Meet CIOMA 2017 New Board Members

Brian Hill

Brian Hill is Partner / Vice President of Toro Petroleum and HB Petroleum. Toro was founded by George Hill (father) and John Bohlman in 1971 and is in the second generation of ownership and management. HB Petroleum was created in June of 2015 to purchase and manage the assets of Sellers Petroleum. Brian’s partner in both companies is Jon Bohlman, son of John Bohlman.

Both companies are wholesale and retail fuel and lubricants marketers. Toro Petroleum is based in Salinas, California and serves the Central Coast and the San Joaquin Valley with offices in Salinas, Gilroy, Hollister, King City and Firebaugh. Sellers Petroleum is based in Yuma, Arizona and primarily serves Imperial and Riverside counties in California and Yuma County in Arizona. Toro is a contract distributor for Shell, Valero and ExxonMobil (lubes). Sellers is a contract distributor for Chevron (lubes).

Brian grew up in Salinas spending considerable time around the office learning the business from the ground up. Working in the warehouse, delivering fuel and oil, and doing lots of odd jobs provided a basis for his understanding on serving customers.

Brian has worked in the petroleum industry full time since 1989 after graduating from University of the Pacific with a BS in Business Administration. Other industry experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of Alliance Petroleum since 2003. Brian served as that companies President for 7 years and currently holds the office of Vice President / Treasurer.

Brian and his wife Corie have 4 children ages 21, 19, 16 and 13 and live in Corral de Tierra, California. Hobbies include hunting, fishing and traveling.                                                                                  

Ron Lamb 

Ron Lamb serves as the COO for The SoCo Group, Inc.  He holds a BA in Economics from UCSD and MBA from Cal State San Marcos.  Ron has been working in the petroleum industry since 1993 and has been with The SoCo Group since 2001. 

Ron is a lifelong resident of San Diego County. He and his wife Tracey have 2 children (ages 22 and 14).

The SoCo Group is a full line petroleum jobber with retail stations, bulk fuels, lubricants, and a transportation division.  SoCo has served the petroleum needs for its customers since 1922. Today, the family-owned and operated petroleum marketer and distributor operates in California and Arizona.  The company is headquartered in Carlsbad, CA with distribution centers in Orange/Los Angeles County, Riverside/San Bernardino County, Coachella Valley, San Diego County, Imperial County, and Arizona.