In May this year, ZE hosted not one, but two exciting events in Vancouver, BC; the ZEMA User Forum and the North American Energy Markets Association (NAEMA) 2014 Spring Conference and Annual Meeting, both held at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. The ZEMA User Forum, a client-only event, took place from May 27-28, and provided an opportunity for all of ZE’s valuable clients to interact with ZEMA developers, participate in training sessions, and discover the ZEMA product roadmap. It had been over a year since the previous ZEMA User Forum and ZE was excited to share the latest product features and functionalities to an enthusiastic audience. Through a series of presentations and case studies from ZEMA experts and ZEMA users, attendees gained new best practice knowledge and insight into their ZEMA applications.
Following the ZEMA User Forum, attendees from across North America gathered for the 2014 NAEMA Spring Conference and Annual Meeting which took place from May 28-30. Last year, the NAEMA board of directors approved ZE as the first ever associate member to host the trade association’s Spring event and naturally, ZE jumped at the opportunity to host NAEMA members in the “Most Livable City” in North America.
The ZEMA User Forum closed and the NAEMA conference opened with a series of workshops, one of which was hosted by ZE and its data and integration partners. The workshop entitled “Data, Analysis, and Integration Solutions for Energy Marketers”, delivered an in-depth understanding of ZEMA and its curve management and integration capabilities, followed by two interactive panel discussions on the ways in which better data management leads to enhanced business intelligence. ZE hosted the registration and social reception in the evening, giving attendees a chance to network and connect with members, old and new.
The main conference opened on May 29 with Dr. Zak El-Ramly, President and CEO of ZE, welcoming NAEMA members to Vancouver. The agenda featured several presentations on recent changes affecting the energy industry, including issues stemming from the launch of the “SPP Integrated Energy Market”, as well as how to “[Turn] Wholesale Market Challenges into Opportunities”. Aiman El-Ramly, Chief Strategy Officer of ZE and regular contributor to the NAEMA agenda, spoke about the geopolitical impact on North American energy markets, and the shifting global energy landscape.
NAEMA is renowned for its social activities and this year was no different. Attendees had the chance to explore the city of Vancouver by taking part in whale watching, salmon fishing, golfing, and a trip to the Capilano suspension bridge. Aiman mentioned that he “enjoyed the event immensely! I was honored to have participated as a host, take people out and show them our city and the pride we have to be a BC company.” ZE has been working closely with NAEMA for many years, and Aiman El-Ramly has spoken at several past events organized by NAEMA. Michael Critchley, NAEMA’s Executive Director and CEO, noted that “ZE was a wonderful host and Vancouver was a great city to visit.”