Speaker Line Up
Christine Baran
Fisher Phillips
Christine Baran
Fisher Phillips
Bio coming soon
Speaker Session
Tuesday 9/8 | 1:00PM - 1:50PM | Cabana Ballroom C
Labor Law Update
Reuven Birnkrant
PetroCal Associates
Reuven Birnkrant
PetroCal Associates
Bio coming soon.
Speaker Session
Wednesday 9/9 | 9:00AM - 9:50AM | Cabana Ballroom C
Coffee + Capital
Ashley Bolduc
Cummins & White
Ashley Bolduc
Cummins & White
Ashley Bolduc is a Partner at Cummins & White LLP, where she advises clients on corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and securities matters. She works with business owners and investors to structure, negotiate, and close complex deals, as well as to establish and maintain effective corporate governance. Ashley is known for her practical, business-focused approach, helping clients anticipate risks, strengthen agreements, and successfully execute transactions.
Speaker Session
Wednesday 9/9 | 10:00AM - 10:50AM | Cabana Ballroom C
Before You Buy or Sell: Hidden Issues That Can Derail a Deal and How Experienced Counsel Fixes Them
Alessandra Brichetto
California Fuels + Convenience Alliance
Alessandra Brichetto
Sr. Director, Government Affairs, California Fuels + Convenience Alliance
Alessandra Brichetto is the Senior Director of Government Affairs for the California Fuels & Convenience Alliance, which is the statewide trade association that represents the small, family- and minority-owned businesses in California including fuel marketers, common carriers, and gas station convenience store operators that provide services to nearly every family in California.
Speaker Session
Tuesday 9/8 | 3:00PM - 4:30PM | Ocean Ballroom
CA Update
Colin Calvert
Fisher Phillips
Colin Calvert
Fisher Phillips
Bio coming soon
Speaker Session
Tuesday 9/8 | 1:00PM - 1:50PM | Cabana Ballroom C
Labor Law Update
Thereza Cevidanes
FFG
Thereza Cevidanes
FFG Group
Thereza Cevidanes is a Government Affairs Director at FFG Group, where she represents FFG Group's clients before Congress and federal agencies on the issues that shape the retail fuel industry. Her work spans federal and state policy on energy including clean fuels, transportation, and other issues affecting the retail fuel sector.
Before joining FFG Group, Thereza worked in the Government Affairs practice group at Steptoe LLP and served as Manager of Government Affairs at NATSO, the federal trade association representing travel centers and truck stops. She began her career on Capitol Hill working for a Member of Congress.
Speaker Session
Tuesday 9/8 | 2:00PM - 2:50PM | Ocean Ballroom
Federal Update
Denton Cinquegrana
OPIS
Denton Cinquegrana
Chief Oil Analyst, OPIS
In more than a decade with OPIS, Denton has covered nearly all markets for which OPIS has price discovery. Before being named Chief Oil Analyst, he was Executive Editor for U.S. Refined Products, overseeing day-to-day market coverage operations. During his time as a Markets Editor, his primary focus was on the heavily benchmarked U.S. West Coast. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1997 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Media.
Speaker Session
Thursday 9/10 | 9:00AM - 10:15AM | Ocean Ballroom
KEYNOTE SESSION
A Strategic Outlook On California's Fuel Market
Giuliana Gabriel
CA Employers Association
Giuliana Gabriel
CA Employers Association
Bio coming soon.
Speaker Session
Tuesday 9/8 | 1:00PM - 1:50PM | Cabana Ballroom C
Liability to Asset: Strengthen Cybersecurity through Employee Preparation
Annie Gauthier
St. Romain Oil Company (Y-Not Stop) / NACS Chair
Annie Gauthier
CFO/Co-CEO, St. Romain Oil Company (Y-Not Stop)
2025-2026 NACS Chair
Annie St. Romain Gauthier is Co-CEO & third-generation co-owner at St. Romain Oil Company in Mansura, Louisiana. She earned a BA in British history at LSU and combines her love of history and analytics to chart tomorrow's course from yesterday's lessons. She joined the NACS Board of Directors in 2018, earned the Master of Convenience certification in 2021, and is serving as Chairman of the Board for 2025-26.
