From the Desk of the 501F & G Users Group Chairman:

As the incoming Chairman of the 501F Users Group, Inc. and on behalf of the Board of Directors and Square One Meeting Planning, I would like to extend to you a warm welcome to the 22nd Annual Conference of the 501F Users Group meeting being held in what some affectionately call the “Paris of the South”, or dependent on your background “The Big Easy.” While last year was a challenge for everyone – it will be wonderful to see you all again in person.       

The very first get together of some industry icons started in 1999, and from there the group has grown and transformed into what it is today. This year marks a big year for us. Russ Snyder who has chaired the group for over 11 years is leaving us and his employer CLECO and setting off on another journey with his wife Pam - retirement. Russ has been a staple of the Users Group for almost 20 years. Please join me at this conference and thank Russ for his leadership of the group and his service to our cause and the positive effect he’s had on the industry. Thank you Russ!

Our cause has always been, and will continue to be – to provide a private community for owners and operators of 501F/SGT6-5000F turbines to discuss the operation, maintenance, inspection, troubleshooting, repair, and optimization of their equipment. This takes many forms and comes in many ways and we hope this year’s conference produces those outcomes for you.

In order to provide that space for discourse, what was once funded by a few large power providers has predominantly morphed into a vendor funded event. To say it differently our vendors, the folks who provide you with goods and services to operate your facilities – we could not conduct this conference without them. I would like to express my continued appreciation to the entirety of our vendor population and I ask that as we get back together in person, spend some time with some of them, get to know some you haven’t met, and support them when you can. Like all of us, they have continued to innovate, design, develop and produce new and improved goods and services throughout the pandemic, but many have also been hurt by the pandemic and socioeconomic situation we find ourselves living through. Their continued success is in our best interest as a collective and the converse is also true, for without them pushing the boundaries the OEMs aren’t forced to innovate in return.

Finally, I would like to thank you, the users,! As of this writing our group is 458 users strong. You are why we are all here and why the board spends all year planning for the next conference.  Your continued support, presentations you create, conversations, use of the online forum and participation at the conference are what it’s all about. I hope this conference provides you with value, knowledge, and a sense of community. If at any time you have comments, suggestions or would like to participate in a more powerful way, please reach out to myself or any of the board members, we are here for you.

Regards,

Ivan Kush