Click here for a pdf version of this article.

Presented by Automotive Fleet magazine and exclusively sponsored by the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA), the Fleet Hall of Fame award recognizes fleet industry leaders and pioneers who have contributed significantly to the commercial fleet management profession. Eligible nominees must have at least 10 years of fleet management experience and have contributed significantly to the fleet industry. Of these 21 nominees, a slate of seven inductees will be announced at the AFLA annual conference, Sept. 14-16 in San Diego.

You can vote for this year's nominees here.

Here are this year's nominees:

Jim Anselmi
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey;
Lorillard Tobacco
Dates in Fleet: 1985-Present

Anselmi started as an apprentice automotive mechanic with the Port Authority of N.Y. and N.J. in 1965. In 1986, he became fleet manager and joined NAFA. Anselmi started with Lorillard Tobacco in 1996 as the director of fleet and travel. He was the first public service fleet manager to be elected NAFA President in 1995, is a recipient of the NAFA Distinguished Service Award, and is currently president of the NAFA Foundation. He served a term as AFLA president and was the 2002 AF Professional Fleet Manager of the Year.

Ken Baittinger
Automotive Resources International (ARI)

Baittinger’s worked from frontline customer service and operations at ARI to sales, before promotion to executive management. He played a vital role in 1990 when he served as general manager for one year for an acquired company, Lend Lease Corporation, as it was integrated into ARI. He retired from ARI in 2004 as senior VP of operations. He developed ARI’s quality assurance program, Partners In Excellence, as a tool to ensure everyone at ARI continues to put clients first in all things.

Bob Berke
NAFA
Executive Director (Deceased)

Berke took over full-time management of NAFA as the association’s founding executive director in March 1965. He spent his entire career with the Association during its growth years until retiring from NAFA in 1985. Berke passed away in 2000.

Sal Crimi
SALEX

Crimi was one of the principal contributors in the establishment of the Lee Myles National Fleet Transmission replacement program. Later, with his partner Alex Gianoupolos, he created SALEX, a combination of their two first names. SALEX was designed to provide to corporate America the first nationwide collision and major mechanical programs exclusive for fleets. At a later date, the company added standard and preventive maintenance services. The addition of these services established SALEX as the first full-service supplier of collision and full maintenance programs to the fleet industry. He is an honorary NAFA lifetime member.

Larry Domagal
Ford Motor Company
Fleet Director (Retired)
Dates in Fleet: 1959-1977

Domagal was Ford Division’s longest-serving fleet
director. He retired from Ford Motor Co. in 1977.

Ray Fisher
Chrysler Corp. / Donlen Corp.
VP of Sales, Service & Parts Operations
(Retired)

Fisher enjoyed a 33-year career at Chrysler, culminating with his role as VP of sales, service, and parts operations. His accomplishments include the restructuring and expansion of Chrysler fleet, transitioning and introducing Sprinter as a Dodge, successfully introducing RWD sedans and two Dodge police vehicles, development of Chrysler’s Certified Pre-Owned program, establishing a small commercial fleet dealer network, forming Chrysler’s first Client Advisory Board, and bringing Chrysler’s current fleet leaders into fleet operations. He is also credited with being the driver behind separating the annual NAFA and AFLA meetings.

Jerry Frick
Ford North American Fleet Leasing
and Rental Operations (Retired)
Dates in Fleet: 1996-2006

Frick started working at Ford in 1970 and retired in 2006 after working in both domestic and international assignments at Ford, including commercial fleet sales manager and director of truck sales and marketing for Ford of Europe in England. He also served as director of Allied on the AFLA Board, was an active member of the NAFA Affiliates Committee, and a key member of the NAFA Foundation Board of Directors.

Dave Hansen
GM Fleet & Commercial Operations
General Manager (Retired)
Dates in Fleet: 1998-2008

Hansen joined GM in 1965 after graduating high school, working in a GM assembly plant during the summer while attending college. After graduating college with an engineering degree, he worked in several roles, including chief engineer for the Chevrolet Division. Hansen often comments that the highlight of his career was serving as general manager of GM Fleet & Commercial Operations in the late ’90s and into the next century. After leaving GM, Hansen became COO for Tecstar, a second-stage manufacturer for GM. He is now retired, but provides pro-bono support of the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR).

George Kilroy
PHH
President and CEO
Dates in Fleet: 1976 - Present

Kilroy began his career at PHH Arval in 1976 and held various roles in sales, client relations, marketing, equipment leasing, and senior leadership. He was named president and CEO of PHH Arval in 2001. In 2007, he was appointed Chairman of AALA after serving as the organization’s president for three years.

