“What makes nights like this so special is that we’re not just an industry — we’re a community. Look around you. This community is thriving.  

"We compete, we innovate, we solve hard problems. But above all, we lift each other up. Tonight is about celebrating that spirit through the people who embody it most.”

Automotive Fleet’s Associate Publisher Chris Brown opened the awards night at the 2025 AFLA (Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association) Corporate Fleet Conference with these words.  

Brown started to answer the question: “Why do we celebrate awards?” But here is the finish: Because in a profession defined by complexity and constant change, pausing to recognize excellence lifts the entire industry.  

Awards shine a light on the people who push others forward — the innovators, mentors, problem-solvers, and culture-builders.  

In this spirit, Automotive Fleet annually presents three of the most meaningful awards in the fleet industry at the AFLA conference.

The Edward J. Bobit Fleet Manager of the Year Award 

Established in 1985 and named for Automotive Fleet founder Edward J. Bobit, this award, sponsored by Wheels, honors the fleet manager who demonstrates extraordinary leadership, operational excellence, innovation, and industry stewardship.  

Chosen by peers, the award represents one of the highest professional distinctions in fleet management.

The Fleet Visionary Award 

Created to recognize rising professionals with fewer than 10 years in fleet, the Visionary Award, sponsored by Merchants Fleet, celebrates individuals who rethink challenges, champion new ideas, and drive meaningful improvements in safety, sustainability, and efficiency.  

Visionaries illuminate the industry’s future and show where fleet is headed next.

The Fleet Hall of Fame 

A lifetime achievement honor, the Fleet Hall of Fame recognizes professionals with at least a decade of industry impact whose contributions have left a permanent imprint on the fleet landscape.  

In 2025, five outstanding professionals took center stage on Sept. 15 in Marco Island, Florida.

Joseph Lukacs: 2025 Edward J. Bobit Fleet Manager of the Year

Joseph Lukacs accepted the 2025 Edward J. Bobit Professional Fleet Manager of the Year Award, now the 41st recipient of an award that has come to symbolize the pinnacle of professional achievement in fleet.

With more than 27 years at Sherwin-Williams — 11 of them in fleet — Lukacs oversees more than 8,500 vehicles in the U.S. and over 12,000 globally. Through a blend of intuition and strategic analysis, he has guided Sherwin-Williams to the forefront of sustainability, operational improvement, and data-driven fleet management.

Lukacs converted more than 10% of the company’s California commercial vehicles to EVs, reducing CO₂ emissions by 4.1% since 2023. His broader efforts have increased MPG across the internal-combustion fleet by 4.7%. He also helped develop safer, more efficient delivery ramp solutions and used his deep understanding of market timing to secure multi-million-dollar remarketing gains in 2024.

By serving on advisory boards for both GM Fleet and Wheels, Lukacs continues to influence the fleet ecosystem far beyond his own organization. He credited his success to his team, his partners, and especially his wife, Sara.  

His speech reflected a career grounded in passion — from building and racing cars as a young man to earning multiple Six Sigma certifications. But what resonated most was Lukacs’ message about relationships: “Yes, we care about MPG gains, carbon reductions, and cost savings. But those are just byproducts. What really matters is people.”

Taylor Murphy: 2025 Fleet Visionary Award

In just four years in fleet, Taylor Murphy of Hilti has already redefined what a rising leader can accomplish.

Murphy spearheaded Hilti’s North American fleet electrification initiative — a major undertaking that transformed more than 2,500 vehicles into a hybrid and EV lineup. This included adding 200 EV pickups, making Hilti one of the largest recipients of that model. Today, 72% of Hilti’s fleet is sustainable, exceeding corporate goals and improving overall fuel efficiency by 12%.

Murphy played a pivotal role in designing Hilti’s charging ecosystem, collaborating with OEMs and FMC analysts to match vehicles and infrastructure to real-world driver needs. His approach highlights a key element of fleet electrification success: operational fit must guide every decision.

One of Murphy’s most noteworthy achievements was overcoming driver skepticism — a hurdle familiar to every fleet transitioning to EVs. By inviting drivers to share candid experiences on social media and internal channels, he replaced uncertainty with ownership and enthusiasm.

