APMA Annual Conference and Golf Tournament

Conference Speaker Resources

Conference Program

PAC Donations

Federal Issues Update, by Rob Underwood, Energy Marketers of America

Keynote Address – John Choate, SA-720 Strategies

State Legislative Issues Panel, by LeeAnn Goheen, NATSO, Mike Williams, Williams & Associates, Donna Golshan, Altria Group and Amanda Gray, APMA

Driving Safety by Sam Moore, Federated Insurance

Drawdown and Keynote Speaker Top Conference Highlights

By APMA Staff

 

CONFERENCE

On Monday, September 11 and Tuesday, September 12, APMA members gathered at the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff for the association’s Annual Conference.  The Event’s theme was APMA United.

The conference opened with a welcome reception on the East Lawn under strings of patio lights. PAC Auction items lined the tables as attendees networked. Snacks, drinks and sales for the Drawdown Raffle were the other areas of focus for the picture perfect evening.

An array of silent auction prizes included tickets to the Phoenix Suns, VIP seats to Tina at ASU Gammage Auditorium, a range finder, turquoise jewelry set, inflatable kayak, soundbar and subwoofer, smudge pot, golf foursome, premium cigar package, GPS speaker, whisky basket and one sad suitcase.  Thanks to Bell Bank, En Tech, Bowlin Travel Centers, Offen Petroleum, HF Sinclair, Superpumper, Smudge Pot Direct, AFMA, Aspen Valley Golf Club and Strategic Value Media for their donations.

APMA President Josh Kinsey with Offen Petroleum welcomed attendees and thanked the sponsors who made the event possible.

Revenues from the silent auction were split between APMA PAC and EMA SBC PAC.  With all of the support at the Conference, APMA has achieved both its state and federal PAC goals for the year!

Monday morning’s education sessions opened after breakfast.  Mr. Kinsey opened the meeting and APMA Vice President and Conference Chair Chris Olson with Superpumper explained the schedule for the day.

Energy Marketers of America President Rob Underwood traveled from the East Coast to give an update on federal issues, ongoing legal challenges and agency actions. He encouraged support for the EMA PAC and Marketers Defense Fund.

Keynote speaker John Choate with SA-720 Strategies gave a lively and engaging talk about his experiences with teamwork as a Navy SEAL.

Julie Ely with Reynolds conducted a networking activity where participants had to get up and move from one side of the room to the other in answer to various questions posted in the slide deck.  From who has held a hedgehog before to who would want to be President of the United States (APMA Lobbyist Mike Williams was the only taker), participants got to know a little about one another.

A state legislative issues panel highlighted the three central issues at the top of the association’s priority list.  Amanda Gray with APMA facilitated the discussion with three experts:

  • LeeAnn Goheen with NATSO highlighting reforms needed to incentivize private sector investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure ,
  • Donna Golshan with Altria Group highlighting federal, state and local tobacco and vapor policies, and
  • Mike Williams with Williams & Associates highlighting fuel theft using pulser manipulation devices.

After attendees sampled from the lunch buffet, Sam Moore with Federated Insurance presented on the topic selected by the APMA Safety Committee.  Driving safety remains a top concern for employers and all drivers.

Attendees then enjoyed an afternoon at leisure to connect with colleagues, explore the pines, or catch up on emails and calls.  One group of cyclists rode Mount Eldin and spotted a black bear on the trail!

In the evening, the group gathered again for the Networking Reception and Signature Dinner.

The Conference Committee sold out the Drawdown Board with all 125 positions claimed, ensuring the full $1500 cash prize was available for the winner(s).

Big thanks to Vonna Maka with Offen Petroleum and Alyssa Williams with Williams & Associates for all of their help with running the registration, selling drawdown positions, and much much more.

Mitch Strohman, the voice of Northern Arizona University football and basketball, emceed the first ever APMA PAC Drawdown Raffle.

Mr. Kinsey presented the Member of the Year Award to Jess Miller with Miller Oil and Diamond Trucking.  Mr. Olson announced winners of the silent auction prizes.  Mrs. Gray gave an update on the APMA Scholarship Program. Several consolation prizes went out to those who did not win big in the drawdown.  John Kennedy with En Tech, Tracy Gahan with Caljet and Mark Luitweiler with Offen Petroleum each took home a $50 gift card but not the big prize money.

When the drawdown came down to the final ten numbers, each remaining contestant was present and came up to the front of the room.  The option was presented to split the pot, but unanimous consent was rejected over and over.  In the end, the pot was split between the final two contestants – Nate Stumpf with HTP Energy and PJ Miller with Miller Oil and Diamond Trucking.  Each of them snagged $750 cash.

At the end of dinner, the conference concluded.

 

GOLF TOURNAMENT

After glowing feedback following last year’s event, the Golf Tournament returned to Aspen Valley Golf Club on Wednesday, September 13.

The weather was lovely and mild with a 10:30 am shotgun start and a full field of 120 golfers registered.

Golf goodie bags and boxed lunches were waiting on carts.

Peter Jolley and Brenin Brooks with Supreme Oil enjoyed their ride in the Golden Golf Cart and premium 1A starting position, a prize from the PAC Auction courtesy of Trevor Davis from Supreme Oil.

Lots of deer including fawns, does and bucks were spotted on the course.  Sponsor signs covered every hole on the course.

Two short lightning delays brought players in to shelter.  (A first in the past decade of playing in Northern Arizona courses!)

The two teams from JF Petro Group took home top and bottom positions in the final standings.

Howard Smith, Ron Trengrove, Denise Anderson and Pual Tucker brought home bragging rights and golf shop merchandise as the winning team.  Denise Anderson with Circle K tripled down by also snagging women’s long drive and closest to the pin prizes.

Chris Olson claimed the prize for his teammates Colby Stringham, Marek Friederich and Jason Davis as fifth position overall.

John Dawdy and Allen Douglass claimed moral victory as the most honest team.

More than 20 raffle prizes went home with lucky winners.

THANKS

These events would not be possible without the work of the Conference Committee: Desirae Outcalt with Bell Bank (who was there in spirit), Vonna Maka and Josh Kinsey with Offen Petroleum, and Chair Chris Olson with Superpumper.

Credit where due, Tyler Herzog with Miller Oil provided the connection to the outstanding keynote speaker and Steve Gray with Caljet manufactured the drawdown raffle spreadsheet that worked flawlessly.

The outstanding line up of sponsors for the Conference and Golf Tournament help make all of APMA’s work possible.

Thank you to all attendees and supporters of the association!

We hope to see you again next year – date and place pending.