Calendar of Events

The California Fuel Island: Navigating Supply, Regulation, and Change

Presented by: Scott Cain, President, West Hills Oil, Inc.

Date: August 20, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: House of JuJu, Clovis
PDUs: 1 PDU available for PMI Members
Cost: Members/Students: $10 | Non-Members: $15
Dinner: Participants will be responsible for covering their own dinner costs

Presentation Description

California's fuel industry operates within one of the most complex and heavily regulated markets in the world. In this session, attendees will gain an insider's perspective on the petroleum distribution industry and the critical role fuel marketers and distributors play in supporting California's economy.

Drawing on decades of experience in both economics and petroleum distribution, our speaker will explore the unique challenges facing the state's fuel supply chain, including supply and demand dynamics, historical market developments, and the impact of environmental regulations. Through the lens of project management and strategic leadership, participants will examine how organizations navigate constant change, manage risk, and adapt to evolving regulatory and market conditions.

This presentation offers valuable insights for project professionals seeking to better understand how strategic thinking, change management, and business analysis principles apply within complex, highly regulated industries.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will be able to:

• Understand the unique structure of California's petroleum distribution and fuel supply ecosystem

• Examine the impact of historical trends, market forces, and environmental regulations on strategic decision making

• Explore how organizations adapt to changing regulatory and economic environments

• Identify the role of strategic thinking, risk management, and business analysis in complex industries

• Apply lessons from the fuel industry to project leadership, organizational change, and stakeholder management

Speaker Bio

Scott Cain, President, West Hills Oil, Inc.

A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in Economics, our speaker returned to the Academy to teach economics after completing a master's degree at UC Davis. Following military service, he joined the family petroleum distribution business, founded in the early 1960s, and has spent more than three decades working in California's fuel industry.

Through West Hills Oil, he has supported farmers, truckers, and other essential industries throughout California's Central Valley by providing gasoline, diesel fuel, and lubricants. Combining expertise in economics, business operations, and petroleum distribution, he offers a unique perspective on the strategic, regulatory, and operational challenges facing one of California's most critical industries.