I am now just about halfway through my term as SIGMA President – it is hard to believe. Time flies! At this middle mark, I thought it would be nice to share all that we have accomplished so far, as well as a look ahead.
It has been a busy year. SIGMA introduced its new online learning platform, SIGMA University, and its first course, Fuel Buying Best Practices, has been a hit. If you haven’t looked at it yet, I encourage you to do so. It’s a great tool that’s appropriate for new fuel industry professionals, employee onboarding, or anyone needing an update on the ever-changing fuel market.
SIGMA also debuted a quarterly webinar series that is free to SIGMA members. In the first quarter, we heard from Walter Zimmerman at ICAP Technical Analysis provided a 100-day recap of the new Administration. In the second quarter, Robert Spendlove at Zion’s Bank gave a preview of gasoline markets. Most recently Patrick De Haan at GasBuddy shared his take on the Winter Fuel Outlook. We will round out the year with one in December. That topic is still under development, so watch for it in the coming months. These webinars are on timely topics of interest to all fuel industry stakeholders and best of all, you can participate from your desk with no need to travel.
Another exciting new venture is what you are reading right now – SIGMA’s new, digital version of IGM magazine. We are thrilled to be able to reach many more people than the hard copy magazine was able to. Plus, with the new format, we can incorporate video and other exciting features that are not possible in a printed publication. Be on the lookout for more interactive content as we move into 2026.
And, as always, we had some pretty spectacular conferences. We kicked off 2025 with the SIGMA Winter Conference in Vail, followed by the Spring Conference in Scottsdale, and the Annual Conference in Nashville. Next year’s conference line up includes the Winter Conference in Steamboat Springs, the Spring Conference at the Ritz Carlton Las Colinas in Irving, Texas, and then the Annual Conference at the Diplomat in Hollywood, FLORIDA – not California. I am personally looking forward to all three, and as an Ohioan, I am particularly pleased that we have a warm weather location for the Annual Conference in November!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the SIGMA Summer Legislative Conference and Day on the Hill in July. Although we won’t have the exact dates until the 2026 congressional calendar is released, it will be either the second or third week of July, and it is important for as many SIGMA companies to send members of their team to educate Congress on SIGMA’s priority issues. Make a point to put it on your radar now as you plan your 2026 activities.
SIGMA University will continue to expand its offerings in 2026 as well. Scott and the SIGMA team are working hard on the second course, which is slotted for early in the year. Additional courses will follow creating a robust library of education as we continue to build on our strong foundation.
Whew, that is a pretty strong list of SIGMA achievements in 2025, with plenty to look forward to in 2026. Our association is strong and continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of you, its members. I am excited to see what SIGMA comes up with next – and I hope to see you at a SIGMA event in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Matt Ports, Ports Petroleum CompanySIGMA President
