2021 AFPM Annual Meeting Virtual Edition: Annual event closes after two days of quality, impactful content and collaboration
On Tuesday, April 13, the AFPM Annual Meeting Virtual Edition wrapped up two days of valuable virtual events, sessions, shared practices and networking opportunities. Attendees and organizers maintained a focus on sustainability, collaboration, moving forward with positivity and determination despite the COVID-19 pandemic and many recent global setbacks, and “overcoming challenges with character and resilience once again,” according to AFPM President and CEO, Chet Thompson.
From Monday morning’s opening remarks by Joe Gorder, President and CEO, Valero Energy Corp., and Thompson’s President’s Report, to the last session on Tuesday afternoon, the message throughout the virtual event remained consistent.
“The last 12 months have been characterized by unprecedented challenges,” Gorder said, “but we have persevered, as our industries always do. I’m incredibly proud of how our teams responded, coming to work each day and producing the critical products for PPE and frontline supplies used in the fight against COVD-19, and supplying the fuels that enable the delivery of everything we need to sustain our lives during these trying times.”
One of Thompson’s key comments was detailing the incredible events of the past year. “It has been exactly 757 since I last had the opportunity to address this meeting,” Thompson said. “In the days since, I have seen more hardship and loss, more challenges and change than I’ve seen throughout the entirety of my lifetime. COVID-19 not only upended our lives, but it changed our concept of what ‘normal’ is.
Thompson recalled how a lockdown of the country sent the economy into a tailspin, taking the demand for the downstream industries’ products with it. “It’s been 322 days since the death of George Floyd inspired and re-invigorated a movement for racial and social justice; 226 days since Hurricane Laura ripped through the heart of Louisiana refining and petrochemical country, testing our resolve and resiliency once again; 160 days since Americans went to the polls in one of the most contentious elections in modern history; and 96 days since we witnessed rioters storm the Capitol of the U.S., forcing members of Congress and our Vice President into hiding.
“As we meet here in San Antonio, let’s not forget the polar vortex that struck Texas and other parts of the Gulf Coast just 60 days ago, paralyzing the grid and wreaking havoc on our facilities. In many ways, the people sitting in front of me and the people watching virtually have been the anchors during these ‘storms’. All along, you have shown up: essential workers keeping your essential facilities running,” he said, highlighting how the industry has adapted new protocols and processes that have kept personnel and communities safe.
A Monday morning Executive Leadership Panel provided high-level insights into the current environment and future state of the industry. The panel discussion was moderated by Chet Thompson, President and CEO, AFPM, and featured: Mike Jennings, President and CEO, HollyFrontier Corporation; Torkel Rhenman, Executive Vice President, LyondellBasell Industries; Bob Herman, Executive Vice President, Refining, Phillips 66; and Willie Chiang, Chairman and CEO, Plains All American Pipeline, LP.
Women in Industry Reception. Each year, the popular AFPM Women in Industry Reception focuses on empowering women in our industry by creating networking and training opportunities. Attendees can take advantage of opportunities to learn from industry leaders, engage and connect.
This year’s event featured Eboni Monk Adams, Director of Marketing, Advanced Refining Technologies, and author of Leading Wise: Inspirational Reflections for Corporate Leaders.
Sponsored sessions. Several top companies sponsored sessions to inform attendees of their latest products and insights. Sessions included:
- W. R. Grace: The Future of the Most Flexible Refining Process: FCC
- ART Hydroprocessing: Adding value with ART Hydroprocessing Catalyst Technology
- Albemarle: Enabling sustainability: Co-processing biofuels in existing hydrotreaters
- Nalco Water: Bringing shareholder value to the story of sustainability
- Athlon, a Haliburton Service: Chloride salt control for refinery process streams
- Suez – Water Technologies & Solutions: An industry in transition—Ideas to profit from being reliable, digital and sustainable
- BASF: Navigating FCC optimization in a dynamic environment
- Honeywell, UOP: The path forward—The refinery of the future
- Technip Energies: Upgrading the FCC for maximum petrochemicals
- Albemarle Corporation: Bio-feedstocks FCC co-processing: Albemarle’s experience
- Haldor Topsoe: Advancements in vacuum gasoil hydroprocessing
- Sabin Metal Corporation: The carbon negative
Breakout sessions. Several sessions featured key speakers, panels and industry leaders, including, “Putting refinery sustainability into perspective—A practical toolkit for understanding what can be done,” “Investor perspectives: The rise in ESG investing and what it means for the refining and petrochemical industries,” “Diversity and inclusion with Franklin Covey, Unconscious bias,” “Advocacy—Oil markets, refining and the energy transition,” “Operational excellence and culture—Digital transformation: Cultural change and work process design,” and many more.