Speaker Session
Monday 9/7 | 5:30PM - 7:30PM | The Power Plant
PowerFUEL Women's Network Speaker Panel
Jamie Hess
Dean of Business School, Point Loma
Jamie Hess
Dean of Business School, Point Loma
Jamie Hess is the Dean of the Fermanian School of Business at Point Loma Nazarene University, where she champions the school’s mission of preparing students for business that is “More than the Bottom Line.” With a background spanning higher education, corporate leadership, and nonprofit organizations, she is passionate about developing purpose-driven leaders who can navigate complexity, innovation, and change with integrity. Her work focuses on experiential education, industry partnerships, and helping students connect career success with meaningful impact. In her talk, “Leading with Purpose in a Changing World,” Jamie explores how values-based leadership can equip individuals and organizations to thrive in an era shaped by rapid technological, cultural, and workplace transformation.
Speaker Session
Wednesday 9/9 | 8:00AM - 9:00AM | Carousel Room
Faith + Work (at the Inspirational Prayer Breakfast)
Corey Henriksen
Acquisition & Refinance Capital Inc.
Corey Henriksen
Acquisition & Refinance Capital Inc.
Bio coming soon
Speaker Session
Wednesday 9/9 | 9:00AM - 9:50AM | Cabana Ballroom C
Coffee + Capital
Wendy Hsu
Cummins & White
Wendy Hsu
Cummins & White
Wendy Hsu is a Senior Associate at Cummins & White LLP, advising clients on real estate and corporate transactions, including acquisitions, leasing, and development matters. With both in-house and law firm experience, she brings a practical, business-minded approach to identifying risks early and guiding deals to successful completion.
Speaker Session
Wednesday 9/9 | 10:00AM - 10:50AM | Cabana Ballroom C
Before You Buy or Sell: Hidden Issues That Can Derail a Deal and How Experienced Counsel Fixes Them
Usama Kahf
Fisher Phillips
Usama Kahf
Fisher Phillips
Bio coming soon
Speaker Session
Wednesday 9/9 | 11:00AM - 11:50AM | Cabana Ballroom C
AI Compliance & Regulations
Justin Lee
Ocean Blue
Justin Lee
Ocean Blue
President of Ocean Blue Environmental Services. I manage hazmat cleanup teams all over southern California, working for southern California’s premier hazardous waste generators. I have my class A licenses with tankers/hazmat endorsements. I definitely have a lot of interesting stories to share. For fun, I enjoy cowboy camping outdoors.
Ed Sessions
Wednesday 9/9 | 10:00AM - 11:30AM | Ocean Ballroom
Hazmat Spill Prevention & Response
Angie Martinez
SC Fuels
Angie Martinez
SC Fuels
Angie Martinez is Senior Cardlock Operations Manager at SC Fuels, where she oversees the customer service department. She brings more than three decades of petroleum industry experience spanning operations, customer service, accounting, transportation, and fuel procurement.
Prior to joining SC Fuels following its acquisition of Downs Energy in 2025, Angie spent 21 years with Downs Energy in leadership roles including Controller, Customer Service Manager, Transportation Manager, and Operations Manager. Earlier in her career, she spent 14 years with Chino Valley Fuel, Inc., serving in positions including Assistant Controller and Vice President of Operations.
Angie has served on the Cardlock Conference Committee since 2006 and currently serves as Co-Chair of the CFCA Wholesale Committee.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Cal Poly Pomona and a Master's degree in Management from California Baptist University.
Speaker Session
Monday 9/7 | 5:30PM - 7:30PM | The Power Plant
PowerFUEL Women's Network Speaker Panel
Grecia Maya
Tetra Tech
Grecia Maya
Tetra Tech
Grecia Maya is a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Verifier for CA, WA, and OR and a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Verifier for CA. She has participated in GHG verification for several facilities including but not limited to petroleum refineries, cement processing plants, and electricity generation facilities. She also has experience in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, preparing GHG emissions inventories, and corporate greenhouse gas reporting.
