Monthly Archives: March 2008

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March 12, 2008
NEWSMAKER-Refining guru O’Malley eyeing U.S. plants
By Janet McGurty

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NEW YORK, March 12 (Reuters) – International refining icon Tom O’Malley wants to buy some U.S. refineries — the kind of move he has turned into big money in the past.

Currently the chairman of Zug, Switzerland-based refiner Petroplus (PPHN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research), O’Malley had a colorful past as cab driver and commodities trader before earning himself a reputation on Wall Street for his Midas touch in the refining business.

Now, with a growing number of U.S. refineries up for sale in the midst of a downturn in the sector, he seems to be preparing to turn more plants into gold.

Petroplus reached a $2 billion deal last month with private equity firms Blackstone Group (BX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and First Reserve to buy some U.S. plants, raising speculation in the energy industry that it could be a bidder for refineries currently owned by top U.S. refiner Valero (VLO.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

O’Malley, speaking to reporters at the Hart World Refining & Fuels conference in San Diego on Wednesday, said he hopes he and his partners can acquire U.S. refineries within the next year-and-a-half at prices below recent deals.

He declined to say whether the group was interested in buying Valero refineries currently up for sale.

San Antonio-based Valero said Tuesday it was considering selling five of its plants in North America, accounting for nearly 30 percent of its portfolio, and could offload three of them by the end of this year. [ID:nN11613957]

REFINING GURU

During his leadership at Tosco, which ran from the late 1980s into 2001, O’Malley was able to buy refining assets at what turned out to be bargain prices, upgrade them, and sell them off at a big profit during industry upturns.

In one of his most dramatic moves, O’Malley incurred the wrath of local unions when he purchased the Trainer, Pennsylvania, refinery in 1997 from Unocal Corp, and dismissed all employees from the money-losing plant.

Two years later, an accident at the company’s refinery in Avon, California, killed four workers — an experience O’Malley called the most difficult of his life. As a result, Tosco paid out $2 million in fines and donations.

In 2001, Tosco Corp was sold to Phillips Corp for $7.36 billion.

O’Malley then took the helm of St. Louis-based refiner Clark USA, where private equity group Blackstone Group had bought a 65 percent stake in 1997.

Moving operations of the debt-laden company to Stamford, Connecticut, he then proceeded to change the name to Premcor Inc and take it public through an IPO which raised $423 million.

At Premcor, he began amassing refineries, buying undervalued or poorly fitting assets such as the Delaware City, Delaware, plant from Motiva.

In 2005, as the refining business started pulling in record profits, O’Malley sold Premcor’s four refineries to larger rival Valero in a $6.9 billion stock and cash deal.

The wheeling and dealing O’Malley came from working class roots. Born in 1942 and raised in New York City, he worked as a cab driver to pay his way through Manhattan College in the 1960s.

He characterizes himself as a “happily married” man and is considered by many who have worked with him as a man with a strong work ethic.

“He will die at his desk,” said one Gulf Coast trader who worked with O’Malley for many years.

“No, I plan to die on the golf course,” O’Malley told Reuters in a recent interview. (Editing by Christian Wiessner)

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O’Malley, Tom (MC1963)

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http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/03_18-11/CCR

Around Crofton:
Team Surlis, a Crofton family real estate group, helps finance a school in Haiti
By PAULA POPP
Published March 18, 2008

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Aidan Surlis of Crofton was born and raised in County Sligo in Ireland. It’s a poor area where his family owned a general store. He was one of 11 children: seven boys.

Education was a priority in his family. His mom felt the only way out of poverty was with a good education. She moved her kids from school to school just to find them scholarship opportunities.

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After high school, Aidan went to seminary and became a Roman Catholic priest. He was ordained in 1959 and was sent to work at the missions in Africa for 10 years. He is fluent in English, Swahili, Latin, Gaelic and Kalenjin (an African tribal language).

In Africa, he helped build a church and schools out of mud and thatch, and taught elementary and high school children. He supervised the delivery and distribution of food at a famine camp.

While in Africa, Aidan made the decision to leave the priesthood. He very much wanted to marry and have a family of his own.

In 1968 he moved to the United States to get a master’s degree in theology from Manhattan College in New York. He tried teaching at an all-boys’ Catholic high school and tthen a co-ed school, but found it difficult because of discipline problems.

During this time he met Catherine Henze, born and raised in the Bronx. The couple married in 1971 and moved to Long Island.

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Team Surlis, as they are called, consists of Aidan, his three grown children and two of their spouses.

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Internationally, the team has joined the dedicated people of The Haiti Outreach Program through their church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. The team donated a percentage of their commissions to help build three classrooms in a freestanding building. Each year they plan to continue giving to help pay for teachers’ salaries.

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Surlis, Aidan (MC????)