eDailies. Hydrocarbon Processing again produced the official show daily newspapers (eDailies) and assembled informative articles from some of the top companies in the industry, including: AIS Software, AVEVA, DuPont Clean Technologies, Emerson, Honeywell UOP, KP Engineering, Nalco Water, Opportune, Pinnacle, Rajant, Refinery Automation Institute, Schneider Electric, SUEZ – Water Technologies & Solutions, Sulzer GTC Technology and Wood Mackenzie.
Participating companies. Like in the past, the event drew attendees and participants from AFPM member companies that included the major players in the downstream refining and petrochemicals sectors.
Take a look at the companies that participated in the 2021 AFPM Annual Meeting Virtual Edition:
Advanced Refining Technologies
Albemarle Corporation
ALS Industrial Services
AmSty
Argo, Inc.
Athlon, A Halliburton Service
Atlantic Council
Axens North America
Babst Calland
BASF Corporation
Becht
BNY Mellon Center
BrandSafway
Chemical Engineers
Chemical Engineering
Chevron
Chevron Lummus Global LLC
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
CHS Inc.
CIRCON Environmental
CITGO Petroleum Corporation
ClearView Energy Partners
Climax Molybdenum
CORYS Inc.
Countrymark Cooperative Holding Corporation
Crystaphase
CVR Energy, Inc.
Downstream Advisors, Inc.
Dynamics Scientific Production Center USA, Inc.
Ecolab
Emerson Automation Solutions
Energy News Today
Eurecat U.S. Incorporated
Exxon Mobil Corporation
ExxonMobil Chemical Co.
Fidelity
FiscalNote
Flint Hills Resources, LLC
Fluor Corporation
FranklinCovey
Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC
Haldor Topsoe, Inc.
Health and Safety Council
HollyFrontier Corporation
Honeywell UOP
hte GmbH
Hunt Refining Company
Hydrocarbon Processing
ICF Consulting Group, Inc.
ICIS
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
JCL Safety Services
John Beath Environmental, LLC
Johnson Matthey
KBR
KPMG LLP
Limetree Bay Refining, LLC
Loadstar Product Handling Services, LLC
Lucknow-Highspire Terminals
LyondellBasell Industries
Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Matrix Group International, Inc.
Matrix Service
McDermott
Monroe Energy, LLC
Motiva Enterprises, LLC
Nalco Energy Services
Nalco Water
National Oilwell Varco/Portable Power
Neuberger Berman
Norton Engineering Consultants, Inc.
Par Petroleum LLC
PBF Energy Inc.
Phillips 66
Pilko & Associates, Inc.
Placid Refining Company
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
RBN Energy
Refinery Operations
S&B Engineers and Constructors Ltd.
Shell Catalysts & Technologies LP
Shell Projects and Technology
Sinclair Casper Refining Company
Sinclair Oil Corporation
SLR
Solomon Associates LLC
Stancil & Co.
STARCON International Inc.
SUEZ – Water Technologies & Solutions
Sulzer GTC Technology US Inc.
Team Industrial Services, Inc.
TEAM, Inc.
Technip Energies Process Technology
Total Safety U.S., Inc.
TRC
TRICORD Consulting, LLC
Turner Industries Group, LLC
Turner, Mason & Company
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Valero Energy Corporation
Veolia North America
W. R. Grace & Co.
Wood Mackenzie
Yokogawa
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