot form by June 16. Ballots will be emailed on June 24.

Additional information on the election and board member duties can be found here.

HYDROGEN FUELING IN OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed legislation creating a Hydrogen Production, Transportation and Infrastructure Task Force. The group will evaluate the possibility of hydrogen fuel production in the state through at least one public hearing on:

• The use and availability of water resources;
• The availability and affordability of the power required to produce hydrogen;
• Possible incentives and taxes to encourage hydrogen technology, infrastructure and transportation;
• A statewide roadmap for a hydrogen economy.

Separately, Oklahoma Energy Secretary Ken Wagner is seeking commitments of $1 billion to launch the state’s hydrogen industry.

“As of right now, it’s my No. 1 priority,” Wagner said. “This is one technology that is complementary to all of our best resources. … I think the long-term impact is tremendous.”

FALL PROTECTION COMMITTEE DEADLINE: JUNE 4
Today (June 4) is the deadline to volunteer for PEI’s Fall Protection and Working at Heights Committee, which will draft the association’s first safety-focused recommended practice. Information on the committee’s work and committee member requirements can be found in the May 20 TulsaLetter.

To apply, email a summary of your relevant experience, qualifications and interest to Scott Boorse at sboorse@pei.org.

BRIEFLY NOTED
“California’s clean air regulator on Thursday adopted rules to mandate that nearly all trips on Uber’s and Lyft’s ride-hailing platforms have to be in electric vehicles over the next few years, the first such regulation by a U.S. state. … Uber and Lyft said they supported the regulation’s goals but called for more government to aid their many lower and middle-income drivers with the costs for the transition. The rules, adopted through a unanimous vote by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), mandate that EVs account for 90% of ride-hailing vehicle miles traveled by 2030.” — Reuters, May 20

“Industry giant 7-Eleven … said Tuesday it will install 500 direct-current fast charging ports at 250 locations across North America by the end of 2022. These charging stations will be owned and operated by 7-Eleven, as opposed to fuel at its filling stations, which must be purchased from suppliers.” — EQ International, June 2

“A new bill to reform the federal electric car tax incentive in the US has passed the US Senate Finance Committee. … The bill proposes a removal of the 200,000 electric car deliveries per manufacturer cap as expected and replaces it by a three-year phase-out period that is going to be triggered by electric cars reaching a 50% market share of new passenger car sales in the US. It also increases the value of the rebate to up to $12,500, but that’s not for everyone. The $7,500 incentive would stay, but it would be increased to $10,000 for EVs produced in the US and to $12,500 for EVs produced in the US by union workers. It appears to have been crafted specifically to block Tesla’s access to the full incentive since the California-based automaker is one of the rare automakers whose workforce is not controlled by the United Auto Worker (UAW) union.” — electrek, May 27

DEATHS
Sergio Bravo, 89, died May 24. He was the founder and chairman of S. Bravo Systems Inc. and inventor of the “Bravo Box” underground dispenser containment system. Bravo began his career repairing petroleum equipment after moving to the U.S. from Santiago, Chile, in 1960. Survivors include his wife, Gloria; daughters Alejandra, Anamaria and Paola; son-in-law Brad Young; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

PEI MEMBER NEWS
E.J. Ward named Mathew Gilbert northeast regional sales manager. Gilbert brings to Ward 19 years of sales and relationship-building experience. A graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Gilbert resides in Cheshire, Connecticut.

JF Petroleum Group named Carlton Knowles a vice president responsible for leading the merger and integration activities associated with newly acquired companies. Knowles’ 25-year career includes extensive sales and operations experience with OEMs and PEI distributors. He most recently was Veeder Root’s director of distribution sales for the southeastern U.S.

Matrix Capital Markets Group Inc. advised Toms Sierra Co. Inc. on the sale of 13 petroleum marketing and convenience retail stores to an undisclosed buyer.  The stores, which are near Sacramento, California, operate under the Sierra Express brand.

Mid Atlantic Construction and Advanced Fueling Systems announced a merger of their operations. The combined business will serve customers in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Dann Nash will be CEO. Linnie Hiter, David Griffith and Ward Almond will focus on growing the organization’s pump, tank, parts and field service operations.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Kansas testing and installation contractor. AJKB LLC, 14858 S. Summit St., Olathe, KS 66062, applied for service and construction division membership. Arshed Qureshi owns the company, which was established in 2014. AJKB LLC specializes in cathodic protection system testing and installation. Sponsored for PEI membership by Steve Dixon, P.B. Hoidale Co. Inc., Wichita, Kansas. 

Idaho sign company. Lytle Signs Inc., 1925 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, ID 83301, applied for service and construction division membership. J. J. McBride is president of the company, which was established in 1948. Lytle Signs Inc. specializes in custom sign design, manufacturing, installation and service. Sponsored for PEI membership by Mike Hodge, Leonard Petroleum Equipment Co. Inc., Twin Falls, Idaho. www.lytlesigns.com

Florida contractor. Tyson Petroleum Contractors, 5311 Tallapoosa Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303, applied for service and construction division membership. Hunter Tyson owns the firm, which was established in May 2020. Tyson Petroleum Contractors is a construction company specializing in the petroleum equipment industry. Sponsored for PEI membership by Andrew Adams, Adams Tank & Lift Inc., Clearwater, Florida. 

ADMITTED TO PEI

• Hydro Quip Inc., Seekonk, Massachusetts (manufacturer)
• Capstone Headwaters, Denver, Colorado (affiliate)
• Advanced Environmental Technology, Missoula, Montana (service and construction)
• Grupo Volgas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico (affiliate)

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Petroleum Equipment Institute
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The TulsaLetter 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.