Nominees for AF's 1999 Fleet Manager of the Year Award

Jerry Albertini
Title: Manager of Corporate Services and Procurement.
Company: Simplex Time Recorder Co., Gardner, MA.
Total Vehicles: 2,896.
Passenger Cars: 1,079.
Trucks/Vans: 1,817.
Number Supervised: 2.
Years in Fleet: 20.
Replacement Policy:
Cars: 70,000 miles.
Trucks/Vans: 85,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
Albertini has helped Simplex save $5 million annually, turning a 120-percent deficit to a 15-percent surplus by centralizing fleet operations. Order accuracy has increased by 70 percent while order cycle time has decreased by 45 percent. Under Albertini’s leadership, Simplex has improved fleet operation efficiency, including the implementation of a call tracking Bob Brown
Title: Manager, Vehicle Fleet Business & Operations.
Company: Xerox Corp., Rochester, NY.
Total Vehicles: 10,500.
Passenger Cars: 500.
Trucks/Vans: 10,000.
Number Supervised: 1.
Years in Fleet: 20.
Replacement Policy: 48 months/70,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
In 1998, Brown was a key participant on a global task force that addressed the overall cost issues of operating the Xerox worldwide fleet. Major results included the realignment of vehicle lifecycle and depreciation rates, and renegotiation of supplier contracts. He addressed the entire used-vehicle remarketing strategies and developed alternatives for disposing of his fleet vehicles. Savings of several millions of dollars are projected in the next few years. Mike Buffi
Title: Fleet Manager.
Company: MetLife Auto & Home, Warwick, RI.
Total Vehicles: 650.
Passenger Cars: 550.
Trucks/Vans: 100.
Number Supervised: 1.
Years in Fleet: 10.
Replacement Policy: 36 months/55,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
Buffi oversaw the consolidation of diversified fleet operations in 1998. MetLife’s fleet expenses have decreased by 3.4 cents per mile, which saved $1 million when compared to the IRS rate of reimbursement and $750,000 against the industry average. In addition, he has developed a centralized insurance claim/subrogation program, with $70,000 subrogation recovery in 1997, and negotiated additional incentives from its fleet leasing company totaling $15,000 in 1998. William Colavita
Title: Fleet Administrator.
Company:Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Fleet Management, Richmond, VA.
Total Vehicles:3,100.
Passenger Cars:3,100.
Trucks/Vans:0.
Number Supervised:20.
Years in Fleet:10.
Replacement Policy:95,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
Colavita has implemented scheduled inspections and preventive maintenance for employees who are assigned vehicles to make the Virginia Department of Transportation the most effective customer-oriented public agency in Virginia. Colavita has changed part of the fleet to mid-size vehicles that will save the state of Virginia about $205,000 through reduced purchase price and lower operational costs. In addition, Colavita has begun reconditioning the cars before auction, adding a $1,000 value per vehicle sold. Shirley Collins,
Title: Manager, Fleet Services.
Company: Glaxo Wellcome, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Total Vehicles: 3,497.
Passenger Cars: 1,519.
Trucks/Vans: 1,978
Number Supervised: 6.
Years in Fleet: 14.
Replacement Policy:
Minivans/ Cars: 24 months/60,000 miles.
Vans/Light Trucks:36 months/80,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
Collins has managed to reduce fleet costs by 11 percent, producing savings of about $3.7 million. She has effectively held fleet operating cents per mile flat, despite a 15-percent decrease in monthly mileage. She has also increased the mix of employee and consignment sales, which grew from 11 percent to 37 percent of all sales, reducing depreciation by 17 percent over the previous year. In lieu of purchasing new vehicles, she has managed a re-deployment of existing vehicles, which resulted in $450,000 in cost avoidance. In addition, Collins has expanded service capabilities by establishing an internal call routing system for field representatives, and streamlined laptop expense reporting, resulting in real-time data collection. Bob Cover
Title: Group Sourcing Team Leader.
Company: Vulcan Materials Co., Birmingham, AL.
Total Vehicles: 1,700.
Passenger Cars: 510.
Trucks/Vans: 1,190.
Number Supervised: 0.
Years in Fleet: 2.
Replacement Policy:
Cars: 60 months/100,000 miles.
Trucks/Vans: 72 months/120,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
Cover led a five-man team that established a comprehensive, unbundled fleet program for Vulcan Materials. Alliances were formed with vendors to provide procurement programs for five primary services: manufacturer, procurement source (dealer or lessor), fuel supply, maintenance/accident repair, and remarketing. Five suppliers were chosen, and together with the Vulcan five-man team, the Vulcan Fleet Alliance was established. Cover and his team created a policies and procedures document that covered areas such as replacement cycling, vehicle assignment, paper/data flow, and authorization limits. Dennis Hogan
Title: Fleet Manager.
Company: Alliant Energy, Marion, IA.
Total Vehicles: 3,800.
Passenger Cars: 50.
Trucks/Vans: 1,650.
Miscellaneous Units: 2,100.
Number Supervised: 90.
Years in Fleet: 15.
