2021 CEMA Annual Meeting
Keynotes
Monday, June 14, 2021
9:00 - 10:00
Breakfast - Sponsored by Carlin/Hydrolevel
10:00 - 10:45 am
Here’s What You Need to Know to Sell B20 and Higher
Our fuel will change. We've already eliminated any significant sulfur content. Carbon dioxide is next. Whether through government mandate or policy, this will be inevitable. In this session you'll learn from a marketer and an HVAC expert that there's nothing to be afraid of B20 or even higher blends, including looking at blending, supply, storage, transportation and effects on heating equipment.
Presenters: Rick Bologna, Westmore Fuel and Bob O'Brien, NORA
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Employee Retention Credits: Are You Leaving Money on the Table?
This is one of the last remaining government COVID programs still available to companies. It's often overlooked, but applying for it can get you tens of thousands of federal dollars, if not more.
Presenters: Marty Kirshner, Kelly Berardi, Brad Carlson and Derek Rawls, Gray, Gray & Gray
12:00 - 1:45 pm
Luncheon Sponsored by Inland Fuel Terminals
CEMA Annual Meeting & Awards sponsored by Global Partners LP
with Opening Keynote by Eric Slifka, CEO, Global Partners LP: Project Carbon Freedom
9:00 - 10:00
Breakfast - Sponsored by Carlin/Hydrolevel
10:00 - 10:45 am
Here’s What You Need to Know to Sell B20 and Higher
Our fuel will change. We've already eliminated any significant sulfur content. Carbon dioxide is next. Whether through government mandate or policy, this will be inevitable. In this session you'll learn from a marketer and an HVAC expert that there's nothing to be afraid of B20 or even higher blends, including looking at blending, supply, storage, transportation and effects on heating equipment.
Presenters: Rick Bologna, Westmore Fuel and Bob O'Brien, NORA
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Employee Retention Credits: Are You Leaving Money on the Table?
This is one of the last remaining government COVID programs still available to companies. It's often overlooked, but applying for it can get you tens of thousands of federal dollars, if not more.
Presenters: Marty Kirshner, Kelly Berardi, Brad Carlson and Derek Rawls, Gray, Gray & Gray
12:00 - 1:45 pm
Luncheon Sponsored by Inland Fuel Terminals
CEMA Annual Meeting & Awards sponsored by Global Partners LP
with Opening Keynote by Eric Slifka, CEO, Global Partners LP: Project Carbon Freedom
Project Carbon Freedom is a coalition of American heating fuel distributors in the Northeast and farmers in the Midwest who support the scientific community’s assessment that advanced liquid biofuels are essential in order to quickly, safely, and affordably transition our country to a carbon-free economy. Our vision aligns with the many leading experts who recognize the need for innovative regional solutions that utilize existing assets and infrastructure to ensure an efficient and equitable transition to 100-percent renewable energy by the middle of the 21st century.
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Buying and Selling a Business: Navigating a Deal
Some people believe that the best deal has been struck when both parties are equally unhappy with the outcome. However, we find that a good transaction process with properly managed expectations and reasonable attorneys and advisors can result in both parties walking away feeling like winners. This session will address commonly held misconceptions about deal making, reveal common mistakes by buyers and sellers, describe how structured earn-outs can bridge value perception differences, and how taxes can influence the final transaction terms. Both presenters will share anecdotes about their extensive deal experience and mentally prepare you to navigate some of the more common obstacles to a successful transaction.
Presenters: Steve Abbate and Fred Lord, Cetane Associates.
3:15 - 4:15 pm
Heat Pump Economics – They’re Not All What They’re Cracked Up to Be
In its plan to electrify the economy, the state believes that heat pumps are the solution to reducing carbon emissions from the heating sector. But heat pumps aren't all what they're cracked up to be. In practice, installation can cost many times more expensive than state estimates. Plus they lose efficiency in cold weather and a backup heat source will be needed anyway.
Presenters: Gary Sippin, Sippin Energy and David Sousa, J & A Waterville
5:00 - 6:30 pm
Open Bar Reception sponsored by Reynolds American
Evening: Dinner on Own
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
8:30 - 9:30
Breakfast - Sponsored by Marsh McLennan
9:30 - 10:30 am
Defending Against a Lawsuit
If you haven't already been sued, then you need to know how to defend against lawsuits, from nuisance suits to so-called "nuclear lawsuits." This includes getting your employees prepped for deposition, gathering information during the discovery process, negotiating a settlement, and much more.