Under Kilroy’s leadership, PHH Arval has repeatedly been recognized for advancements in technology, outstanding customer service, and corporate citizenship. His pioneering spirit is evident in the many innovations PHH has brought to the marketplace during his tenure as CEO, such as the industry’s first environmental program, telematics solution, driver mobile program, and violations management program.
Kilroy was also responsible for the partnership between PHH Arval and Environmental Defense Fund in 2006 to improve the environmental performance of commercial fleets. SmartCEO magazine named Kilroy its 2010 EcoCEO for his commitment to the environment.

Dick Krantz
Mileage Consultants
Founder

Krantz founded Mileage Consultants, and, along with Pat Starr of CSC, was one of the pioneers of fleet maintenance national account programs. He sold the company to GELCO in the ‘80s.

Dan Leary
Motorlease Corporation
CEO (Retired)
Dates in Fleet: 1960-1993

Leary joined Motorlease in 1960, working in sales and general management. With his partner, Charles O’Neill, he helped pioneer the concept of outsourced fleet management and was instrumental in developing new remarketing strategies for Motorlease. He took full control of the company in 1976. During his tenure, Motorlease expanded from about 10 employees and a fleet of 600 to about 30 employees and a fleet of 3,000 at his retirement in 1993, when he turned company management over to his son Jack, CEO, and daughter Beth, CFO. He remains on Motorlease’s Board of Directors, was an active member of AALA throughout his career, and served on its Board from 1981 through 1993.

Bob Martines
Corporate Claims Management (CCM)
Dates in Fleet: 1977-Present

Martines began his fleet career in 1977 with SALEX Fleet Specialists. He Initially conceived, developed, and implemented the concept of accident management in the fleet industry in 1979. He conceived, helped create, and oversees the perpetual development of CCM’s FleetGuard Safety Management Program, which provides corporate fleet managers effective safety training, reduced vehicular accidents, and helps save driver’s lives.
Martines is active in NAFA, AFLA, RIMS, and TAB. He has made numerous presentations for NAFA, AFLA, and RIMS throughout the U.S. and Canada in areas of accident management, subrogation recovery practices, vehicle remarketing, and  the pros and cons of insurance in fleet. He is the author of many articles published in Automotive Fleet and Fleet Financials magazines on various fleet- and risk-related issues.

He has served as a member of the New Jersey NAFA board since 1987, holding several chair positions. He previously served on NAFA’s National Educational Committee as an instructor in the estimating/accident repair module and served on the editorial committee for the Fleet Executive magazine. Martines received NAFA’s “Outstanding Chapter Service Award” in May of 2003, an award from NAFRD exemplifying their “Code of Ethics” for professionalism and integrity, and various awards and honors from regional organizations for dedication and service. He was featured on national television in Pat Summerall’s “Champions of Industry.”

Jim McCarthy
Siemens Corp.
Director, Vehicle Management
Dates in Fleet: 1984-Present

McCarthy has been a Siemens employee for 27 years and has been responsible for Siemens’ fleet management for past 18 years. He is a founding member and organizer of Siemens Shared Services organization, developing a business model within a shared services environment whereby the division sold its services to other Siemens companies and joint ventures. Using this business model as a foundation, the division grew the Siemens fleet from 1,100 vehicles in 1993 to its current level of 15,500.

Siemens was a “Top Plus” finalist (a Simens “global” business competition)  in 2005 for initiatives that netted one Siemens Operating Company $12.5 million in savings over three years (2002-2005). Additionally, McCarthy is a long-standing member of Siemens Global Procurement Board, which has been responsible for generating significant global overrides for Siemens companies worldwide.

McCarthy has been an NAFA Fleet Management Association member for 15 years, an AFLA member for 10 years, and has served on its Board of Directors and is a current member of its Sounding Board. He has served on the Wheels Steering Council as well as Ford’s Fleet Advisory Board and Chrysler Advisory Board. McCarthy was named AF’s Professional Fleet Manager of the Year in 2005.

Donald Miller
Mike Albert Fleet Solutions
Vice President (Retired)
Dates in Fleet: 1957-2003

Miller started his 45-year career with Mike Albert Leasing in 1957, helping lead it from a local leasing concern to a major national fleet management company. He was instrumental in creating and establishing its vehicle remarketing operations and vehicle purchasing department, as well as developing a national sales force.

As an industry leader in closed-end operating leases, Miller established the Mike Albert Residual Committee. By pooling information from various aspects of the business, he established the Mike Albert vehicle model year’s closed-end residuals.

He retired in 2004, and is still an active Residual Committee member.

[PAGEBREAK]

Sue Miller
McDonald’s Corporation
Dates in Fleet:  1979-Present

Miller was AF’s 1998 Professional Fleet Manager of the Year and began her industry career in 1979 at ServiceMaster Industries. She implemented a new fleet program from the ground up with A.B. Dick Company. Miller was the fleet manager for Keebler Corp., before joining McDonald’s Corp., where she has been the fleet manager for 25 years. She was the recipient of the McDonald’s President’s Award, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of the top 1 percent of global staff employees.

