The Fleet Visionary Award celebrates new voices in fleet management — industry leaders who have brought a new perspective to running a commercial fleet resulting in a more efficient, cost-effective, safer fleet operation by introducing new methods, efficiencies, and/or technologies. The award is sponsored by Merchants Fleet.

The Fleet Visionary may or may not be a fleet manager but is someone who has taken an active leadership role with a new perspective in the company's fleet organization, promoting and championing innovation even in the face of internal or external opposition. The visionary isn't just someone with a good idea. He or she is part salesman, part number-cruncher, part coach, part quarterback — able to both inspire and get things done.

The award will be presented at the Automotive Fleet and Leasing Association's 2023 Corporate Fleet Conference "Best Is Yet To Come," October 2-5 in Palm Springs, Calif.

Aleece Beaulieu

Global Pharm Fleet Manager, Genentech

Years in Fleet: 8

Aleece Beaulieu has created groundbreaking integrated sustainability and technology programs to support her 1,800-vehicle fleet. Her programs display visionary leadership in fleet management.

She has committed to convert the fleet to 100% electric by 2030. Her initiatives include vehicle selectors offering hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure electric options; top electric drivers are recognized with annual sustainability awards; and a subsidized home charger program with more than 400 home chargers installed. Electricity is reimbursement-based on kWh usage via automation directly linked to payroll.

Beaulieu also developed a driver support and education program that includes personalized driver dashboards, a digit hub and webinars and a newsletter. She expanded a site fleet depot center to support EV charging, maintenance and washing services. This on-site depot vision is designed to enable vehicle sharing and improve vehicle utilization, saving hundreds of thousands in operating costs annually.

Furthermore, Beaulieu instituted greater software integration with her FMC and HR for time-saving and speedy internal approval for ERGO and family vehicle exceptions, home charger installation approvals, and ongoing vehicle acquisition and service requests.

Due to Beaulieu’s initiatives, 35% of the deployed fleet is plug-in electric (on track to hit 2030 electric goals). Electric miles (including PHEV % electric) are tracked quarterly. She continues to uncover new aspects of scaling sustainability programs. She has shared her knowledge with the fleet community at multiple conferences, such as the ACT Fleet Forum, CEVA, EV-100, and the White House EV Acceleration Challenge.

Francisco Cabeza

Independent Consultant, Supporting Latin American EV projects with NGOs

Years in Fleet: 8

An opinion leader, Francisco Cabeza has led the fleet electrification strategy, developing electric mobility projects in the public and private sectors. He has served as an advisor to automakers, developers, managers and public and private entities in developing profitable projects. Additionally, he has developed and manages association agreements with the public and private sector.

Cabeza’s notable projects include developing and implementing the business strategy for electric vehicles charging infrastructure in Latin America (Chile, Mexico, Colombia and Peru) (individual and collective).

He has been involved in developing first public charging network in Mexico and the first electric public transport system in Mexico City. Other initiatives Cabeza has participated in include the first electric fleets of DHL, Grupo Modelo, Estafeta, Redpack, and Lala as well as the second- largest heavy electric truck fleet in the world outside of China.

Eric McCann

Director of Fleet Operations, Bimbo Bakeries

Years in Fleet: 5

Eric McCann is an early adopter of fleet electrification. At Bimbo Bakeries USA, the U.S. business of Mexico City-based Grupo Bimbo, he runs more than 60 class 5/6 commercial vehicles, managing equipment specifications, fleet sustainability initiatives, and adoption of telematics.

Sustainability is a chief company value, and McCann continuously seeks new ways to preserve the environment and reduce the corporate carbon footprint. In 2019, he introduced Motiv’s all-electric medium-duty fleet chassis for buses and trucks into the Bimbo fleet. Today, he runs EVs daily, measuring than 95% uptime.

McCann has electrified at least four fleet depots. Most recently, he launched a fully operational 30-vehicle EV depot in Anaheim, Calif., securing incentive funding from Pacific Gas & Electric and the state’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project to shave 75% off infrastructure costs at one site and 50% at another.

McCann is the person everyone calls for advice and direction on fleet electrification. He has participated on industry panels, such as the EV-focused Fleet Forward series, and has hosted webinars on fleet electrification, covering such topics as how to work with utilities and charging station infrastructure.