About Study Groups

The fuel distribution industry is under increasing competitive pressure with MLPs, private-equity groups and publicly-traded companies continuing to aggressively grab market share.

With these larger, deep-pocketed competitors on the rise and petroleum consumption expected to decline long term, independent petroleum marketers are being squeezed.

For over 30 years we have been helping independent petroleum marketers like you share ideas and tap into the power of peer-to-peer sharing and financial benchmarking. Let us work with you to see if one of our over 50 Study Groups would be a good fit for you.

ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

How often are Study Group meetings?

Meetings are held two to three times per year and last approximately two days. Each group decides together how often to meet and the length of each meeting. Meeting locations usually rotate geographically and are decided by the members.

How many members does a Study Group have?

Each group has a different desired size, but most groups are between 8 and 20 members.

What does a typical Study Group meeting look like?

Every group has their own variations on how they conduct a meeting, but generally a meeting includes:

• – Approximately 12 hours of total meeting time spread over a couple of days
• – Group meals together to network and enjoy each other’s company
• – Each member has the opportunity to share the issues pertinent and pressing for them
• – A chance to explore a special topic with a deep dive by members or a guest speaker
• – Review of the benchmarked financial reports submitted by each member and in the Study Groups comparative format, including comparisons to national and other aggregate averages
• – Some meetings are hosted by members and those often include site visits and tours
• – A sharing of best ideas brought by each member

Each meeting is run by one of our professional facilitators to keep the meeting moving and organized with the intention of maximizing the value for you.

What are the qualifications to be a Study Group member?

To be considered as a member for a specific Study Group, potential members must:

• – Fit the profile for the group they are applying for (CEO, CFO, Operations, etc.).
• – Be willing to attend and contribute ideas and experience at a meeting
• – Be elected by the current members
• – Not be a competitor with any of the other members of the group

How does the financial reporting work?

Each member submits financial and operational information on a monthly basis to Study Groups. We compile a monthly composite of comparative statistics for each firm as well as aggregate Study Group and national indexes and send those to group members on a monthly basis.

When you join Study Groups we work with you to map your financial data into our template and then give you tools to make the monthly reporting as quick and easy as possible for you.

Members also have access to the Study Groups online database where they can compare their financial information against other members and custom benchmarks as well as generate comparative graphs.

What is the cost to join a Study Group?

How do I join?

Joining a Study Group is a simple three step process:

1. Click the “Join a Study Group” button on this page to send us your contact information.
2. We contact you to learn more about your business and help you find a group that is a good fit
3. Visit a meeting of that Study Group as a prospective member to verify the Study Group is something that will add value and something you want to participate in. After the meeting the group has the option of extending you an invitation of ongoing membership.

TYPES OF STUDY GROUPS