She has participated on client boards for GELCO, LeasePlan, and Ford Motor Company. Miller has been an AFLA member for 23 years and served as vice president and president in 1996-1998. She currently chairs the AFLA Commercial Fleet Manager Sounding Board. She has also been a NAFA member for 32 years and served as Chairperson and Secretary of the Chicago NAFA Chapter in the ‘80s.

Debbie Mize
Hallmark
Dates in Fleet: 1977-present

Mize, AF’s1995 Professional Fleet Manager of the Year, began her fleet career in 1977 at Hallmark Cards working with Helen Bland. She has been heavily involved in NAFA, holding all NAFA chapter offices. In addition to receiving the NAFA Outstanding Chapter Service Award in recognition from her local NAFA chapter, she also served on the national NAFA board as the National NAFA Educational Chairperson. During her term as chairperson, the educational seminars were completely restructured to better serve the educational needs of members. Mize has also served on the AFLA board and is currently the national AFLA Treasurer. In addition, she has served on the ADT Advisory Board and Ford Advisory Board, and currently serves on the Chrysler Advisory Board. 

Gary Rappeport
Donlen Corp.
CEO
Dates in Fleet: 1986-present

Rappeport’s focus on employee and customer satisfaction, corporate social responsibility, and environmental consciousness has put Donlen in the forefront of workplace excellence. Named Executive of the Year at the 2009 American Business Awards, Rappeport was honored for his many industry achievements, including Donlen’s exponential growth during his tenure as CEO. Under his leadership, Donlen has received numerous industry recognitions, including Crain’s List of 20 Best Places to Work in Chicago each year from 2009-2011; The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals “The Global Outsourcing 100” list, Leader Category, from 2006-2010; and National Association for Business Resources “101 Best and Brightest Places to Work For in Chicago” from 2007-2011.

Rappeport’s focus extends beyond Donlen to the industry as a whole. In 2010, he was accepted as a member of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) for spearheading the industry-wide CGI Commitment to Action titled “Commercial Fleet 20-Percent GHG Emissions Reduction.” In collaboration with Environmental Defense Fund, Rappeport has committed significant Donlen resources over the next five years to help companies, vendors, and suppliers reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the fleet industry.

Eugene Ribakoff
AMI Leasing (Deceased)
Dates in Fleet: 1939-2001

Ribakoff’s automotive career spanned 62 years, with multiple successful businesses in the automotive sector, including Automotive Management, Inc., a Worcester, Mass.-based corporation that operates car and truck dealerships; AMI Leasing; and Harr Motor Companies. Ribakoff served for 55 years as chairman of Automotive Management. He spent his entire business career with this company and its predecessors before retiring from active business in 2001.

Ribakoff and the late Leo Malboeuf started AMI Leasing in 1952. The AMI Group of automotive leasing and rental companies was sold to Ford Motor Credit Company in 1998.

He was one of the founding members of the American Automotive Leasing Association (AALA).

Shirley Collins, CAFM
GlaxoSmithKline
N.A. Fleet Director
Dates in Fleet: 1986-Present

Before earning the title of AF’s Professional Fleet Manager of the Year in 2000, Collins was a nominee for the award consecutively from 1997-1999. She has also served as a panel judge in the years following her win. Collins is a member of the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA), serving as a 2010 board member, in addition to being an active member of NAFA. She received her CAFM designation in 1996. During her time with GlaxoSmithKline, she achieved year-over-year savings through process improvements and automation, policy revisions, and selector streamlining. She has also successfully integrated fleets in major mergers and many smaller acquisitions and created a comprehensive driver safety program.

Bob Ward
GELCO, Avis, USFL
Dates in Fleet: 1971-Present

Ward began his career with Gelco in 1971, working in several areas, from operations to client relations, sales to international responsibilities, and eventually president of GELCO’s Fleet Management Group. While at GELCO, the company went from a regional leasing company to an international company and eventually became a $2-billion diversified transportation company traded on the NYSE. After GE acquired GELCO in 1988, Ward returned to New York and accepted the position of president of Avis Leasing Co. He later joined U.S. Leasing in San Francisco (owned by Ford) and became president of USFL. After several years with U.S. Leasing, Ward left to start his own business, Fleet Advisors in 1995. Since then, he has worked with hundreds of companies on fleet-related consulting projects and simultaneously established a Fleet Management Program to assist fleets.

Harley Westfall
Adrian Steel
Chairman of the Board

Harley Westfall joined Adrian Steel in 1976 and took over after his father, Adrian Steel founder Bob Westfall, passed away in 1980. Under his leadership, Adrian Steel became a QS-9000 certified company in 2000. In 2003, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary.

0 Comments