In memoriam: ADD Systems VP advanced petroleum software

Mark Collins, ADD Systems vice president of ADD South, died May 5, at the age of 70, after a seven-year battle with cancer.

Collins

Collins spent his whole career in the petroleum industry. He joined Independent Computer Consultants (ICC) after college, where he gained experience in the heating oil, burner service and welding supply industries. He then brought his expertise to Petroleum Software Systems (PSS), where he was responsible for the design, installation and support of its ERP software solution for diversified petroleum distributors.

PSS was sold to Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1994. There, he took the role of operations and product manager and was responsible for downstream petroleum distribution solutions.

In 1999, EDS sold its petroleum software division to ADD Systems, where Collins took on the role of vice president of ADD South. He continued to develop software and oversee the Orlando, Florida, office.

“Mark’s contributions have been immeasurable,” says Rob Culbertson, senior vice president and COO of ADD Systems. “He was not just a co-worker but also a good friend as well.”

Bruce C. Bott, president of ADD Systems, expressed similar gratitude: “I feel lucky to have worked with Mark and to have his signature on many of the products we market today. I’ll miss Mark, and he will be missed by everyone he came in contact with. He was a talented, knowledgeable, soft-spoken gentlemen.”

A celebration of life will be hosted on what would have been his 71st birthday, July 1, in Oviedo, Florida. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or Trees for a Change.