Your customers may be panicked about the cost of home heating.  They’re afraid of the unknown - of rising energy prices. With fear of the unknown comes to impulse to flee – and for heating oil retailers, this means consumers potentially converting to natural gas.  But don’t panic!  ICPA will show you how to get a handle on this situation and turn consumer fear into an opportunity.  We need to start NOW - waiting until spring get up to speed will be TOO LATE.
 
At this informative training session, you will:

• Learn how you, your customer service people and your service techs can explain why oilheat is less expensive than natural gas. 
• Learn how to explain to your customers that if they really want to save money today, they can do so through conservation measures.
• Learn how to show customers that converting to gas is a poor investment.  
• Learn how your service techs can become energy conservation technicians, advising your customers on how they can become more energy efficient and save money. 

Register Here

This briefing will be conducted by the top national expert on temperature correction for petroleum products, Ross Anderson of the NY Bureau of Weights and Measures.  It is an introduction to temperature correction specifically for heating oil retailers.  You will understand how temperature correction works and why it is used to correct for expanding and contracting fuel oil volumes due to temperature; how to evaluate wholesalers who correct for temperature and those who use a shrinkage factor instead of temperature correcting; and your options in selling temperature corrected fuel oil to your customers.

Register Here  

This timely one hour briefing next week will give you plenty of time to file your Tier II reporting forms by the end of the month. Bill Drouin, a certified hazardous materials manager with Apex Companies, will show you how to fill out in detail the Tier II reporting form. This form must be files by all petroleum marketers who have more than 1,400 gallons of fuel oil storage. You will also learn how to file this form electronically.

REGISTER HERE

Planned Hedging – How It Creates Value to Retain Customers

With volatile energy prices, consumers are looking for peace of mind.  It will only come from companies that understand how to keep their customers’ prices under control through a planned hedging program.  This basic training from Angus Energy’s George Wilson and Mark Bloom will show you different tools you can use to set up price protection plans, and ways in which you can market the benefits of price protection to help retain your customers as long-term automatic delivery clients.  The program will also discuss weather hedging, and how you can protect your bottom line regardless of how many gallons you sell.  To register, call ICPA at 860-613-2041, or register online at:

REGISTER HERE

USTs - Compliance, Inspections & Enforcement for Service Stations-Session 1

The focus of this program will be on DEP inspections of Underground Storage Tanks at service stations. The presenters will lead participants through a detailed list of what inspectors are looking for, covering the most frequently cited faults. The training is geared for service station managers and corporate compliance managers.  Presenters include David Lis, Charles Rogoff, and Bill Drouin from Apex Companies. Plus there will be on display a variety of UST parts and equipment, courtesy of Service Station Equipment, so that attendees can visualize what exactly is being discussed.  This program will be offered twice for your scheduling convenience. 

REGISTER HERE

USTs - Compliance, Inspections & Enforcement for Service Stations-Session 2

The focus of this program will be on DEP inspections of Underground Storage Tanks at service stations. The presenters will lead participants through a detailed list of what inspectors are looking for, covering the most frequently cited faults. The training is geared for service station managers and corporate compliance managers.  Presenters include David Lis, Charles Rogoff, and Bill Drouin from Apex Companies. Plus there will be on display a variety of UST parts and equipment, courtesy of Service Station Equipment, so that attendees can visualize what exactly is being discussed.  This program will be offered twice for your scheduling convenience. 

REGISTER HERE

All drivers who transport petroleum products require HAZMAT training under DOT regs.  Any employee who is at risk for coming into physical contact with petroleum products (including service techs) needs to have annual HAZMAT training under OSHA regs.  This training is of two types: Awareness level for those who simply are at risk of contact with hazardous materials; and Operations level for those who have to respond to spills and who may need to clean up small releases.  These offerings will be held at the ICPA offices on the following dates and will be conducted by DOT/OSHA expert Gary LaBrake:

REGISTER HERE

Your customers may be panicked about the cost of home heating.  They’re afraid of the unknown - of rising energy prices. With fear of the unknown comes to impulse to flee – and for heating oil retailers, this means consumers potentially converting to natural gas.  But don’t panic!  ICPA will show you how to get a handle on this situation and turn consumer fear into an opportunity.  
 
