Michael J. O’Connor, CAE is President and Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Petroleum & Convenience Marketers Association (VPCMA) and its for-profit subsidiary, Petroleum Convenience and Grocery Services Inc. He became President in January 2000 and is only the third person to hold this position since the association was founded in 1948.
O’Connor has more than 30 years experience in state and federal government, lobbying, and association management. Previously he served on Capitol Hill as professional staff member for a Congressional subcommittee and as Director of Government Affairs for an international trade association. He is one of a select group of association executives that have achieved the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential.
He was elected by his peers to chair the Board of Directors the Virginia Society of Association Executives (2009-2010) and the Petroleum Marketers Association of America's State Executive Conference (2012.) Three times he has been the recipient of the highest honor bestowed by a Virginia association: in 2007 when he was named “Virginia Oil Man of the Year” by VPCMA; in 2011 when he received the VSAE “CEO Award of Excellence, and in 2022 when he received the “President’s Award” from the Virginia Propane Gas Association.
He has been appointed by Governors of both parties to advisory positions, most recently in 2022 when Governor Youngkin appointed him as a member of the Commonwealth’s Litter Control and Recycling Fund Advisory Board, where he now serves as Vice-Chairman. Additionally, O’Connor represents the interests of Virginia's propane industry before the General Assembly and regulatory agencies. His comments on the industries he represents are featured frequently in state, local and national media. He started in the convenience store industry when he worked summers as the “shotgun” driver for a major soft drink company.
Elizabeth F. Zyglocke is the Director of Member Services of the association. Joining us in June of 2004, she is responsible for financial account management, meeting/convention planning, membership relations, and database and website management. She became certified in Event Planning in the spring of 2007 through UVA's Continuing Studies Program.
An undergrad alumnus of Virginia Tech, she is originally from Lexington, VA where she was previously employed by the Rockbridge County School Board in the Computer/Technology Department and also worked as Assistant Controller for Robert L. Faulkner & Son Masonry Contracting. She currently resides in Mechanicsville, VA with her husband and 3 daughters.
resident & CEO 