Replacement Policy:
Cars/Trucks/Vans: 72 months/80,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
In 1996, Hogan was fleet manager for IES Utilities. After IES Utilities merged with Wisconsin Power and Light and Interstate Power Co. to form Alliant Energy in 1998, Hogan remained as fleet manager and his responsibilities expanded, as he donned different hats as a negotiator, salesman, communicator, and adviser. Hogan has developed a Fleet Services newsletter, Intranet site, team commitment statement, strategic operation plan, letter of expectations, and Fleet Services Center Recognition Plan – new initiatives designed to keep fleet personnel informed and part of operational changes. He has identified the most cost-efficient programs and processes designed to save Alliant Energy $20 million over a 10-year period. Martha Kobliska
Title: Senior Fleet Manager.
Company: U.S. Marshals Service, Arlington, VA.
Total Vehicles: 2,700.
Passenger Cars: 2,300.
Trucks/Vans: 400.
Number Supervised: 0.
Years in Fleet: 18.
Replacement Policy: 84 months/76,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
Kobliska has developed a master plan that, for the first time in Marshals Service history, provides a detailed blueprint for the future of its fleet. The fleet has seen marked improvement by changing the replacement cycle from the previous 136,000 miles to 76,000 miles. The replacement goal is 3 years/60,000 miles. Kobliska has also generated two studies over the past year. The “United States Marshals Service Motor Vehicle Business Practices” identified the vehicle acquisition practices of the Marshals Service and compares its practices to other fleets within and outside of the government. The “Vehicle Standardization” project’s goal is to streamline the costs of placing vehicles into service, the use of additional mid-size vehicles, and the development of a prisoner-transport vehicle that is consistent throughout the agency. Stephen Levine
Title:Fleet Manager.
Company:Pharmacia & Upjohn, Kalamazoo, MI.
Total Vehicles:2,300.
Passenger Cars:1,500.
Trucks/Vans:800.
Number Supervised:2.
Years in Fleet:31.
Replacement Policy:36 months/60,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
Levine said that continued management support and driver satisfaction has given him additional opportunities to contribute and manage a cost-effective fleet while maximizing driver productivity. Levine was chosen to chair the company’s Global Fleet Commodity Council, which disseminates global data to maximize local savings. Levine has received the 1995 NAFA/Business Week Quality Fleet Management Idea Award for his role in improving driver productivity. In addition, he has chaired a team that received the Upjohn Finance Division Productivity Award. Levine serves on the General Motors Sounding Board and the Wheels Steering Council. Claudia Mcgill
Title: Manager – Fleet Administration.
Company: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., Macon, GA.
Total Vehicles: 1,600.
Passenger Cars: 400.
Trucks/Vans: 1,200.
Number Supervised: 1.
Years in Fleet: 4.
Replacement Policy:
Cars: 48 months/65,000 miles.
Trucks/Vans: 48 months/70,000 mi.
SUVs: 48 months/80,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
After completing a lease review of Brown & Williamson’s fleet operations, McGill has implemented changes that will result in $5.3 million in savings over three years. Recommendations include changes in van upfitting, replacement policy, and inventory mix. When the company’s fleet department was eliminated and the fleet outsourced in March 1994, McGill, who was previously purchasing manager, assumed fleet responsibilities. After Brown & Williamson acquired American Tobacco in December 1994, she coordinated the fleet merger and fleet downsizing, and was responsible for the outsourcing of vehicles, programs, and administrative services. Bob Stanton
Title: Director of Fleet Management.
Company: Polk County, FL.
Total Vehicles: 1,955.Passenger Cars: 99.
Trucks/Vans: 435.
Miscellaneous Units: 1,421.
Number Supervised: 5.
Years in Fleet: 27.
Noted Accomplishments:
By 1992, the Polk County, FL, fleet operation was in debt to other county agencies for funds borrowed each year to break even. After Stanton was hired in November 1992, the Polk County Fleet Management has become profitable and paid all its debts. Stanton has implemented a new computer system, which provided information that was previously unavailable. The county Fleet Management became the specification writer and receiving authority for all new vehicles, relieving the purchasing department of this responsibility. An on-site preventive maintenance program was established through an outside vendor for the fire service department, increasing its fleet productivity and uptime. In addition, a program was set up that would assess a fee to users of new vehicles, and this fee would be put in a reserve fund and used to fund replacement vehicles only. A motor pool was also created. Merry Young
Title:Fleet Supervisor.
Company:MCI WorldCom, Tulsa, OK.
Total Vehicles:1,370.
Passenger Cars: 32.
Trucks/Vans:1,338.
Number Supervised:4.
Years in Fleet:8.
Replacement Policy:
Cars: 125,000 miles.
Trucks/Vans:150,000 miles.
Noted Accomplishments:
For the past five years, WorldCom has purchased 52 companies in which Young has been responsible for streamlining all systems services and programs as they relate to fleet. An average of 10 percent savings was achieved by making vehicle makes and models uniform. Standardization of safety and other aftermarket equipment has produced an average savings of 3 percent. By extending vehicle life 12-18 months through preventive maintenance, WorldCom has incurred average savings of 15-20 percent. Average cost-per-gallon was lowered as regular self-service was used by drivers adhering to fuel-type policy. Charles Bowen, director of fleet for Rollins Inc. and past recipient of the award in 1993, was also nominated. However, prior award recipients are ineligible for future considerations.