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http://members.whattheythink.com/home/wttnews080319.cfm

WTT NEWS
MindFireInc to Sponsor WhatTheyThink.com’s Economic & Research Center

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March 19, 2008 – Lexington, KY – WhatTheyThink.com, the leading online media organization serving the printing and publishing industry announced the sponsorship of WhatTheyThink’s Economics & Research Center by MindFireInc a leading provider of cross-media marketing automation technology including Personalized URLs and landing pages. The exclusive MindFireInc sponsorship includes support for WhatTheyThink.com’s surveys, economic reports and special events associated with the Economics & Research Center.

The Economics & Research Center is directed by 30-year industry executive and consultant Dr. Joe Webb. In addition to his three-decades of experience in forecasting, research, and planning, he is a graduate of the NYU Center for Graphic Communications Management and Technology, and serves on the Center’s Board of Advisors. He also holds an MBA in Management Information Systems from Iona College, and was a magna cum laude graduate in Managerial Sciences and Marketing from Manhattan College, where he also was a member of the economics honor society.

“Thousands of printing executives already depend on WhatTheyThink.com’s research and analysis of economic conditions. MindFireInc’s support of our Economics and Research Center will allow us to provide even more research to printing and publishing companies,” said Randy Davidson, President of WhatTheyThink.com. “We are proud to have MindFireInc as the Center’s sponsor.”

“In today’s environment, printing companies need timely information about the economy and how trends relate specifically to their business,” said Moe Farsheed, CEO of MindFireInc. “We are delighted to be part of such a well respected educational component of our industry and to enable data driven business decision making.”

Readers can access the Economic & Research center at WhatTheyThink.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for reports, surveys, trends and economic information that helps them plan and make vital business decisions. The first economic webinar of the year—Q1-2008 Economic Outlook—is scheduled for March 26, 2008. Join Dr. Joe for his quarterly economic review, insight and opinion. Sign up for these free webinars at the WhatTheyThink website.

According to Carolyn Valiquette, EVP of MindFireInc, “MindFireInc has always been committed to supporting educational efforts targeting printers. We are especially excited about Dr. Joe’s quarterly webinars. Each one-hour event will provide executives with analysis of the current economic climate and newly updated economic models for planning purposes—both vital tools for any successful business.”

MindFireInc’s Caroline Valiquette talks about education initiatives and sponsoring WhatTheyThink’s Economics and Research Center:

About MindFireInc

Since 1999, MindFireInc has been the leader in helping marketers link the impact-power of direct mail with the interactive capabilities of the Internet. MindFireInc’s flagship product, LookWho’sClicking™, is a web-based application suite that automates the creation, management, and tracking of Marketing Campaign’s utilizing Personalized URLs and VIP Landing Pages. The company delivers LookWho’sClicking™ through its expanding network of Solution Partners, which are typically print service providers, agencies and consultants. With offices in California and Asia-Pacific, MindFireInc is a privately held company led by a seasoned management team with proven industry success. For more information, please visit www.MindFireIncinc.com.

About WhatTheyThink.com

WhatTheyThink.com is the printing and publishing industry’s leading online media organization; offering a wide range of publications delivering unbiased, real-time market intelligence, industry news, economic and trend analysis, peer-to-peer communication, and special reports on emerging technology and critical events. Serving a membership base of more than 50,000, WhatTheyThink.com also hosts webinars and live events as well as providing content through a syndication program, which delivers content directly to related websites and through RSS.
http://members.whattheythink.com/home/wttnews080319.cfm

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Webb, Joe [1978]

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http://www.bdcnetwork.com/article/CA6542326.html?nid=2886

New leaders named at Thornton Tomasetti
March 18, 2008
Building Design and Construction

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The board of directors of Thornton Tomasetti, the international building engineering and technology firm, has named Managing Principal Thomas Z. Scarangello as chairman, Daniel A. Cuoco, who has been president since 2002, as president and chief executive officer and Robert P. DeScenza, who is executive vice president, as chief operating officer.

“These changes represent a milestone in our planned ownership and management transition,” said Richard L. Tomasetti, past chairman and chief executive officer. “Our top management team collectively represents more than 90 years of experience with Thornton Tomasetti, and is well positioned to perpetuate excellence in service to our clients.”

Tomasetti will remain active with the firm as founding principal and chairman of the newly formed charitable arm, the Thornton Tomasetti Foundation (http://thorntontomasetti.com/foundation.html).

The changes are effective today.

Tom Scarangello, who has been with firm since 1979 and is a licensed engineer in 26 states, has been principal in charge of engineering many award-winning and signature projects internationally. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Manhattan College, and an advanced engineering degree from Columbia University.

“We will build on our tradition of innovation, staying ahead of convention and broadening our expertise to anticipate and fully serve our clients’ needs,” Scarangello said. “In so doing, we will expand opportunities for our talented people and nurture their technical and entrepreneurial development to prepare them for leadership.”

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Dear John,

I believe that Tom is a member of the Class of 1979.

Mike

[JR: Thanks, Mike. Much appreciated. ]

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Scarangello, Tom (MC1979)

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