Executive Leadership Conference — leading the way in 2006

The Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America, National Petroleum News and Oil Price Information Service will team up to present the 2006 Executive Leadership Conference at Winter Management (formerly known as the Winter Management Conference) in Breckenridge, Colo., January 22-25, 2006. This conference, the first of 2006, is your opportunity to learn amongst industry leaders and prepare for the issues you'll face in the year ahead.

"We're keeping all of the fun of the Winter Management Conference," said SIGMA's Executive Vice President Kenneth Doyle, "while enhancing the education by collaborating with NPN and OPIS to deliver a better meeting for marketer leadership."

Maintaining industry tradition, this meeting is open to a broad-based group within the petroleum industry and will include SIGMA's signatures: education, networking and lively social events. Educational sessions will include an Executive Roundtable series, as well as OPIS, NPN and SIGMA branded workshops on everything from "closely-held" business relations to strategy fundamentals that will carry your business through a new year.

Following last year's popular format, Executive Roundtable participants will tell you how they run their business and how their business segment affects the overall petroleum and convenience store industry. These informative and interactive sessions are attendee's opportunities to learn how industry segment's business strategies affect you and your business most. Confirmed executives include:

• Gilbarco Veeder-Root President Martin Gafinowitz, who will discuss fuel island advancements in equipment and technology.
• Hot Stuff Foods (formerly Orion) President/CEO Des Hague, who will cover the current state of the foodservice segment.
• Royal Buying Group President/CEO Mike Zielinski, who will explain buying group fundamentals.
• Ryko Manufacturing Co. President Scott Clawson, who will discuss the current state of the car wash segment within the convenience and petroleum industry.
• VeraSun CEO Don Endres, also a new SIGMA member, who will give an ethanol market overview.

"We're networking with the executives at major companies and we're providing educational sessions that support their strategic goals for the year," said Todd Phillips, President of Fuel Managers, Inc., and Executive Leadership Conference at Winter Management chairman. "We think the new conference name reflects the focus of the conference-an emphasis on excellence and education through a new collaborative effort among the industry's best organizations and publications."

Other confirmed educational workshops include:

• The U.S. retail market is undergoing some very dynamic changes that Energy Analysts International's President Joe Leto will address during two educational workshops. First, "Retail & Hypermarts Dynamics" will tackle continued advancements in the Hypermarts fuel retailing and other ancillary businesses. Second, "Refining, Logistics and Markets: The New Era" will address the U.S. reliance on foreign crude and product supply. Domestic refining is running at maximum capacity and foreign markets are expanding at a rate that will compete for U.S. incremental supply sources.
  
• Are you a third, fourth or fifth generation marketer? Dr. Mark Green, Director for the Austin Family Business Program at Oregon State University, will discuss how to transition your family business into an effective closely-held business. Green's session will help marketers address the changing generational relationships, non-family relationships and the collective needs of the entire company.

"We're organizing a great meeting," said Phillips. "It's the ideal balance between networking, education and fun! There's nothing better than hitting the slopes with your family after learning how to better deal with issues we face in the industry today."

The Executive Leadership Conference at Winter Management will take place at the Beaver Run Resort, a ski-in ski-out facility with 500 guest rooms, which range from single hotel rooms to four-bedroom condos with full kitchenettes. Check out its facilities online at www.beaverrun.com.

"Plus, Breckenridge is this charming old mining town," said Doyle. "And it's an affordable venue for families."

You won't want to miss this opportunity for a perfect family-friendly getaway and the chance to participate in interactive sessions where you'll learn about the critical issues and challenges that your business will face in 2006. For more information and advanced registration opportunities, please visit the SIGMA web site at www.sigma.org or call (703) 709-7000.

CONFERENCE DETAILS:

Event: 2006 Executive Leadership Conference at Winter Management
Dates: January 22-25
Hotel: Beaver Run Resort
Location: Breckenridge, CO
Information: (703) 709-7000 or http://www.sigma.org/meetings/2006-WMC/index.html