Veeder-Root, a leading provider of hardware and fueling logistics applications, announced the successful completion and re-launch of its annual downstream industry conference, GRAIL. FuelQuest began the annual conference in 2005 which brings together executives, managers, and professionals from retail, distribution, supply, and transportation companies such as 7-Eleven, Chevron Products, Cumberland Farms, Eagle Transport, IPC, J.B. Hunt, Meijer, SC Fuels, Swift Transportation, TAC Energy, truenorth, UPS, Wawa, YRC Worldwide, and others. The conference was held April 14-15 at the Hotel Contessa on San Antonio’s Riverwalk.
Happening over two days, the conference was packed with product training sessions, presentations and panel discussions from industry thought leaders. This year’s keynote address was delivered by Ed Hirs, managing director for Hillhouse Resources, LLC, an independent exploration and production company developing onshore conventional oil and gas on the Gulf Coast. He is also a guest lecturer at the University of Houston. Dominick Chirichella, Sr. Partner with Energy Management Institute also delivered a presentation and the two then participated in an active panel discussion. “I think this year’s industry panel discussion had the most participation that we have seen for many years, with varying viewpoints on when we will see the bottom of the market, but most agreeing the fuel price volatility will remain high” says Scott Cilento, Vice President of Service Operations for Insite360 FuelQuest.
Featured industry leaders presenting or participating in panels at the event included:
- Ed Hirs, Managing Director, Hillhouse Resources
- Dominick Chirichella, Sr. Partner, Energy Management Institute
- Esa Ramasamy, Global Director, Oil Market Development, Platts
- James Burr, Vice President Energy Products, INTL FCStone
- Tim R. Smith, Environmental Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Scott Kennedy, Supply and Transportation Manager, 7-Eleven
- Mike D. Smith, Manager – Procurement, YRC Worldwide
- Ben Sunderlin, General Manager, truenorth energy, LLC
- Heather Killough, VP Business Development, Argus Media
- Chad Wenzel, Vice President of Business Development, Atlas Oil Company
- Steve Morris, Southern Region Manager, Patriot Capital Corporation
- Greg Childers, Director, Global Integration, Navman Wireless
“Although this was our first year to participate, we are looking forward to continuing the GRAIL conference and expanding the focus of the conference in the coming years to truly represent our combined organization,” says Kevin Hughes, Vice President Marketing, Veeder-Root. Kent Reid, Vice President of Strategic Development for Veeder-Root also agrees “This has been a year of transition for the organization but we are excited about our direction and the opportunities ahead; this event is a key vehicle for us to engage with customers, prospects and industry thought leaders.”
This year’s event also saw strong sponsorship participation from the following organizations:
- Mansfield Energy
- US Bank / Mastercard
- IPC USA
- SC Fuels
- Cybera
- Atlas Oil
Other sponsors included Argus, Avalara, Fuel Marketer News, and Platts.
Plans are in the works for the location and specifics for 2016, “We have a number of excellent options that we are considering for next year,” says Hughes.
