Welcome to our September 2007 issue of BIC — your Business & Industry Connection.

Two years ago about this time, the Gulf Coast of the United States was bombarded by two back-to-back hurricanes — Katrina and Rita — that forever changed not only the Gulf Coast but also our country. As with 9/11 and the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, people across America and the world not only joined each other in prayer, but they also stepped forward in a spirit of cooperation and sacrifice to help those affected by a disaster.

For those who haven’t seen with your own eyes the devastation that still remains across the Gulf Coast, while tourism is increasing, I strongly encourage you to do so. There are literally hundreds of places across the region that make you feel as if the hurricane happened just two weeks ago instead of two years ago. When we look at the region today and the challenges that still lie ahead, we can’t help but wonder what’s happened to the leadership of both the region and country, and why can’t more progress be made faster? We can’t help but wonder how much worse the death and devastation could have been if volunteers hadn’t stepped forward to fill the voids and slow response of our government.

Some folks were prepared, but many were not. Some came to help, and others left, never to return. Some worked together, while others didn’t. The energy and construction industries were two that worked together, along with churches and volunteer groups. Even today, volunteer groups are working across the region, helping to relieve the pain and suffering of fellow Americans.

For those of us who have been in industry for years, we know the powerful role of the first responder and the importance of being prepared. Being prepared is not just a slogan we learned and applied when we were Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. It is a way of life for any and all who want to live a better, happier, safer and more fulfilling life. Whether it’s our family, our community, our company, our nation or the world, the better prepared we are, the better it is for all.

Here at BIC Alliance, which stands for Business & Industry Communications Alliance, we have joined together with our 200-plus BIC Alliance partners to help connect more than 100,000 folks from multiple businesses and industries throughout North America and beyond for the betterment of all. Our concept is simple: share a little — receive a lot.

Helping folks be better prepared begins with helping folks be better informed and better trained. Simply having knowledge or learning a skill is futile unless we use it. Throughout the pages of BIC, a few hundred folks are sharing a little of their knowledge and expertise so that our readers not only learn and become better prepared but they can also share BIC’s message of preparedness with others. For those of you who cannot personally pass along a copy of BIC, you can instead pass along BIC’s Web site — www.bicmagazine.com — to help prepare others around the world.

At BIC Alliance, we have always been ambassadors for industry, but I have now made that my primary goal for the next two years — to show our BIC Alliance partners how to maximize their investment in BIC and to show the industries we serve how to better communicate with one another and our marketing partners.

No person is an island; without people connecting, life on Earth would cease. Men connect with women to begin life. From childhood, we not only learn life’s lessons from others, we also learn how to be prepared and work together for the common good. Like food and water help keep us alive, sharing knowledge and working together helps us stay alive.

For just a moment think about the people you know or have met and their relationships with God, their family or fellow man. Some aren’t prepared for relationships, while some aren’t prepared to earn a decent living. Are you really preparing yourself for the changes ahead, for emergencies and/or opportunity?

As part of my role as an ambassador, I will deliver the keynote presentation at the Center for the Advancement of Process Technology’s (CAPT) Critical Issues and Best Practices (CIBP) Training and Development Pre-Conference Oct. 3 at South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center in League City, Texas, where I will discuss the importance of training in industry and highlight the skills and traits of an effective manager, including the ability to communicate and empathize with others.

Also, in the fall, my partner, Thomas Brinsko, and I will co-host a lunch and learn event in Houston for our marketing partners where we will discuss and show in detail how to maximize their investment in BIC.

In this issue of BIC, industry executives are also stressing preparation. Clarence P. Cazalot Jr., president and CEO of Marathon Oil Corp., and ALON USA Refinery Manager Dave Foster discuss alternative fuels and preparing for our energy future.

This issue also includes features on the global efforts of BIC Alliance members, how industry is working to overcome the labor shortage, coking technology and much more.

As always, after you have read this issue, we hope that you will share it with your friends and colleagues. We also invite you to be part of the BIC Alliance team by sending us an e-mail about what is going on in your company and in your community, as well as any suggestions for topics that you would like to contribute an article on or about in a feature in BIC or share ideas about a future BIC Publishing project. For more details about this, see pg. 97.

To contact Earl, you can e-mail him at earlheard@bicalliance.com.