Speaker Session
Wednesday 9/9 | 11:00AM - 11:50AM | Ocean Ballroom
Navigating Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting Requirements
Michael Mische
Professor, USC
Michael Mische
Professor, USC
Michael Mische has been on the faculty of the Marshall School of Business of the University of Southern California since 1997. Mische has over 43-years of management consulting experience. Michael Mische is the author of over 200 papers, and eight books. Mische has worked in a variety of industries and has consulted to a wide range of organizations, including Fortune 1000 companies, major elected officials and heads of state, prominent management consulting firms, and federal, state, local, and foreign governments.
Speaker Session
Wednesday 9/9 | 9:00AM - 9:50AM | Ocean Ballroom
CA Energy 101
Whitney Opperman
Opperman & Son, Inc.
Whitney Opperman
Opperman & Son, Inc.
Whitney Opperman is the General Manager of Opperman & Son, Inc., a fourth-generation family-owned, full-service dealership specializing in heavy-duty trucks, trailers, and tanks. She joined the family business in 2013 as an Inside Sales Representative and now leads the company’s daily operations and strategic growth. Whitney is passionate about upholding Opperman & Son’s core values of quality, service, and integrity while continuing its legacy as a trusted resource in the transportation and petroleum industries.
Speaker Session
Monday 9/7 | 5:30PM - 7:30PM | The Power Plant
PowerFUEL Women's Network Speaker Panel
Dean Rhodes
Federated Insurance
Dean Rhoades
First Vice President Director of Special Projects – Risk Management
Dean graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Georgia and began his career as a field consultant in March of 1987. Dean has held many different roles in Federated’s Field Services Department over the past 38+ years. Assignments included working in the premium audit department as well as working closely with the field services staff to develop risk management strategies for Federated clients. Dean has worked in Atlanta, Phoenix, and at the Home Office in Owatonna, MN. In his current role in Phoenix, he is focused on continuing to enhance the risk management resources Federated has available for their clients. Previously, Dean held the role of Director of Field Services and was responsible for the risk management deliverables for all of Federated’s 46,000+ clients. Dean also served on corporate teams within Federated to focus on the promotion and implementation strategies specific to the property and casualty lines of business.
Speaker Session
Tuesday 9/8 | 1:00PM - 1:50PM | Cabana Ballroom C
Liability to Asset: Strengthen Cybersecurity through Employee Preparation
Gebriel Saleh
California Fuels + Convenience Alliance
Gebriel Saleh
Senior Policy Analyst, Government Affairs, California Fuels + Convenience Alliance
Bio coming soon
Speaker Session
Tuesday 9/8 | 3:00PM - 4:30PM | Ocean Ballroom
CA Update
Jon Taets
NACS
Jon Taets
NACS
Bio coming soon
Speaker Session
Tuesday 9/8 | 2:00PM - 2:50PM | Ocean Ballroom
Federal Update
Andy Webber
Corner Capital
Andy Webber
Corner Capital
Bio coming soon
Speaker Session
Wednesday 9/9 | 9:00AM - 9:50AM | Cabana Ballroom C
Coffee + Capital
Jack Yanos
Sloat, Higgins, Jensen & Associates
Jack Yanos
Sloat, Higgins, Jensen & Associates
Bio coming soon
Speaker Session
Tuesday 9/8 | 3:00PM - 4:30PM | Ocean Ballroom
CA Update
Skip York
Turner Mason & Company
Skip York
Chief Energy Strategist, Turner Mason & Company
Dr. Harold “Skip” York is the Chief Energy Strategist at Turner Mason & Company, an energy consulting firm and also a non-resident fellow for Global Energy in the Center for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. In 2025, Inc. Magazine named him one of the 10 Most Influential Leaders Powering the Future of Energy. He is widely quoted in the media for his insights on strategic directions in the energy industry.
Speaker Session
Thursday 9/10 | 9:00AM - 10:15AM | Ocean Ballroom
KEYNOTE SESSION
A Strategic Outlook On California's Fuel Market
Tony Zieglar
Ascentium Capital
Tony Zieglar
Ascentium Capital
Bio coming soon
Speaker Session
Wednesday 9/9 | 9:00AM - 9:50AM | Cabana Ballroom C
Coffee + Capital