FMI-LEG Recap
A lot of good things came out of the 2007 Fleet Management Institute – Law Enforcement Group Annual Conference and Exposition.  Here are some highlights. 

Saturday, May 7
A grand time was had by all at the second annual “Roadeo” Ride-and-Drive at Manheim’s Texas Hobby Auto Auction.  This year’s event incorporated local law enforcement demonstrations, such as the Houston Police Department’s SWAT, Dive and K-9 units showing off their wares.  LEG Members test-drove vehicles manufactured by DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motors, and maneuvered a Segway from Segway of Houston and a chariot from American Chariot.

Sunday, May 6
Before handing over the reins to NAFA’s incoming President Gayle Pratt, Past President Charles A. Gibbens, Jr., recapped his two years as leader of the asociation.  In addition to the name changes reported in the first article above, Gibbens noted the CAFM program had been completely revised and updated; partnerships with other associations had been established; NAFA’s financial position improved significantly; national headquarters relocated to Princeton, New Jersey; and membership increased for the first time in five years.

Dave Robertson, CAFM, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award, NAFA's highest form of recognition bestowed upon those with exemplary professional and personal contributions to the industry, society and/or community.  Robertson was NAFA president from 2001-2003.

Gordon Bethune, former chair and CEO of Continental Airlines, delivered the keynote presentation.  Attendees were able to learn how Bethune transformed Continental from the laughingstock of the industry into a sterling example of what every airline should aspire to be.  Following his presentation, delivered in a no-nonsense, witty style, Bethune took questions from the audience, and then headed to the Exhibit Hall to sign copies of his book From Worst to First: Behind the Scenes of Continental’s Remarkable Comeback.

It was standing-room-only at the “Improve Your Bottom Line – Cost Reduction Strategies/Operations Efficiencies” session.  Led by Greg Corrigan, vice president, business intelligence for PHH Arval and Scott Pattullo, senior vice president, sales, marketing and account management for Wheels, Inc., the session identified the factors that drive fleet costs up and ways to identify savings.  Tips included: picking the right vehicle, knowing how long to keep it and when to sell it; identifying hidden costs by knowing what to do with excess vehicles, tracking downtime and indirect accident costs.

For the first time in FMI history, eight OEM manufacturers – American Honda, Mazda, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volvo – answered the most pressing questions on the minds of fleet managers.  This standing-room-only session, moderated by NAFA Executive Director Phil Russo, CAE, addressed issues such as new model year variability; keeping higher residuals, on-time delivery; and standardized alternative fuels.

Monday, May 7
Recognizing those who have achieved this designation, eight graduates of the CAFM program were honored at the Recognition Breakfast: Mark Bellamy, CAFM, York County, Virginia; Ed Burroughs, CAFM, AFLAC; Michael Camnetar, CAFM, Standard Coffee Service; David Koelsch, CAFM, Devon Energy Corp.; Stuart May, CAFM, Ohio Turnpike Commission; John Alley, CAFM, San Diego Police Dept; Daniel Nuckolls, CAFM, City of Concord, NC; and Monty Perham, CAFM, City of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Following the ceremony, Mike Pitcher, executive vice president, corporate fleet division at LeasePlan USA, outlined the seven “Ls” – or eLements – of successful leadership: remembering to Laugh; cultivating an insatiable hunger to Learn; developing the skill of Listening; understanding the weight of tone and body Language; going the extra mile of Lagniappe; leaving a Legacy; and living life with Love.

Walter Burnett, CAFM, was the fourth Member in NAFA history to be honored with the Excellence in Education award.  Senior Vice President Chris Amos, CAFM, said, “Walt’s selfless efforts have touched hundreds and hundreds of peers and helped to raise the professionalism of fleet management.  In short, he is what excellence in education is all about.”

NAFA introduced another FMI first: a Green Fleet Ride-and-Drive, in which attendees tried out a personal utility vehicle from American Chariot, a Civic GX natural gas vehicle, a Roush Propane F-150, an all-electric Summit vehicle, a Roush natural gas heavy duty truck and Toyota Prius, and others.

Tuesday, May 8
The Larry Goill Award, co-sponsored by NAFA and Bell Canada, was established to recognize fleet managers whose creative ideas improved productivity and quality or produced substantial bottom-line savings for their employers.  This year’s winners are Tom Groshong, motor pool supervisor for the University of Central Oklahoma, and Robert C. Stanton, director of fleet management for the Polk County Board of Commissioners, Polk County, Florida.

Tom Groshong led a team that formulated a production process to turn waste cooking oil from campus cafeterias and a local hospital into biodiesel usable in the school’s fleet.

Robert C. Stanton, director of fleet management for the Polk County Board of Commissioners, Polk County, Florida, wrote, filmed and edited a 10-minute recruitment DVD to attract automotive technicians to work in Polk County.  The project was so well received that the video now streams on the county website, is in regular rotation on the county’s television station, and is present at all local career fairs.

Look for in-depth coverage of the 2007 FMI-LEG Conference and Expo in future issues of NAFA's Fleet Executive magazine.