b'2024 State ReportMONTANAPetroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association ReportGreetings from the Big Sky StateWe hope the tail end of summer finds advance its mission into the future. So what are the everyone well.Montana has enjoyed a lovelyresources of MPMCSA? Our members are certainly summer but with road closures due to snow in Au- our most valuable resource. We must continue to gust we are feeling it coming to an end. MPMCSAlook for innovative ways to engage marketers in the has been busy this summer with interim committeesface of consolidation. Our board of directors has and stakeholder meetings as per usual.traditionally comprised primarily business owners,but moving forward we will be including more Instead of a recap today, I wanted to share someemployees in leadership positions. Brad Longcakethoughts as we prepare for the 2025 Montana MPMCSA Executive Director Legislative Session. It is fair to say that much ofAs a leading employer for the state of Montana our success has come at the hands of our engagedwe have a huge number of employees with a vested membership. Building and maintaining meaningfulinterest in the success of our industry. How do we relationships between our members and their localreach and engage them? There is power in numbers legislators is an ongoing process. As the landscapeand we have the ability to activate thousands of of politics and business grows and evolves we mustpeople across the state. When we couple building continue to adapt our practices. I was at a confer- our internal capacity with coalition building there is ence recently and listened to a session focused ona tremendous opportunity for engagement. grassroots advocacy and would like to share someEngagement - As we build our capacity and pearls of practice that I took away.motivate our membership we can then work to Coalition Building - MPMCSA has historicallybuild meaningful relationships with local leader-done a good job of this but will continue to lookship. Again the members of MPMCSA are some of for new opportunities. A coalition is an alliance orthe largest employers in the state of Montana and partnership between different organizations thatdeeply impact their communities. Legislators honor represent a broad range of interests and brings dif- their responsibility to serve their communities and ferent assets, mission, perspective, constituencies,have a lot of respect for the pillars of their commu-relationships and strategies to work collaborativelynities. Working to put a face to a name outside of toward a common goal. As executive director, Ithe legislative session goes a long way. Our biennial am often collaborating with other EDs and lobby- legislature often feels like drinking from a fire hose. ists. As you would expect, proposed legislation isLegislators are inundated with emails, calls, and never siloed and will affect citizens and businesseshallway chats. How can we cut through all of that in ways the bill sponsor may not have even con- noise? A pre-existing relationship and a call from sidered. With each issue we face, we must take ahome can make all the difference. After the Novem-moment to consider unintended consequences andber election we will be creating opportunities to the ripple effect as a means of identifying allies.engage members and incoming legislators in their MPMCSA has a strong network of affiliate mem- communities to begin the process. bers but there is room for growth. Our membersMontana is fortunate to have a tremendoushave a profound impact in their communities asmembership, affiliate members and board ofemployers, philanthropists and consumers of goodsdirectors. We will continue to grow and evolveand services. How can we add affiliate membersto best represent and protect our collectiveand grow our network of stakeholders? interest now and in the future. Building Capacity - Capacity building is growing the resources needed to bring the group to the next level of operational, financial, and organizationalBrad Longcake, Executive Directormaturity, so it may more effectively and efficientlySWPMA News / Fall 202437'