At this informative training session, you will:

• Learn how you, your customer service people and your service techs can explain why oilheat is less expensive than natural gas. 
• Learn how to explain to your customers that if they really want to save money today, they can do so through conservation measures.
• Learn how to show customers that converting to gas is a poor investment.  
• Learn how your service techs can become energy conservation technicians, advising your customers on how they can become more energy efficient and save money. 

Register Here

This seminar will help you prevent fines and tickets at the weigh scales or when your trucks are pulled over by the state police or when you are audited by DOT.  Presenter Gary LaBrake will discuss driver documentation, vehicle documentation, checklist of what DMV and the state police are looking for, hours of service, truck weights, and fire marshal annual inspections.  Amy Emonds and Scott Mogensen of Foley Services will address DOT inspections including your maintenance of driver records, accident records, vehicle documentation, and drug and alcohol programs.

Register Here

All drivers who transport petroleum products require HAZMAT training under DOT regs.  Any employee who is at risk for coming into physical contact with petroleum products (including service techs) needs to have annual HAZMAT training under OSHA regs.  This training is of two types: Awareness level for those who simply are at risk of contact with hazardous materials; and Operations level for those who have to respond to spills and who may need to clean up small releases.  These offerings will be held at the ICPA offices on the following dates and will be conducted by DOT/OSHA expert Gary LaBrake:

REGISTER HERE

All drivers who transport petroleum products require HAZMAT training under DOT regs.  Any employee who is at risk for coming into physical contact with petroleum products (including service techs) needs to have annual HAZMAT training under OSHA regs.  This training is of two types: Awareness level for those who simply are at risk of contact with hazardous materials; and Operations level for those who have to respond to spills and who may need to clean up small releases.  These offerings will be held at the ICPA offices on the following dates and will be conducted by DOT/OSHA expert Gary LaBrake:

REGISTER HERE

All drivers who transport petroleum products require HAZMAT training under DOT regs.  Any employee who is at risk for coming into physical contact with petroleum products (including service techs) needs to have annual HAZMAT training under OSHA regs.  This training is of two types: Awareness level for those who simply are at risk of contact with hazardous materials; and Operations level for those who have to respond to spills and who may need to clean up small releases.  These offerings will be held at the ICPA offices on the following dates and will be conducted by DOT/OSHA expert Gary LaBrake:

REGISTER HERE

All drivers who transport petroleum products require HAZMAT training under DOT regs.  Any employee who is at risk for coming into physical contact with petroleum products (including service techs) needs to have annual HAZMAT training under OSHA regs.  This training is of two types: Awareness level for those who simply are at risk of contact with hazardous materials; and Operations level for those who have to respond to spills and who may need to clean up small releases.  These offerings will be held at the ICPA offices on the following dates and will be conducted by DOT/OSHA expert Gary LaBrake:

REGISTER HERE

If you are already comfortable with the ideas of longs & shorts and and regularly use call & put options, then you’ll want to attend this special training to get to the next level. This is particularly timely for dealers who might have storage; who want to know when should to buy; and whether futures contracts be used or should the dealer simply lock in with a supplier. We'll be talking about:

Overcoming Basis Risk - Using NYMEX-Cleared Swaps - Technical Analysis: to address the critical question of WHEN TO BUY - New Option Plays: especially for dealers with storage and for those looking at hedging gasoline or diesel

The presenter is Alan H. Levine who has been working in the oil industry since 1969. He was a consultant to NYMEX in 1977 when the heating oil contract first was traded. He has been helping dealers ever since, working at one of the country's largest financial/trading institutions.

