Q and A with Jim Gerlach from BiPAC

Promoting and Advancing Petroleum Marketing, Retail Grocery, and Convenience Stores in West Virginia

Driving Local Business and Community Growth Across West Virginia

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OMEGA is a West Virginia-based organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the business interests of the state’s petroleum marketing, retail grocery, and convenience store industries.

As a network of over 225 locally owned businesses, OMEGA actively promotes cooperation, advocates for favorable legislation, and provides education and resources to its members. With over 50,000 employees, OMEGA members significantly contribute to the state’s economy, generating more than 10% of all state taxes and supporting local communities through scholarships, charitable donations, and civic involvement.

OMEGA is committed to fostering industry growth while serving West Virginians with essential services like fuel, food, and convenience.

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Your Essential Connection in West Virginia

OMEGA offers three types of membership: Convenience Store Members, Petroleum Marketer Members, and Grocer Members, all of which play a vital role in providing fuel, food, and essentials across West Virginia. As a liaison with state and national agencies, OMEGA works closely with organizations like NACS, PMAA, FMI, and the N.G.A. to advocate on behalf of its members.

We keep members informed through newsletters, legislative updates, an online resource hub, and educational seminars. Additional member benefits include access to the Encova Workers’ Compensation Discount Program and participation in our annual Trade Expo and fundraising efforts for children’s charities. OMEGA is here to support, advocate, and enhance the success of our industry members.

The Honorable Jim Gerlach, president and CEO, Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BiPAC), is speaking at a joint general session at FMI’s Financial Executive/Internal Audit Conference and co-located Asset Protection Conferencewhere he’ll be assessing the impact of the 2016 presidential and Congressional elections on the food retail industry. The day after Super Tuesday, it’s an appropriate time to see what’s on his mind and preview his session. Since I run the political programs at FMI, I had some pointed questions for him.

By Julie Schrei, Director of Political Affairs, Food Marketing Institute <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/jim-gerlach.jpg?sfvrsn=0&MaxWidth=350&MaxHeight=&ScaleUp=false&Quality=High&Method=ResizeFitToAreaArguments&Signature=74C5C31488CFEBF261B7142B5B8A130C" data-method="ResizeFitToAreaArguments" data-customsizemethodproperties="{'MaxWidth':'350','MaxHeight':'','ScaleUp':false,'Quality':'High'}" data-displaymode="Custom" alt="Jim Gerlach" title="Jim Gerlach" style="float: right; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px;" /> The Honorable Jim Gerlach, president and CEO, <a href="http://www.bipac.net/bipacorg/default.asp">Business-Industry Political Action Committee</a> (BiPAC), is speaking at a joint general session at FMI’s <a href="http://www.fmi.org/fec-iac2016/overview">Financial Executive/Internal Audit Conference</a> and co-located <a href="http://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/AP2016">Asset Protection Conference</a> where he’ll be assessing the impact of the 2016 presidential and Congressional elections on the food retail industry. The day after Super Tuesday, it’s an appropriate time to see what’s on his mind and preview his session. Since I run the political programs at FMI, I had some pointed questions for him: Question: Tax policy is extremely important to our members. Having served with Paul Ryan in the US House and also while Presidential candidates Clinton, Sanders, Cruz and Rubio all served in the Senate, what do you see happening on tax reform in 2017? Jim: “Due to the mounting interest in Congress over the past few years, together with the fact that big issues usually get addressed in non-election years like '17, I think prospects are excellent for a major bill to move from the committee level to floor action. At that point, it is too difficult to predict a final outcome given unknowns like who will be in the majority in the House and Senate and who will be in the White House. But it took about five years for the last major Tax Code reform to occur in '86, and we are approaching that same 5-year period in terms of serious reform discussion in Congress.” Question: As a former member of the Republican Main Street Partnership (a more moderate group of the party) while you served in Congress, why do you think voters on both sides of the aisle view the term “compromise” so negatively? Jim: “Our nation's politics have definitely become more polarized in recent years and that is demonstrated by the growth of the Tea Party presence in the GOP and the substantial increase in self-identified liberal/progressives in the Democratic Party. Add to that is the fact that out of 435 House seats, only 40-50 seats are truly competitive whereby the one winning the seat is usually a more moderate Republican or Democrat. The other seats tend to be safe D or R seats that produce more liberal or conservative members who won election courting their more liberal or conservative primary voters, and are hence less likely to move to the middle on policy solutions versus positions they staked out in their intra-party primary elections.” Question: If one of your kids told you he/she planned to run for political office, what advice would you give them? Jim: “I have always encouraged my children to find their passion in life and then work hard to achieve their goals in whatever work they wish to pursue. So if they wanted to run for public office, I would support them. But frankly, I have already had this conversation with my three kids and none of them have any interest in politics!” Earn up to 23 CPE credits and register for the March 14-17 joint <a href="http://www.fmi.org/fec-iac2016/overview">FMI Financial Executive + Internal Auditing Conferences</a>. This year’s <a href="http://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/AP2016">Asset Protection Conference</a> is also co-located in Tuscan.

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Supporting West Virginia Communities

OMEGA members play a vital role in West Virginia, supporting communities through substantial tax contributions and a wide-reaching presence across the state. With over 55% of the population living in border counties, our members are dedicated to serving both local and regional needs. Beyond business, we’re proud to give back, having contributed over $3.1 million to children’s charities since 2003, reflecting our commitment to making a positive difference.