Oilheat industry veteran Stephen M. Parise Sr., age 63, died peacefully on March 21 at the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, MA, with his family at his side.
PARISE
He was born in Boston, MA on September 19, 1960, the son of the late Samuel and the late Susan (Uglietto) Parise and was raised in Arlington. He moved to Billerica, MA in 1988. Parise started his career working for Cubby Oil & Energy and retired after working for 25 years for Sprague Energy in Portsmouth, NH. He was an avid fan of Boston sports, the game of golf and adored his goldendoodle, Tucker.
A longtime member of the National Energy & Fuels Institute (NEFI), Parise was remembered by NEFI President & CEO Sean Cota, in an email: “Personally, I knew Steve for more decades than I’d like to count. It would be the rare person who never met this excellent man through his long association with Sprague Energy. He was always thoughtful, positive, and interested in the industry’s success.”
Parise is survived by his son, Stephen Parise Jr. and his wife Victoria; his daughter, Lauren Parise; his former wife, Barbara (Crowley) Parise; and his many family and friends.
P3 Propane Safety and Rural Computer Consultants, Inc. (RCC) have announced that the RCC software has successfully integrated with the P3 Compliance System. The integration between P3 and RCC sends customer account information from RCC to P3 during the initial data push. Each day, P3 will continue to receive data as new accounts are added to RCC. This creates efficiencies for the mobile application, reduces data entry errors, and helps certify database accuracy.
RCC offers an expansive software suite designed specifically for the unique needs of businesses in the propane and fuel industry. Users benefit from a versatile fuel distribution system, mobile fuel management, cloud hosting and software support.
P3 Propane Safety is the industry standard for safety documentation and regulatory compliance, said the company. It assists hundreds of propane marketers nationwide in increasing efficiency and reducing documentation error rates with functionalities such as multiple-choice dropdown menus rather than empty form fields.
“We have been impressed with RCC’s desire to constantly improve their offerings for the propane industry—something we invest abundant resources into as well,” said Jane Lapsley, Project Manager at P3 Propane Safety.
“We are pleased to integrate with them to further increase data accuracy and improve the operational efficiency of our mutual clients.”
Freddie Ridler, business growth expert at RCC, said of the partnership, “We are extremely proud of this integration and look forward to empowering customers with the unique value propositions that our platforms have to offer.”
The NORA has released the ninth episode of its podcast series, “In the LOOP with NORA.” The podcast series looks at how the liquid fuel heating industry lowers carbon emissions from homes, along with an emphasis on heating system efficiencies and technical education.
Episode 9 features Ryan Kerr and Neehad Islam, research engineers at the NORA Liquid Heating Fuels Research Lab in Plainview, NY.
Kerr shares how his research is helping the industry now and how it can assist the liquid fuel industry for the future. He is able to provide analysis of fuel samples collected in the field to help determine what the root cause of service issues may be while, at the same time, advancing the knowledge and understanding of low-carbon fuels to come.
Islam, also a NORA research engineer, talks about how testing of combustion with low carbon fuels and heating systems offers an understanding of how fuels of today operate in real-word applications.
“In the LOOP” takes a deeper look at research initiatives, equipment considerations, renewable fuels, carbon reduction and technical education, propelling us towards a low-carbon future.
To listen, go to IntheLoopwithNORA.org or NORAweb.org. “In the Loop with NORA” is also currently available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts. Spotify and Amazon Music
Registration is open for the National Energy & Fuels Institute’s (NEFI) VISIONS 2024 conference. This high-level education and leadership focused conference will be held on Tuesday, April 30, and Wednesday, May 1, at EnVue hotel in Weehawken, NJ.
Visions 2024 will feature special keynote speakers, tabletop exhibitors, policy updates and the highly anticipated Industry Summit VI. This industry summit will celebrate the successes and technological advances of the last six years and look at ways that companies can participate in creating a successful future for their business and the industry.
The admission fee is $450 for both days and $100 for only the summit. Conference entrance includes access to all educational business sessions, the special business session, breakfast and lunch on both days, break snacks and drinks on both days, and a spot at Industry Summit IV. Click here to register.
R. W. Beckett Corp. has launched a new video and podcast series called “Beckett Talks” to discuss the topics, technologies and processes that matter most to the heating industry.