REGISTER HERE

The old model of service delivery focused on technical problem-solving and preventive maintenance.  Service was often sold on the basis that if a customer didn’t buy a service plan, or didn’t install new equipment, something catastrophic would happen to their system.  Well, with consumers focused on the price of oil, these are risks they are now willing to take, and we’ve seen service work decline this season as a result.  In this seminar, a new model for service delivery will be discussed.  With consumers concerned about rising energy costs, this model makes your service department their ally in finding ways to reduce cost and save money.  It’s all about saving your customers money.  It’s a positive message.  It puts you on the same side as your customers, not in an adversarial position.  And it’s done through promoting conservation.  In this context we’ll be discussing:

Energy Conservation and Saving Your Customers Money - The NORA Fuel Savings Calculator - Being Green (reducing your customers’ carbon footprint – How to Conduct Energy Audits -[a] stop selling fear, start selling hope [b] these aren't service technicians anymore who are needed because things break down all the time - these are energy conservation technicians whose life work is evaluating heating systems and making them run at maximum efficiency, [c] these energy conservation technicians are rated 2nd to only Consumer Reports among CT consumers for their trust in receiving energy issue messages - recast these professionals as energy conservation techs and use their credibility among consumers to your advantage. [d] you need this reincarnation now as there isn't a consumer survey anywhere that shows today's consumers regard service as a determining factor in what fuel they use - but energy conservation is among the very highest of consumer concerns.

The presenter will be Bob Hedden, an oilheat consultant and educator for more than 35 years, and the NORA senior project manager for research and education.

REGISTER HERE

June 11, 2008, 9 AM – 12 PM, ICPA Offices, Cromwell

ICPA frequently receives inquiries regarding human resources legal questions.  This is an ever-changing, highly-regulated field.  Even large oil retailers do not have full-time HR specialists on board.  This session will cover basic HR laws and regulations small and medium-sized companies need to know, as well as cover any new developments since the last time we covered this subject at the Oil MBA in 2004.  Among the topics to be discussed will be:

Minimum Wage Laws; Overtime Issues; What Constitutes Hours Worked; Child Labor; Fair Labor Standards Act, State and Federal; Driver Exemptions; Workers’ Compensation Regulations; Return to Work Policies; Hiring New Employees: Background Checks, Pre-Employment Checks, Evaluating Candidates; Orientation; Drug Testing; Complaints, Discipline, and Termination; COBRA; Discrimination and Civil Rights; Leaves of Absance, FMLA; Use of Company Vehicles; Workplace Violence, Drugs, Alcohol; Employee Handbooks; ERISA and Laws Regulating Employee Benefits

Presenters include HR Attorney Robert Noonan and Joe Bucci, CPA, a benefits consultant from Group Benefits Administrators of CT.

REGISTER HERE

June 12, 2008, 9 AM – 12 PM, ICPA Offices, Cromwell

Just about everyone has a website. But is it doing anything for you? Is it generating business? Are you getting more leads?  What kind of return are you getting on your investment in your website? You can bet the technology leaders in our industry are making money from their websites.  Learn from Primedia how you can make money too in this non-technical, marketing-driven training.  Topic covered include:

The Elements of Effective Web Site Design (You only have one chance to make a good impression) – Search Engine Strategies – Form vs. Function (including onlline credit applications, agreements, dynamic price updates, live instant help, E-commerce) – Web-Mapping Strategies (value-added services, personalization) – Tracking ROI (are you making money from your web site?)

The presenters include a team from Primedia: Rich Rutigliano, president; John Bruno, creative director; Mark Demofsky, web architect; David Heiser, client services; Alex Izzo, client services.

