We've all attended those conferences where there are lots of people looking to sell things but no one wants to buy anything. The sign of a successful conference is when buyers and sellers are both there, along with everyone in between.
The National Biodiesel Board's National Biodiesel Conference and Expo exemplifies what a successful event is. It provides real opportunities where everyone in the industry is in one place, which is a unique situation. And this year, it's all happening in Texas.

Texas is the perfect host state for this event. Country singers croon about Texas women's beauty, but our state has much more to offer than pretty women and good country music. We boast huge agricultural potential. In terms of development, Texas is home to major sectors of the global petrochemical industry. More than any other location, biodiesel producers and marketers have a collection of end-customers available in their backyards. With a Texas twist, the conference is sure to be better than ever.

From educational and commercial perspectives, NBB's conference is without competition the premier biodiesel event. And because it's in Texas, NBB is doing it even bigger this year-with a bigger resort, bigger networking opportunities and even bigger places to sit and connect with other industry leaders.

The conference theme, "Today's Challenge, Tomorrow's Impact," captures the realities of our industry. This year we have seen plants close their doors and shut down production. We bid adieu to European markets as we knew them, fought to protect biodiesel from regulatory nightmares in the RFS2 rulemaking process, and rallied for a continued tax incentive.

The past year has been nothing short of challenging, yet it has positioned our industry to have a major impact in 2010. The National Biodiesel Conference and Expo promises to assemble experts, field leaders, tested champions and the latest technology all in one place. It's our chance to take advantage of leading contacts, business opportunities and industry insight in a concentrated setting. With new and improved sessions, tracks, networking opportunities and more, the 2010 conference will pack months of opportunity into just a few days.

NBB's conference is among the best, and it's one you simply cannot miss because it includes a broad spectrum of the industry. Some attendees will be interested in buying and selling. Others will want to get involved. Many attend the conference to learn about what is being offered, and they will apply the information to advance their business while gaining a better understanding of the commercial side as well.

The event will be held Feb. 7-10 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. If you register by Nov. 13 you can still access early registration discounts.

You can find information online www.biodieselconference.org or call (303) 798-3664. I urge you to join me in the Lone Star state for the biodiesel event of the year.

By Jeff Truckess, NBB governing board member and executive vice president of governmental relations for Houston-based Green Earth Fuels.