NAFA, The Association for
Professional Fleet Management

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Contact: Phil Russo

National Association of Fleet Administrators, Inc.
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Winners of NAFA’s 2006 Goill Awards Honored at FMI-LEG

ISELIN, NJ, June 14, 2006 – The National Association of Fleet Administrators, Inc., (NAFA) has announced the winners of its prestigious Larry Goill Awards for Quality Fleet Management Ideas.  This year’s winners are Gregg Hodgdon, CAFM, director of fleet operations with E.A. Sween Company, Eden Prairie, Minnesota and Erle Potter, state equipment manager with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in Richmond, Virginia.

Hodgdon and Potter received their awards at the Chapter Recognition Lunch Presentation on Tuesday, May 9 at the joint NAFA FMI-LEG Conference & Expo at the Gaylord Palm Resort & Conference Center in Orlando, Florida, May 6-9. 

The Goill Awards is co-sponsored by NAFA and Bell Canada.  The NAFA/Bell Canada Quality Fleet Management Ideas Awards recognize fleet managers whose creative ideas have improved productivity and quality or produced substantial bottom-line savings for their employers. 

Hodgdon was selected as a winner after developing a “Vintage Chart” to display the long-term effects of continued investment in fleet operations.  The Vintage Chart allowed Hodgdon to prove to the E.A. Sween board of directors the logic behind the company’s strategic decisions and provided a quick visual reference for changes to fleet composition.  

“The model will reflect changes out to the year 2015,” Hodgdon explained.  “It provides a baseline to understanding how additions and changes to the fleet model will create changes in future years.”

Potter received the award for his development of VDOT’s TRUCKS (Training Rewards Us with Competencies, Knowledge, and Skills) program.  Faced with increasingly complex equipment and vehicles and a shrinking pool of skilled technicians, Potter’s plan led the way to the formation of TRUCKS teams.  As a result, the number of VDOT technicians receiving their ASE certifications rose from 300 to 3,000 in 10 years. 

“The development of TRUCKS was evolutionary and involved several steps,” Potter said.  “First, I had to get the willing support of all equipment managers from around the state.  Then everyone researched our training alternatives.  Ideas flowed freely and were prioritized.  The concept was to start small and ramp up based on needs, affordability, and how successful the initiative was. “

Gregg Hodgdon, CAFM, Accepts Goill Award at NAFA's FMI-LEG Conference

Erle Potter Accepts Goill Award at NAFA's FMI-LEG Conference