REGISTER HERE

   is a                              testing. $160 per applicant

This program focuses on receivables management and is intended for owners of companies and managers responsible for receivables. In the past, ICPA’s collections seminars have focused on collection techniques. They were geared towards your customer service staff making the actual calls. This year, we’ve assembled a team of presenters in the fields of collections, accounting, legal action, and IT who will present on collections strategies and on receivables management, plus a panel of marketers who will share their experiences.  You will learn how to use ratio analysis to identify potential collection issues.  You will learn about the pros and cons of using a third party collection agency.  You will learn how to navigate through the court system, from preparing your case to judgments.  You will learn how your receivables impact your credit lines, and how improving their aging can help you obtain needed financing.

REGISTER HERE

Effective Oct 15 in New London , then rolling out to New Haven and Bridgeport on Dec. 1, ports will require drivers to have the new federal I.D.s called T.W.I.C. to access secure areas, including fuel terminals located there. This means your drivers will need these new I.D. cards to pick up product at these ports. These new I.D.s will require security clearance and criminal background checks with fingerprinting. This is a completely separate background check from the ones your drivers undergo for their HAZMAT CDL renewals. This program is administered by the Dept. of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard. In this presentation, you will learn how to apply for a TWIC card, where to go, how to pre-apply on the Internet, and find out if discounts apply for drivers who already have HAZMAT CDLs.  Port Security Specialist Rodger L. Guest of the U.S. Coast Guard will conduct this training.

REGISTER HERE

DOT HAZMAT certification includes training on transportation of hazardous materials, shipping papers, and Homeland Security requirements.  OSHA certification includes training at the Awareness and Operations levels.  Awareness level certification applies to any employee who may come into contact with hazardous materials and needs to know how to take defensive actions.  Operations level certification trains employees who need to know how to clean up (dam, dike, divert) small releases. 

REGISTER HERE

DOT HAZMAT certification includes training on transportation of hazardous materials, shipping papers, and Homeland Security requirements.  OSHA certification includes training at the Awareness and Operations levels.  Awareness level certification applies to any employee who may come into contact with hazardous materials and needs to know how to take defensive actions.  Operations level certification trains employees who need to know how to clean up (dam, dike, divert) small releases. 

REGISTER HERE

DOT HAZMAT certification includes training on transportation of hazardous materials, shipping papers, and Homeland Security requirements.  OSHA certification includes training at the Awareness and Operations levels.  Awareness level certification applies to any employee who may come into contact with hazardous materials and needs to know how to take defensive actions.  Operations level certification trains employees who need to know how to clean up (dam, dike, divert) small releases. 

REGISTER HERE

DOT HAZMAT certification includes training on transportation of hazardous materials, shipping papers, and Homeland Security requirements.  OSHA certification includes training at the Awareness and Operations levels.  Awareness level certification applies to any employee who may come into contact with hazardous materials and needs to know how to take defensive actions.  Operations level certification trains employees who need to know how to clean up (dam, dike, divert) small releases. 

REGISTER HERE

DOT HAZMAT certification includes training on transportation of hazardous materials, shipping papers, and Homeland Security requirements.  OSHA certification includes training at the Awareness and Operations levels.  Awareness level certification applies to any employee who may come into contact with hazardous materials and needs to know how to take defensive actions.  Operations level certification trains employees who need to know how to clean up (dam, dike, divert) small releases. 

REGISTER HERE

DOT HAZMAT certification includes training on transportation of hazardous materials, shipping papers, and Homeland Security requirements.  OSHA certification includes training at the Awareness and Operations levels.  Awareness level certification applies to any employee who may come into contact with hazardous materials and needs to know how to take defensive actions.  Operations level certification trains employees who need to know how to clean up (dam, dike, divert) small releases. 

REGISTER HERE

DOT HAZMAT certification includes training on transportation of hazardous materials, shipping papers, and Homeland Security requirements.  OSHA certification includes training at the Awareness and Operations levels.  Awareness level certification applies to any employee who may come into contact with hazardous materials and needs to know how to take defensive actions.  Operations level certification trains employees who need to know how to clean up (dam, dike, divert) small releases. 

REGISTER HERE