Each week, the podcast will feature a different member of the Beckett team who will talk about topics related to their particular area of expertise. From new products to training, to what’s on the horizon in the industry, the goal with Beckett Talks is to provide insight into the heating industry and share what the company is doing to support the industry as a whole.
The first episode of “Beckett Talks” features Jeff Rozga, Technical Trainer at R.W. Beckett, who discusses the National Education Program (NEP) Hands-On Residential Burners Training program that he conducts throughout the U.S. Hear how the program was developed and how it’s changed over the years, and what attendees can expect at one of these classes.
You can watch or listen to the inaugural episode of “Beckett Talks” at BeckettCorp.com.
During the AHR Expo in January, Richard Medairos, Systems Engineer and Commercial Trainer at Taco Comfort Solutions, was presented the Dan Holohan Lifetime Contribution to Comfort Award during the company’s press conference by Ben White, Program Manager, Business Operations.
Medairos is the 8th recipient of the award, and was recognized for the warmth, humor and passion that he brings with him to work every day. Much like Dan Holohan, Medairos’ passion and love of the industry is what has driven, and continues to drive, his dedication to educate and train hundreds of industry professionals.
A graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology, Medairos has over 40 years of experience with demonstrated expertise in engineering, project management and planning. Throughout his career, he has worked on projects with major clients such as NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Disney World, Universal Studios Florida, Boston University, Rhode Island School of Design, First Data Corporation, and Taco’s Innovation & Development Center.
The Dan Holohan Lifetime Contribution to Comfort Award is given annually to an HVAC professional or company that has made a substantial contribution to comfort technology, advancement or training while displaying the exceptional good humor and love of people exhibited by Dan Holohan throughout his long career. Past award winners include Dan Holohan, Robert Bean, Bruce Marshall, Dan Foley, John Barba, Bob Barbour and John Hazen White III.
Taco Hydroflo Pump Solutions has opened a new state-of-the-art facility in Lubbock, Texas. The site opened on February 21, and, according to the compnay, substantially expands the operations of the Taco Family of Companies. Taco is headquartered in Cranston, RI.
Hydroflo’s new 45,000 sq ft location in Lubbock is in the manufacturing and transportation hub of northwest Texas, 40 miles north of its prior location in Brownfield. With the new facility also comes the advantage of added space for future growth, additional capabilities and team expansion.
“The opening of this new Taco Hydroflo Pump Solutions facility signifies a renewed focus on ensuring that our customers have access to the most dependable high quality vertical and submersible pumps in the market,” noted Cheryl Merchant, President & CEO, Taco Family of Companies.
According to Hydroflo’s Director of Sales, Clay Williams, the facility substantially expands its manufacturing, warehouse and quality control operations. New manufacturing equipment was purchased for the facility, and a state-of-the-art test pit have expanded its testing capabilities as well.
“The new test pit is much larger and deeper and greatly improves our range of testing,” explained Larry Jones, Hydroflo VP.
“We now have the ability to test all current pump models, something we previously had to outsource.”
Hydroflo manufactures a wide range of submersible turbine, vertical axial-flow, vertical mixed-flow and vertical turbine pumps for use in the agricultural, commercial, industrial, municipal, marine, mining and power generation markets. The company uses high-quality ductile iron discharge heads and fabricated steel or 316 stainless steel L, F and T style heads. Ductile Iron bowl castings with impellers in 201 stainless steel impellers are also used for greater strength. For applications that require resistance to corrosion, Hydroflo offers castings and impellers in 316 stainless steels in order to provide the best materials of construction to meet specific application needs.
Taco Hydroflo Pump Solutions is a part of the Taco Family of Companies, an expanding global network of brands that strive to be the first source for durable, high-efficiency heating, cooling, plumbing and fluid-control solutions that help its customers save money, energy and resources while maximizing comfort and productivity.
Otodata announced the appointment of Jeremy Eaton as CEO. Eaton will work closely with Andre Boulay, President, and the team to lead Otodata into its next chapter of growth.
EATON
Founded in 2008, Otodata offers remote tank monitoring hardware, software and applications for a variety of industries. Otodata’s solutions allow fuel and industrial gas marketers to monitor their tanks remotely, providing insightful, real-time data to optimize asset and labor productivity in their businesses.
“We are delighted to welcome Jeremy as our new CEO,” said Boulay.
