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May 1, 2010 12:00 PM, By Rick Weber

Association throwing a party during annual operating conference, trade show in Houston, Texas

IT'S time for the Big Three Oh. But instead of mourning the loss of extended adolescence, the International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) will celebrate the future that lies ahead during its 30th anniversary at the 2010 Annual International Operating Conference and Trade Show in Houston, Texas, from May 24-26.

The celebration will include a gala reception on Tuesday, May 25, from 6-10 pm on the second level of the George R Brown Convention Center. Attendees will enjoy a variety of food and beverages, listen to great music, and catch up with old friends.

Oh, and prepare to laugh, and perhaps even cry. In the months leading up to the event, ILTA solicited stories and pictures, whether they were from the trade show floor, golf tournament, or other ILTA conference events. A sampling of these funny and sentimental stories — involving friendships that were formed or other special memories — and photos will be shared.

A highlight of the week will be the presentation of Safety Awards at the Tuesday networking breakfast. ILTA will recognize selected companies for their outstanding safety performance records in 2009. Winners are selected based on their total reportable incident records as reported to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and based on their responses to a questionnaire designed by ILTA's Safety Award Program Committee.

ILTA's trade show in the Convention Center's Exhibit Hall E offers virtually unlimited opportunities to learn about the products and services that terminals need to stay competitive. Attendees can evaluate the vendors and find the best solutions at the best price. More than 240 companies will exhibit this year.

Keynote luncheon

Commander Kirk Lippold, USN (Ret.) — the Commanding Officer of the USS Cole when it came under a suicide terrorist attack by al-Qaida in the port of Aden, Yemen — will be the keynote speaker on Tuesday, May 25, from 11:30 am-1:15 pm.

Commander Kirk Lippold

During his command, he and his crew distinguished themselves by saving the American war ship from sinking. Through preparation and leadership, Commander Lippold inspired his crew to act decisively in the ultimate crisis situation when terrorists attacked.

Using the theme, “Leadership and Accountability When It Matters,” he will discuss how the privilege and burden of leadership comes with an accountability that many aspire to emulate and anyone can rise up to and achieve. He will describe the events of the morning that the ship was attacked and detail the steps he took to ensure the safety of his crew.

During his presentation, Lippold will identify the key principles of integrity-based leadership and speak about what leadership skills are the most crucial in a time of crisis. He will also discuss how managers can establish ways to empower their team when facing unexpected challenges.

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