Dear business and industry friends, welcome to our April 2015 31st anniversary issue of BIC Magazine. All of us enjoy walking down memory lane when it comes to thinking about favorite birthdays and events of the past, especially those of our family, loved ones and friends. For those of us here at BIC Alliance (The Business & Industry Communication Alliance), parent company of BIC Magazine, and our 300-plus marketing partners and nearly 100,000 readers of BIC Magazine, many of our favorite memories and friendships go back into the early 1940s-1960s when we went to school, college and/or the armed forces together before going to work in business and industry.
When we went to school, even though many of our grandparents and parents worked in the energy sectors, most of us didn’t even know the difference between upstream (drilling and exploration), midstream (maritime and pipelines), downstream (terminals, refining and chemical), power generation, pulp and paper, and construction. Over the years and even today, those of us who enter these different sectors of business and industry must understand what the term multi-industry means and appreciate how these various sectors of industry are all connected to help grow our economy.
But learning how the six to eight different sectors are connected in the energy, power generation, and pulp and paper industry is not all we have to learn. We, like those before us, must also learn and keep up with what is going on in the 15 to 18 different departments within a company like the executives, construction, maintenance, plant/site management, operations, inspection, purchasing/procurement, HS&E, engineering, utilities/electrical, security, project management, human resources, and emergency response and fire rescue and how all of these departments must be connected to run a safe, clean and profitable facility or company. In addition, those of us who own, manage and/or help run these various sectors and departments must also know and be able to select the best providers and suppliers of business and industrial services. That’s where BIC Alliance, BIC Magazine, IVS Investment Banking and BIC Recruiting come in with our triangle of services: marketing, recruiting and investment banking.
At BIC Alliance, our mission since 1984 as publisher of BIC Magazine — America’s largest and most read multi-industry, multidepartmental energy magazine — has been to connect key decision makers in business and industry with each other and our 300-plus BIC Alliance marketing partners who are the top suppliers to industry for the betterment of all. Since April is our 31st anniversary of BIC Magazine and for everyone who reads BIC Magazine for the latest multi-industry news and to connect with your peers and suppliers, I want to share how BIC Alliance and BIC Magazine were born.
When I first went into business after leaving Ethyl Corp. in 1980, my company VIDEOSCAN was a supplier of training and video production services to multiple industries. I knew the importance of marketing and advertising, so I began advertising in upstream, midstream and downstream publications and training and safety magazines. It seemed the only folks who responded were those from other publications wanting to sell me an advertising campaign. I quickly learned there was not an energy magazine that allowed suppliers to provide ongoing articles, news releases and company updates or one that reached multiple industries and departments. Nor was there a training publication in the entire energy sector. Out of adversity, new ideas and opportunities are born. Out of frustration, I published the first energy-related training newsletter, which led to launching Training Coordinator magazine in 1981 and BIC Magazine in 1984.
Today, thanks to a great BIC Alliance team in Texas, Louisiana and Pennsylvania, led by my son-in-law and partner Thomas Brinsko, along with 300-plus marketing partners and nearly 100,000 readers of our print and digital magazine, we are proud to share our April 2015 edition.
In this issue, we are proud as always to cover information across multiple industries and multiple departments from experts many of you know and respect including Phillips 66 General Manager, NGL Chris Chandler; ExxonMobil Baytown Refinery Manager Matt Crocker and ExxonMobil Baytown Chemical Plant Manager Rob Tully; Nexus Global Business Solutions Inc. President and CEO Larry Olson; and SWS Environmental Services Vice President — HS&E/Risk Management Val Garner.
We also include features on storage tank best practices, proactive maintenance, steam flooding technology, transforming your organization and more.
In closing, for those who are familiar with BIC Alliance and our ongoing commitment to helping others in our industry and community and especially those less fortunate, we still are expanding to better serve our readers, marketing partners and the community. Wycoff Development & Construction, one of our BIC Alliance marketing partners, has begun construction on our new offices in League City, Texas, which will feature a large conference and media room for hosting small business-, industry- and community-related meetings and film viewings or presentations that are inspirational and/or educational. With Thomas and our excellent management team handling the day-to-day activities of BIC Alliance, IVS Investment Banking and BIC Recruiting, my wife Bodi and I are enjoying semi-retirement and producing inspirational and educational media even more. We already have about 20 videos at BICMagazine.com and will soon offer even more at www.bicmedia
solutions.com.
I am also devoting some time and resources to expanding BIC Media Solutions, our custom publishing and event company, into media investments and more community service activity. In 2013, we began investing in niche publications, and in 2014, some business and industry partners and friends began producing inspirational and faith/family friendly films, videos and events that help better serve our God, family and community. This spring, look for our first feature length inspirational and faith/family friendly movie “A Gift Horse” and our BIC Media Update at http://www.bicmediasolutions.com where you can also view release dates for our movies and more.
Thanks again for your kindness and support over the years, and may God bless you, your family and your endeavors. We hope to see you at some of the upcoming events in the industry!
earlheard@bicalliance.com