Presenters: Joseph Baiocco, Lewis Brisbois law firm, and Hunter McHugh, Federated Insurance
10:45 - 11:45 am
It’s NOT About Big Data - It’s About Small Data
Using technology to customize & optimize each customer
Big data - standard deviations, k-factor groupings, stops per day, etc., the kind of things our software is good at collecting and calculating, are all important and can lead us to global operational improvements. However, the “small data” - the behavior of the individual customers - needs to be more than a contributor to the big data results. Now it can be! Customer behavior is something big tech companies are very good at doing. You know who they are. And now it’s what we need to be doing - learn from big data & use machine learning to take the lessons to the individual customers, to improve their experience, increase their value to us, and also their customer loyalty.
Presenter: Mark Bloom, Angus Energy
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Closing Luncheon - Sponsored by Destwin
Keynote: Rob Underwood, CEO Energy Marketers of America "Federal Legislative and Regulatory Issues"
CT Legislative Update - Chris Herb, CEMA
Joe Sculley, CEO Motor Transport Association: New Truck Tax
Buying and Selling a Business: Navigating a Deal
Some people believe that the best deal has been struck when both parties are equally unhappy with the outcome. However, we find that a good transaction process with properly managed expectations and reasonable attorneys and advisors can result in both parties walking away feeling like winners. This session will address commonly held misconceptions about deal making, reveal common mistakes by buyers and sellers, describe how structured earn-outs can bridge value perception differences, and how taxes can influence the final transaction terms. Both presenters will share anecdotes about their extensive deal experience and mentally prepare you to navigate some of the more common obstacles to a successful transaction.
Presenters: Steve Abbate and Fred Lord, Cetane Associates.
3:15 - 4:15 pm
Heat Pump Economics – They’re Not All What They’re Cracked Up to Be
In its plan to electrify the economy, the state believes that heat pumps are the solution to reducing carbon emissions from the heating sector. But heat pumps aren't all what they're cracked up to be. In practice, installation can cost many times more expensive than state estimates. Plus they lose efficiency in cold weather and a backup heat source will be needed anyway.
Presenters: Gary Sippin, Sippin Energy and David Sousa, J & A Waterville
5:00 - 6:30 pm
Open Bar Reception sponsored by Reynolds American
Evening: Dinner on Own
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
8:30 - 9:30
Breakfast - Sponsored by Marsh McLennan
9:30 - 10:30 am
Defending Against a Lawsuit
If you haven't already been sued, then you need to know how to defend against lawsuits, from nuisance suits to so-called "nuclear lawsuits." This includes getting your employees prepped for deposition, gathering information during the discovery process, negotiating a settlement, and much more.
Presenters: Joseph Baiocco, Lewis Brisbois law firm, and Hunter McHugh, Federated Insurance
10:45 - 11:45 am
It’s NOT About Big Data - It’s About Small Data
Using technology to customize & optimize each customer
Big data - standard deviations, k-factor groupings, stops per day, etc., the kind of things our software is good at collecting and calculating, are all important and can lead us to global operational improvements. However, the “small data” - the behavior of the individual customers - needs to be more than a contributor to the big data results. Now it can be! Customer behavior is something big tech companies are very good at doing. You know who they are. And now it’s what we need to be doing - learn from big data & use machine learning to take the lessons to the individual customers, to improve their experience, increase their value to us, and also their customer loyalty.
Presenter: Mark Bloom, Angus Energy
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Closing Luncheon - Sponsored by Destwin
Keynote: Rob Underwood, CEO Energy Marketers of America "Federal Legislative and Regulatory Issues"
CT Legislative Update - Chris Herb, CEMA
Joe Sculley, CEO Motor Transport Association: New Truck Tax
All times are approximate
Because of COVID, breakfasts are boxed breakfasts, and lunches are sit-down plated lunches (no buffets).
Session descriptions and presenters may be edited and changed without notice.
Because of COVID, breakfasts are boxed breakfasts, and lunches are sit-down plated lunches (no buffets).
Session descriptions and presenters may be edited and changed without notice.
Dining Options
After the reception Monday evening from 5:00 - 6:30, sponsored by Reynolds American, you can enjoy the rest of the evening with dining on your own or with friends and colleagues. Mohegan Sun has dozens of dining options. Here are a few of them. Just click on the logos to be taken to the websites of the restaurants. Reservations are recommended for most restaurants, except for casual dining or fast food restaurants.
To see all dining options, please click HERE.
SAVE THE DATE
CEMA Golf Outing Sep. 20
TPC River Highlands
Site of the annual PGA Travelers Championship. Featuring an entirely new clubhouse, built to pro-golfer standards. Details will be forthcoming after the Annual Meeting on the CEMA Golf Outing website. In the meantime you can bookmark the website HERE.