Government Affairs Brief

The post-conference training portion of the annual ILTA Operating Conference & Trade Show is a fantastic opportunity for terminal professionals to expand their knowledge of terminal operations, best practices, and challenges. This year, we are featuring five courses for attendees to choose from:

ILTA is delighted to announce that Dr. David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security (ISD) in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), will be a keynote speaker at the May 22 lunch of our 2023 Operating Conference and Trade Show! He will also be attending the cybersecurity networking meet-up at the conference immediately following his keynote address.

Dr. Mussington currently serves as the Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Since February 2021, he continues to lead CISA’s efforts to secure the nation’s critical infrastructure in coordination with government and the private sector. Key areas of focus include vulnerability and risk assessments; securing public gatherings; developing and conducting training and exercises; and securing high-risk chemical facilities.

The day-and-a-half long Conference portion of ILTA’s 2023 Operating Conference & Trade Show, May 22-24 in Houston, Texas, will feature four tracks along the topics of Environment; Operations & Engineering; Health, Safety, & Security; and Leadership. Here is just a sample of the fascinating educational content we have in store:

Next Generation Workforce Perspectives

This breakout session will feature rising leaders in the Under 35 category of the workforce at ILTA terminal company and supplier company members. Each panelist will describe what brought them to the terminal industry and what excites them about the future of their industry.  In addition, these emerging leaders will share their thoughts on the best support, training, or other opportunities that they have received from their employers.  Participants will also hear what our panelists recommend that hiring managers communicate to other early-career professionals during recruitment efforts to encourage that they join in creating the terminal industry of the future.

ILTA is delighted to welcome Shell Pipeline Company LP as our newest terminal member! Shell is a proud midstream operator owning eight tank farms across the United States.

As Traci L. Johnson, PE was nearing the end of her freshman year at Tulane University in New Orleans where she was studying chemical engineering, she didn’t know how she was going to spend her summer, but she knew it involved getting a job.

“At a family gathering, I learned that an aunt worked at a company that ‘hired engineers,’” Johnson recalled. “Soon thereafter, I was hired as summer help at International-Matex Tank Terminals (IMTT) answering phones and filing papers in what used to be known as the Engineering and Environmental Department of the company—not exactly technical work, but it beat working as a cashier at the school bookstore!”

Thankfully, Johnson was eventually given the opportunity to do more technical work under the supervision of the Environmental Manager.

“At that point, I was hooked and never looked back.”