2023 Legends Awards Dinner to Honor Eight Special Industry Professionals!

With a passion for acquisitions and the desire to help business owners, Steve formed Cetane Associates in 2006. Helping owners prepare for transition and guiding them in finding the right purchaser for their family, their employees and their customers has been the founding principles of Cetane Associates. Those principles helped the business expand nationally in both delivered fuels and other home services.

Giving back to the industry has always been an important goal. Cetane Associates has continuously supported state and national associations supporting the industry. Steve has given countless presentations and written numerous articles designed to help fuel marketers strengthen their companies and improve their businesses. Steve served on the Connecticut Energy Marketers (CEMA) board of directors, has served on the NEFI board, and served as the former NEFI treasurer.

Steve enjoys visiting and traveling with his daughter Ciera and her family who live in France. Steve’s passion is live music. With over 1,000 concerts under his belt since his first show in 1974, he has had the opportunity to visit many different venues across the U.S. The business model of the Grateful Dead has been a guideline and inspiration for Cetane Associates. What a long strange trip it’s been.

Peter lost his spouse in January 2019. He has two sons: Levi, who is currently President of Bourne’s Energy, and Jonah, who is working to become a general contractor. He also has two stepsons, Casey and Marshall, both of whom live in San Diego, and two step-grandchildren.

In his off time, Peter is an avid sports thrill seeker, enjoying road biking and mountain biking as well as cross-country and downhill skiing. “I always want to be doing something,” he says. “To quote an older friend, There’s plenty of time to rest when I am dead.”

Under his supervision, Star Group’s partnerships with the United Way, Habitat for Humanity and Feeding America have grown throughout the footprint. He has also helped facilitate Star Group’s commitment to increase the use of Bioheat® fuel as a pathway to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Prior to joining Star Group, Jeff worked for United Parcel Service for 19 years, holding various management positions in Operations and Industrial Engineering.

Jeff holds a B.A. in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University and an A.S. in Accounting from Nassau Community College.

Despite a busy work schedule, MacFarlane Oil founder Peter MacFarlane always found time to be with his son even if that meant bringing him on oil deliveries. At age nine, Scott would run the oil tickets up to the doors of appreciative customers. Decades later, customers who have known Scott for years will tell you that he has a photographic memory of their heating systems and buildings that he’s serviced over the years. It’s that type of customer service that is one-of-a-kind. A commitment to customer service that he empowers in his staff to deliver every day.

As an industry leader, Scott served as a Board Member for Massachusetts Energy Marketers (Chairman 2009-2011) and NEFI for over 26 years where he helped lobby legislators in Washington D.C. on issues including LIHEAP, tax legislation, energy efficiency, and more. He is a founding member of the American Energy Coalition, a 50+ year member of OESP, and a longtime Rotarian who was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. Scott is a trusted media spokesperson who is often called on by both national and local media. Because of his knowledge in the heating industry, Scott has served on committees for his church and many condominium associations. Under his leadership, MacFarlane Energy has been recognized by community partners including Scott’s alma matter Northeastern University.

Scott’s motto has always been “service above self” which also includes a dedication to philanthropy and giving back to the communities his company serves through non-profit organizations including the South Shore YMCA, The Home for Little Wanderers, The Salvation Army, The Charles River Center, CCALS (Compassionate Care ALS), Dana Farber, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, and others.

Some of his most cherished memories include bringing his children and most recently his grandchildren for a ride in the oil truck for the first time. While the industry is constantly evolving, the one thing that remains steadfast is Scott’s leadership and commitment to providing each, and every customer the best possible service, energy-efficient options, and respect. 

He focuses on organizations interested in developing and implementing branded fuel strategies that promote increased market share through distinctive market differentiation while helping fleets optimize their energy spend through improved operational performance.

