Multiple companies and brands have recently announced personnel changes in the commercial fleet world. Automotive Fleet has a June roundup of these promotions and recognition, including:

• Cavis Appoints Theresa Belding as Senior Fleet Manager

• Merchants Fleet Promotes Stephen Merkel to Vice President

• Kathryn Schifferle of Work Truck Solution is Recognized Among 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry by Automotive News

• Merchants Fleet Hires Paul Garbis as VP of Field Operations

Cavis Appoints Theresa Belding as Senior Fleet Manager

Cavis, a fleet management optimization company, has added Theresa Belding to their team as a Senior Fleet Consultant.

Cavis works with fleet operators to optimize cost, productivity, and efficiency through collaboration. We work with fleets to understand and evaluate their needs, data, and supplier stack. They then make appropriate recommendations to optimize their operations.

Theresa Belding is a fleet professional with decades of experience in growth, innovation, and integration. Before joining Cavis, she served in fleet leadership roles at Exact Sciences, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Actavis, Allergan, and AbbVie. 

Belding is instrumental in Cavis offering solutions to fleet suppliers, operators, and management companies. She has helped clients grow, optimize, and scale their fleets successfully and efficiently. 

Some of Belding’s notable achievements include:

• Winner of the Fleet Manager of the Year – Automotive Fleet

• Winner of the Fleet Excellence Award for Fleet Safety – NAFA

• Recognized as a Top 25 Most Influential Women in Fleet

In her previous experience, Theresa successfully scaled a fleet from 250 to over 4,000 vehicles. She knows how to deliver measurable results and drive strategic changes.

Merchants Fleet Promotes Stephen Merkel to Vice President

Stephen Merkel is a veteran in the fleet management space, and Merchants Fleet just promoted him to be their Vice President. Merkel has been with Merchants Fleet, a company providing comprehensive fleet management solutions, for over 20 years.

Merkel began his career at Enterprise in a series of progressive leadership positions before moving on to Bancorp, where he delivered seasons of consistent and strong professional performance.

“Stephen exemplifies the kind of leadership that defines Merchants,” said Brad Burgess, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer at Merchants Fleet. “As we continue to lead the fleet industry in innovation, flexibility, and service, Stephen’s promotion to Vice President of our West Region reflects our commitment to developing top talent and delivering unmatched expertise to clients nationwide.”

Merkel will now lead regional expansion across the western U.S.

Kathryn Schifferle of Work Truck Solution is Recognized Among 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry by Automotive News

Work Truck Solutions’ Founder and Chief Vision Officer, Kathryn Schifferle, has been named among 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry by Automotive News. Schifferle and her co-honorees were celebrated at The Henry in Dearborn, Michigan, with a gala hosted by Automotive News. They were also featured in the May 19 issue of the magazine. 

100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry recognizes women who lead in the automotive field. It recognizes those who are influential and pivotal to their companies and the industry. Automotive News has published the list of the industry’s top female executives every five years since 2000.

With a background in strategic business development, Schifferele has expanded Work Tuck Solutions’ influence in the commercial vehicle sector with Comvoy. Comvoy was built to help buyers find the right vehicle at a dealership for their business while simultaneously assisting dealerships with merchandising their inventory and expanding their reach.

Schifferle has also spearheaded numerous innovative projects supporting the evolving needs of businesses in the transportation sector. One of the most recent examples is the Commercial Electric Vehicle (CEV) Hub, a resource developed in collaboration with J.D. Power. CEV Hub provides businesses with interactive tools and insights to assist with fleet electrification, including available tax incentives, total cost of ownership calculations, and EV charging infrastructure mapping and matching.

Schifferele commented on the recognition, saying, “Being recognized among the industry’s leading women is truly an honor, but more importantly, it underscores the progress we’re making in reshaping the way businesses interact with commercial vehicles. Work Truck Solutions and Comvoy have always been about innovation, ensuring that dealers, fleet managers, and business owners have the right tools to thrive in an evolving landscape. As we continue to drive forward, I’m excited to be a part of how collaboration and technology are shaping the future of mobility."

The 2025 class of Automotive News’ 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry emerged from a months-long nomination and judging process that attracted hundreds of entries from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Merchants Fleet Hires Paul Garbis as VP of Field Operations

Merchants Fleet has announced the hire of Paul Garbis as their new Vice President of Field Operations. Previously serving as Vice President of Operations for the Central Region and Canada for Hertz, Garbis brings over 20 years of operational leadership experience to Merchants Fleet. 

Garbis has consistently demonstrated operational excellence, strategic leadership, and exceptional results for clients. He is excited for his new role stating, “Merchants Fleet isn’t just keeping pace with the fleet industry, it’s actively driving it forward. I’m thrilled to join this innovative team, and excited to help take our field operations to the next level for our clients.”

Merchants Fleet is just as optimistic with Jeff Nieman, Senior Vice President & Chief Operations Officer, stating, “His operational expertise and commitment to delivering exceptional service will be invaluable as we continue to provide a best-in-class experience for our clients.”