NAFA Fleet Management Association announced on Sept. 22 that its newly formed governance body, the CAFM Commission, convened for the first time in Washington, D.C. this week. NAFA authorized the creation of the CAFM Commission in April of this year to independently oversee all matters related to the Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM) and ancillary Certified Automotive Fleet Specialist (CAFS) credentials. 

With NAFA’s commitment to industry certification, the CAFM Commission will spearhead further growth, validation, and credibility of the CAFM credential for fleet managers, fleet industry professionals, and their employers, according to the announcement. In its role, the commission will establish the standards, content, and operating policies of the CAFM credential, adapting and evolving the standards of performance excellence for fleet professionals regularly to sustain the relevancy, quality, and high expectations of value.  

Approved by the NAFA board of directors earlier this year, the inaugural slate serving on the CAFM Commission comprises industry experts. “These commissioners will provide invaluable expertise and will play a crucial role in guiding the evolution of the fleet industry’s gold-standard credential in alignment with evolving national and international credentialing industry best practices,” NAFA President Ray Brisby, CAFM commented. “This is an exciting time in the growth of this legacy program.”  

2022-2023 CAFM Commissioners include:

• Larissa Clinard, CAFM (Chair), Director of Fleet and Logistics, J. F. Ahern Co., Fond du Lac, WI 

• Michael Braband, CAFM, Fleet Administrator, Pace Suburban Bus, Arlington Heights, IL 

• Brett Bridges, CAFM, Director of Communications & Client Services, BBL Fleet, Pittsburgh, PA 

• Tiffany Duran, CAFM, Corporate Fleet Analyst, Erie Insurance, Erie, PA 

• Josephine Foley, CAFM, Manager of Safety & Fleet, Sullivan Tire, Taunton, MA 

• Jonathan Ford, CAFM, Fleet Division Manager, City of Orlando, Orlando, FL 

• James McElheney, CAFM, Director, Department of General Services, City of Newport News, Newport News, VA 

• Bradley Northup, CAFM, Public Works Superintendent, City of Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA 

• Parthiban Parasuraman, CAFM, Fleet Supervisor, Telecon Inc, Oshawa, ON 

• Marie Pepper, CAFM, Director, Client Success, LeasePlan USA, Alpharetta, GA 

• Peggy Schuette, CAFM, NAM Fleet Leader, Suez Plato, MN 

The Certified Automotive Fleet Manager credential is a fleet industry credential for committed professionals who have demonstrated the wide range of knowledge essential to manage fleet operations. Currently, there are more than 500 active CAFM designees from across the United States, Canada, UAE, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Egypt, and the Cayman Islands. Monster.com named the CAFM credential as "one of the top 10 for salary growth," citing that CAFMs earn an average of 27% more than non-certified fleet professionals. 

NAFA added that those interested in serving on the CAFM Commission in 2024 or beyond can contact certification@nafa.org or respond to the next call for volunteers for consideration.