Throughout his career, he has prioritized establishing relationships with like-minded collaborators that believe collective success is driven through the delivery of unrivaled service, products, and passion. Paul has an expansive group of strategic partners representing fuel quality research, production, logistics and analysis of finished fuels, all of which support his organization's value proposition to his customers.

He has committed himself to serving industry leaders and those whom they serve through prioritizing education to those that make up the liquid fuels supply chain. Throughout his career he has served on countless boards helping reshape the industries that rely upon the spirit of voluntarism. Paul has been married to his wife Julie for forty-three years and has two sons and five grandchildren. When not developing new markets, he enjoys swimming, traveling, reading, and supporting Alzheimer’s.

Back then, Scott Oil Company was always a strong supporter of the Massachusetts Oilheat Council and NEFI. So, very early on, he began his involvement with various industry trade associations on a state, regional and national level. This commitment has continued from the 1970’s to the present day.

From 2007 to 2018, Ed branched out and became involved with a start-up property and casualty insurance company which specialized in retail heating oil and propane companies. At Energi Insurance Services, Inc., Ed served as Senior VP of Industry Relations. In this capacity, in addition to consulting on a variety of industry-related claims, he oversaw the company’s involvement with 23 trade associations around the United States.

Later in his career, Ed found himself slowly returning to his roots in the family business. He rejoined Scott Energy Co, Inc. full time in 2018 working with his brother and two nephews.

In 1986 Doug and Bill separated the company with Doug keeping the heating oil and HVAC services side and Bill taking ownership of the lubricants business. It was Doug’s vision to grow the HVAC services through the new home industry’s growth, while also adding plumbing and electrical services along with creating a new commercial diesel business. From 1986 through 1991, Sinkler installed more than 1000 oil systems in new homes while also adding nearly 3000 service only accounts. At the same time the commercial fuels division experienced significant growth adding another 6 million gallons to the 8000 retails fuel oil customers.

Through this time Doug became very involved in various association activities and eventually served as President of the Delaware Valley Fuel Dealers Association, The Better Home Heat Council of the Delaware Valley and also Pennsylvania Petroleum Association. He also served as Heating Fuels Chair of the PMAA and their Northeast Region VP which included all of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic state associations and he negotiated the agreement that brought NEFI back as a member of the PMAA. His involvement with the various regional, state, and national associations has continued though today.

Doug sold Sinkler to Petro in 1994 and remained with Petro though 1999, serving as their Director of Governmental and Association Affairs. In 2000 Doug was engaged to manage the retail, wholesale fuel oil and terminal operations of The SICO Company. The company management had been taken over by their bank and Doug was tasked to work with their management team to return the business to profitability. The team accomplished that goal and in 2003 the heating oil division was sold to Petro with Doug remaining to manage the Merger of SICO and Leffler Energy which was also acquired by Petro in 2003 creating a 30,000 account heating oil and propane business.

In 2012 Doug joined Steve Abbate in Cetane Associates and Doug’s granddaughter soon joined to handle the administrative duties as Cetane began to grow to what the business has become today. Being with Cetane provided Doug with the opportunity to remain involved in the associations that had become so important to him and the personal and professional success he has achieved during his 55 years in this industry!

Today Doug is the Executive VP of the Eastern PA Energy Association, he serves on various committees PPA committees, is the VP of the American Energy Coalition, and serves here on the NEFI GAC and our NEFI Board.

Throughout his career, Jeff has progressed through many senior level positions at Star Group (the parent company of Petro), including Director of Operations, Vice President, and Senior Vice President-Southern Operations, which ultimately led to his current role as Star Group’s President and CEO.

During his leadership, Jeff has spearheaded Star Group’s partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, Feeding America and many other local organizations, creating initiatives to help give back to the communities that the company serves. He also helped establish Star Group’s commitment, along with industry partners, in a pledge to increase the use of Bioheat® fuel as a pathway to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Jeff is a magna cum laude graduate from Cabrini University in Pennsylvania with a BA in Business Management.