SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California Independent Oil Marketers Association (CIOMA) has announced that it is partnering with the California Service Station & Automotive Repair Association (CSSARA) to strengthen the petroleum marketing and retail voice in California.
For decades, CIOMA and CSSARA have independently provided their members with legislative and regulatory advocacy at the state level.
"In an effort to better serve our members, both boards recognized the importance of coming together to fight for the preservation of small business in California," said Reed Rinehart, 2012 president of CIOMA. "There are so many synergies between our organizations--goals, mission statement, and vision--becoming a united front just makes sense."
According to David Sahagun, past president of CSSARA, "The challenges that small businesses face like out-of-control taxes, mandates and fees, runaway health insurance costs, and the constant needs for capital and other resources are increasing constantly. Having been past President of the San Francisco Small Business Commission I saw these challenges that beset all small business classes. As past President of CSSARA, we considered the best ways to address these same small business challenges, assuring that our membership was provided with quality representation, services and a viable networking structure. We found a relationship with CIOMA as the best possible solution. We look forward to a smooth transition and an exciting future."
Operating under the CIOMA brand, CIOMA will manage the overall day-to-day operations of CSSARA including government relations, membership services, events and education. "We are in the process of reaching out to CSSARA members with a comprehensive member services program--employee benefits, workers’ compensation, property liability insurance, credit-card processing--and we welcome their involvement with event planning, committees and educational retail programming, especially in government relations focus and at the Pacific Oil Conference," said Rinehart.
The Pacific Oil Conference (POC), produced by CIOMA, is an annual trade show and conference program targeting the needs of petroleum marketers and retailers on the west coast. According to Ron Van De Pol, 2012 general chair, "We are thrilled to have CSSARA members join us at POC this year. Our retail workshops provide an excellent educational opportunity for station owners seeking best practices related to theft, credit-card technology and merchandising. Also, we are looking forward to their participation in developing programming with us for 2013."
The POC will be held on Sept. 17-20, 2012, at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nev.
Founded in 1952, CIOMA is the industry’s statewide trade association representing the needs of independent wholesale and retail marketers of gasoline, diesel, lubricating oils and other petroleum products. Its mission is to provide a sustainable environment for legislative and regulatory advocacy, education, networking and member services for the industry.
Since 1959, the Pacific Oil Conference is the longest continually running West Coast industry trade show and conference program specifically targeting the needs of petroleum marketers and retailers.
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