“He is a dynamic, values-driven business leader who brings with him decades of strategic and operational expertise building and leading IoT businesses.”
Added Eaton, “I am thrilled and honored to have been appointed Otodata’s CEO. It is a business with an amazing team and track record, is a clear leader in remote tank monitoring, and continually innovates to create value for its customers.
“I look forward to working with Andre and the entire Otodata team moving forward.”
Prior to joining Otodata, Eaton held leadership positions at Honeywell, where he ran IoT businesses including Honeywell Smart Grid Solutions and Honeywell Connected Home, and McKinsey & Company, where he was a leader in their IoT service line, helping clients to build connected products, platforms and businesses.
“His experience from Honeywell and McKinsey will greatly expand the depth of Otodata’s senior leadership team as we set the strategic vision for Otodata going forward,” noted Boulay.
NORA is pleased to recognize the trainers who completed the second NORA Accredited Instructor Program (AIP). Jeff Rozga and Alan Wornham, RW Beckett Corp; Michael Warn, Carlin Combustion; and Charlie Burnham, MTEC (MEMA Technical Education Center) at NORA’s Research & Education center in Plainview, NY, on February 1, under the tutelage of professional education trainer Brenda Huber.
L to R: Michael Devine, NORA President; Charlie Burnham; Alan Wornham; Brenda Huber; Bob O’Brien; Jeff Rozga & Michael Warn.
The NORA Accredited Instructor program was developed to help ensure service professionals trained in NORA schools, unions, and by companies in the liquid heating fuels industry have been provided with an education that positions them, their customers, and their companies for success.
According to AIP graduate Michael Warn, “I worked in the field for 40 years but had no professional training on presenting and instead, taught based on my experiences. I felt like I was missing an unknown, integral piece to instructing. I feel that the NORA Accredited Instructor course was extremely beneficial; the three-day workshop is worthwhile and anyone with a passion for teaching should take advantage of it.”
The service professionals in the liquid heating fuels industry are the first and most important contacts with customers. They are responsible not only for ensuring the heating system is operating at maximum efficiency, with safety and reliability, but also with how customers perceive their liquid fuel heating, their adoption of renewable fuels and how comfortable they are with staying with their liquid fuel heating system.
The program began with a prepared presentation by each of the participants. These were critiqued by the instructor as well as others in the class to establish a baseline. From there, the instructor took the participants through the teaching process to elevate their lessons from simply conveying facts to creating a meaningful total-learning experience for the students. The NORA Accredited Instructor program’s emphasis is to present the curriculum in such a way that students “own” the information and not just hear it.
Bob O’Brien, NORA Director of Education, summed up the NORA’s AIP with, “NORA would like to thank the newly accredited instructors and their employers for recognizing the value in improving their classroom skills. Training the next generation of technicians is crucial to the future of the industry, particularly as the transition to renewable fuels accelerates.”
If you are a learning institution or trainer and are interested participating in NORA’s Accredited Instructor program, please contact NORA’s Director of Education, Bob O’Brien at robrien@noraweb.org.
Eastern Energy Expo (EEE) organizers have announced that Bill Walton will be this year’s keynote speaker. The convention is slated to take place from Sunday, May 19, through Wednesday, May 22, at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. Walton will be presenting on May 22, at 9 a.m. EST in at the Earth Ballroom.
One of sports’ most recognizable and beloved figures, Walton’s success on the court is well documented. He was the nation’s top college basketball star at UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden, and later played for two NBA Championship teams: the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics.
Walton’s nightmarish challenges off the court are lesser known. He stuttered so badly he couldn’t say a simple “thank you” until he was 28 years old. A foot disorder led to 39 surgeries, keeping him sidelined over half of his NBA career. Armed with grit and a positive outlook, Walton improbably overcame it all. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and the NBA named him to the 50 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time (1997) and 75 Greatest Players in NBA History (2021) lists.
As a broadcaster, Walton currently covers Pac-12 games for ESPN and the Pac-12 Network. His autobiography, Back from the Dead, was a New York Times bestseller, and he is perhaps the best-known Deadhead, having seen over 1,000 Grateful Dead shows.
Walton will appear during the keynote breakfast session, which is free for attendees. The session will also include a digital marketing campaign update on Clean Fuels Bioheat® fuel, and a federal policy update from the Energy Marketers of America.
Registration for attendees will open in early March at easternenergyexpo.com.
