Learn More: Fleet Forward & Fleet Safety Conference 2023 Agenda Announced
2023 Fleet Forward Conference Closing Keynotes: For Fleets, By Fleets
The closing keynote panels for both the Fleet Forward and Fleet Safety Conferences — along with the overall agenda — are driven by fleet managers’ perspectives and expertise.

These speakers represent commercial, corporate, government, and trucking fleets of all sizes.
Photo: Canva
The combined Fleet Forward and Fleet Safety Conferences, convening Nov. 8-10 in Silicon Valley, are designed to “move fleets forward” to become more efficient, safer, and sustainable.
The conferences’ agendas are developed by fleet professionals. The fleet managers themselves are directly involved in creating the conferences’ educational content, and as panelists they share their perspectives and expertise on stage.
Highlighting this directive for the 2023 conferences are the two closing keynote seminars: “Trucking Fleet Manager’s Safety Forum,” and “Fleet Manager's State of the Industry Roundtable.”
The penultimate seminar will dig into the issues surrounding trucking safety today. The panelists, representing large trucking fleets, will share their insights, wins, and ongoing challenges around driver distraction and impairment, training and education, regulations and compliance, safety technology implementation, and more.
The panel, moderated by Jim Park of Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine, consists of Jonathan Gong of Youngs Inc., Michael Lasko of Boyle Transportation, and Amanda Schuier of Jetco Delivery.
In this seminar, the fleet manager winner of the 2023 HDT Safety & Compliance Award, bestowed directly before the seminar, will take a spot on the panel to join the conversation.
For the closing keynote, a panel of fleet managers will take the stage for a discussion on the state of the fleet industry, its near future, and their changing roles.
Moderated by Christy Grimes, associate editor of Government Fleet at Bobit, the panel consists of Eric Richardson from the New York City Fleet, Matt Betz of DTE Energy, Mike Hauge of Ecolab, and SuYvonne Bell of Gilead Sciences. Like the previous seminar, the just-awarded winner of the 2023 Automotive Fleet Safety Award will join the panel.
Fleet Manager Expertise in Seminars
Richardson, Betz, Hauge, and Bell will perform double duty in other seminars.
Richardson is working with Peter Goldwasser of Together for Safer Roads to present “Fostering Fleet Safety Through Public-Private Partnerships.”
Hauge will share his experience managing more than 11,00 light- and medium-duty vehicles as a panelist in the opening keynote “A Fleet Industry S.W.O.T. Analysis.”
Betz, who as a fleet manager of a utility fleet has deep experience with fleeting EVs, joins the panel “Will I Have Enough Power? Defining Your Infrastructure Project’s Scope.”
In “How to Measure True Costs of a Fleet Crash,” Bell will share actual fleet data to identify a true accounting of fleet crash costs.
Phil Moser, who recently took a position of associate director of driver safety at Syneos Health, joins Kristin Leary, director of fleet services at Syneos Health, to present “Protecting Your Fleet Drivers from Crime.”
Aleece Beauilieu, fleet manager at Genentech, joins the panel “Managing a Take-Home EV Fleet” to share lessons learned in Genentech’s transition of 350 units to EVs.
In “Defining Operational Costs for Commercial EVs,” Heather Hanson, bus operations program manager at Genentech, will discuss the electrification transition of the company’s 80 motorcoaches that serve 15,000 employees across seven counties.
David Renschler, fleet manager for the City of Fairfield, Calif., will lend his EV infrastructure expertise to “Understanding Grid Capacity to Scale EVs – And What Fleets Need to Do Now.”
David Worthington, who runs the fleet for the County of Santa Clara, joins the safety session “How to Identify, Manage, and Correct High-Risk Drivers.”
“The Fleet Forward and Fleet Safety Conferences depend on input from fleet managers’ on-the-ground experiences to make the agenda relevant for fleets looking to the future,” said Chris Brown, conference chair. “Fleet managers, join us to lend your expertise and help grow this involvement!”
About Fleet Forward Conference
Now in its sixth year, Fleet Forward Conference (FFC) is designed to deliver fleets solutions on electrification, connected vehicles, autonomous technology, last-mile and shared mobility, next-generation telematics, and more.
The conference is also combined with the Fleet Safety Conference, designed specifically for fleet, risk, and safety professionals with the goal to reduce driver distraction, limit fleet liability, and enhance safety culture overall.
As part of a combined agenda, attendees will pay one registration fee to access both events.
The 2023 FFC agenda also includes a ride and drive for attendees to experience new electric vehicles, mingle with product experts, and experience new technologies behind the wheel in a larger outdoor interactive space.
Registration for the combined Fleet Forward and Fleet Safety Conferences is open now.
More Safety

Nominations Open for 2026 Fleet Safety Award
Nominations have officially opened for the 2026 Fleet Safety Award Winner.
Read More →
Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter
Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.
Read More →
Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention
Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Learn more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab.
Read More →
NAFA Fleet Safety Symposium to Collocate With 2026 Fleet Forward Conference
The daylong certificate program will precede the Fleet Forward Conference at the Gaylord National Harbor in Maryland.
Read More →
The Distractions You Can’t Turn Off: What Drivers Face Outside the Vehicle
Fleet drivers face constant visual, cognitive, and environmental interruptions the moment they hit the road. From roadside chaos to mental fatigue and digital overload, today’s biggest driving risks often come from outside the vehicle itself.
Read More →
FLASH Weather AI Launches First Deep-Learning Hail Prediction Model With High-Resolution Forecasting
FLASH Weather AI has launched a first-of-its-kind hail prediction model capable of forecasting hail size and arrival time at 1-kilometer resolution up to 55 minutes ahead, giving fleets and insurers critical time to prepare for severe storms.
Read More →
How Coca-Cola United Protects Its Fleet from Growing Legal Risk
As litigation risk rises, vehicles are increasingly targeted. This Coca-Cola bottler shares how it’s reducing exposure through driver training, technology, and a proactive risk management approach.
Read More →
How to Speak the Same Language on Fleet Safety
Drivers, supervisors, and data often speak different safety “languages.” Getting on the same page will drive better results.
Read More →
Fleet Cybersecurity 101: What You Need from Your Technology Vendors
From identity management to third-party certifications, the right technology partner should make security easier to manage. Here are the three building blocks that fleet managers need to stay in control as connected systems scale.
Read More →
Reducing Risk by Eliminating Phone Use Behind the Wheel
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
Read More →
