SGA Spring Gas Conference and Expo
March 16-19, 2009; Charlotte, NC

Who should plan to attend?

Generally, the target audience for the operations focused workshops is field and supervisor level operating professionals.  Those who get work done through others (supervisors, team leaders, managers, etc.) will benefit from either of the leadership development workshops.  These workshops will be appropriate for both field and office personnel. 

Supervisor and manager level operating professionals will want to attend the Operations Seminar. Engineers will want to attend the Plastic Pipe Seminar.

All marketing professionals will gain a great deal of information and learn new ideas during the Marketing Seminar.

Planning Team - 2009

Chairman: Cedrick Green, South Carolina Electric & Gas, a SCANA Co.

Tucker Bullock, PSNC, a SCANA Company

Jeff McCarter, Sevier County

Tom Hebert, Northern Indiana Public Service Co.

Allen Casstevens, City of Lexington

Ken Broughton, Lancaster County Natural Gas Authority

Don Ferguson, Piedmont

Phil Williams, Piedmont

Jack Cassell, Roanoke Gas Co.

Greg McGlohorn, South Carolina Electric & Gas, a SCANA Co.

John Chapman, Heath Consultants

Bill Dobbins, McJunkin Corp.

Larry Brown, Equipment Controls

Mike Grubb, Southern Gas Association

Bryan Adams, Southern Gas Association

Rodeo Coordinator

Mike Chitwood, Ed Young Sales

Marketing Planning Team:

Chairman: Steve Bowen, PSNC Energy, a SCANA Company

Greg Epting, Piedmont Natural Gas Company

Moe McKee, Columbia Gas Transmission

Don Bonner, Atmos Energy

Dean Starling, PSNC Energy, a SCANA Company

Larry Farthing, SGA

The Program

Below is information from the 2008 program. The 2009 program will be similar in format. Please check back here mid Summer 2008 as we begin to build this program.

Mini LDC

The Expo features a mini LDC system (60' x 120') right on the exhibit floor. From transmission delivery through a city gate, to the end user; see all the equipment that goes into a gas system!

2008 Conference Features

• Operations and Technical Workshops
• Tapping & Stopping Workshop
• Service Tech Fundamentals
• Advanced Locating Techniques
• Traffic Control
• Purging Safety
• Appliances
• Leak Classification
• Static Electricity/Squeeze Off
• Mini LDC Tour
• Service Tech - Advanced
• Incident Investigaton
• Trenching & Shoring

• Engineering
• Plastic Pipe Seminar

• Professional Development Workshops
• Job Replacement Training-Knowledge Transfer
• Conflict Coaching & Intervention-Handling Difficult People

• Marketing Seminar
• Appliance Demonstrations
• Green Building Programs – Energy Star, LEED and National Home Builders Standards
• Gas Supply Update with Gas Price Forecasting
• Get More Value from Your Association - SGA Marketing Programs Update
• Carbon Foot Printing – Does Your Customer Care About Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
• Case Studies – Three Great Sales and Marketing Success Stories You Can Use in Your Business
• Improve Your Sales Skills – Selling to Builders, How it Compares to Selling to the End-User
• Conference Favorite Tom Trively Returns with More Motivational Messaging

• Operations Seminar
• Distribution Integrity Management
• Public Awareness
• Damage Prevention

Professional Development Workshops

Authentic Leader Series

Marketing Seminar

View Marketing Presentations from the 2008 Event

Thursday, March 6 (9:30 am to 5:00 pm); Friday, March 7 (8 to 11:00 am)

Chairman:  Steve Bowen, PSNC Energy

• Appliance Demonstrations
• Green Building Programs – Energy Star, LEED and National Home Builders Standards
• Gas Supply Update with Gas Price Forecasting
• Get More Value from Your Association - SGA Marketing Programs Update
• Carbon Foot Printing – Does Your Customer Care About Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
• Case Studies – Three Great Sales and Marketing Success Stories You Can Use in Your Business
• Improve Your Sales Skills – Selling to Builders, How it Compares to Selling to the End-User
• Conference Favorite Tom Trively Returns with More Motivational Messaging

About the Rodeo Events

Two Man: METER SET- Fastest Time Wins

An assortment of fittings, service regulator, meter and meter gaskets will be available in a tote box. There will be extra fittings in the box that will not be needed. Pipe dope is not required. The meter set must be wrench tight, level and set to National Gas Rodeo standards. Gloves are not required for this event. All participants must raise hands to signal completion of the event.

Teams will be allowed 1 minute prior to the start of the event to arrange fittings and check the meter set box.

If the event is not finished the team will receive the slowest time plus 20 sec. as their score.

There will be a 10-second penalty per infraction for any of the following:

• Loose fittings
• Missing gaskets
• Not built to rodeo standards
• Regulator body not installed correctly
• Valve not in full open position
• No hard hat or if hard hat falls off
• No eye protection or eye protection falls off
• Touching parts before starting whistle
• Throwing items
  

Two Man: PIPE CUT - Fastest Time Wins

A four-inch length piece of 4 inch -.154" wall pipe will be cut. Teams must provide 1 cutter wheel and the cutter (Rigid Model 2A-202). Suggested wheels for cutter are the Rigid Model F-514 wheel (cat. # 33100) or the Reed Model – 2RBS.

The judges will measure the top of the coupon and the team will receive a 10-second penalty for each 1/4 inch the coupon is under or over 4 inches. Teams will not be allowed to use a measuring device. The event is over when the coupon hits the ground.

If the cutter wheels are broken and the team cannot complete the event, the team will be given the slowest team time plus 10 seconds as their score. If the pipe cutters are damaged or broken the team will receive the slowest team time plus 30 seconds as their score.

Note: Pipe will be squared off prior to start of each event, at discretion of Event Judge.

There will be a 10-second penalty per infraction for any of the following:

• Cut coupon: Each 1/4 inch over or under 4 inches.
• Cutter handled by the team prior to the whistle
• No hard hat or if hard hat falls off
• No eye protection or eye protection falls off
• Gloves are not worn

Two Man: Safety/Compliance Jeopardy Event

This event is conducted just like  the game show. Three - two perons teams will compete. Example of categories:

Meter Set Competition:

Technical questions about the rodeo event (rules and format)? 

Mike Chitwood (michael.chitwood@eysco.com)

Websites & Resources

National Gas Rodeo: http://www.midwestenergy.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=106

Exhibit Information

Below is the information from the 2008 program. The 2009 information will be posted here later in 2008. SGA contact is Pat Turman.

Exhibitor Contract

Floor Plan

Sponsorship Information

Freeman Online

• Booth fee of $495 ($795 for non SGA members) includes:
• One 8 ft. x 10 ft. booth with pipe and drape, one table, two chairs, and a Company ID sign.
• One attendee’s conference registration 
• Large Item Demo Booth fee of $895 ($1195 for non SGA members) includes:
• One 8 ft. x 10 ft. booth with pipe and drape, one table, two chairs, and a Company ID sign.
• Adjoining Demonstration area
• Registration for additional personnel is $200 a person ($350 for non members). 
• All booth personnel must register for the Conference.
• Admittance to the exhibit hall and other Conference functions is by badge only.

Helpful Websites

Map of Charlotte
Visit Charlotte
Hilton Hotel
Alternate Hotel (Marriott Courtyard)
Weather

This page updated May 16, 2008