Murphy also has a keen focus on fleet safety. Using telematics technology, he developed a program that analyzes real-time behavior, identifies risks, and targets event-based training. The result was a more engaged, safety-conscious driving community.

His closing message to the audience captured the spirit of the Visionary Award: 
“You do more than you know. Don’t get bogged down in daily tasks and miss the bigger picture—you make the world safer and more sustainable.”

Hall of Fame: Celebrating Lifetime Achievement

This year’s inductees — Oleg Cytowicz, Lisa Kneggs, and Laura Jozwiak — join more than 100 fleet icons who exemplify leadership, mentorship, and innovation.

Hall of Fame Inductee: Oleg Cytowicz

Oleg Cytowicz began his career at Lever Brothers in 1989, where his early analytical work reduced downtime by 12% in under a year. That success foreshadowed a 34-year tenure at Unilever, where he rose to serve as global automotive fleet lead and senior analyst, shaping fleet programs across North America and global markets.

Cytowicz also served on Unilever’s Global Fleet Council, helping develop the policy frameworks and operational structures that guided a multinational fleet through decades of change. His work has saved companies millions of dollars while establishing new standards for preventive maintenance, procurement strategy, and risk management.

Beyond technical achievement, Cytowicz is celebrated for mentorship and community-building. “His open-door approach has cultivated a vibrant network of professionals committed to continuous improvement,” his nomination read.

Cytowicz has shared his knowledge widely as an industry advocate, speaker, and advisor. His accomplishments earned him NAFA’s Larry Goill Award and a 2017 nomination for Fleet Manager of the Year. In 2025, he also joined the inaugural class of NAFA Fellows.

“This honor isn’t just a reflection of my journey — it’s a celebration of everyone who helped me along the way,” he said, capturing the collaborative spirit that defines the Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame Inductee: Lisa Kneggs

Lisa Kneggs’ story reflects three decades of technical skill, operational leadership, and personal connection — all rooted in a deep love of vehicles and people.

Kneggs’ fleet career began in 1995 when she was “voluntold” to take over the Pizza Hut fleet, armed with only a single day of training. She took the ball and ran with it, eventually managing 1,700 sedans at Yum Brands and mastering the complexities of upfitting — from lift gates to shelving to secure vault systems.

Today, at Farmer Brothers Coffee Company, Kneggs leads safety, compliance, and sustainability initiatives while serving as a mentor and champion for other fleet professionals.  

Her nominator said it best: “It’s not just her professional achievements that make Lisa Hall of Fame material — it’s her character.”

Her acceptance speech reflected the joy and gratitude that defined her career. She spoke of the opportunities fleet gave her — meeting automotive legends, driving at iconic speedways, navigating mountain passes — and of the people who stood by her through mergers, layoffs, and growth.

“To me, it hasn’t just been about business,” she said. “It was about friendships. Lifelong ones.”

Hall of Fame Inductee: Laura Jozwiak

Laura Jozwiak joins the Hall of Fame with a career marked by leadership, client advocacy, and a commitment to developing others. Beginning as an executive assistant at Emkay, she rose to become a strategic advisor and chief client officer at Wheels, helping guide the organization through one of the most consequential mergers in industry history: Wheels, LeasePlan USA, and Donlen.

Jozwiak is recognized for fostering cultures centered on client success, people's development, and operational excellence. Colleagues describe her leadership as empathetic, dynamic, and deeply human. 
“Laura led with clarity, compassion, and conviction,” said longtime colleague Suresh Rajapakse. “Her legacy continues to inspire.”

She framed her career in fleet as a love story — one shaped by evolution, challenge, growth, and community. “The love story continued with new industry challenges, ESG, supply chains, mergers, new ways to grow, and challenged,” she told attendees. “This recognition is the cherry on top of a fantastic love story.”

Jozwiak has held leadership roles with AFLA, served on the Women in Fleet Management board, and was the first affiliate member to earn CAFM certification. Her impact reaches well beyond her employers and into the broader fleet ecosystem.

A Legacy That Moves Fleet Forward

The 2025 AFLA Awards remind us that fleet is, at its core, a people's business. Technologies evolve, regulations shift, and strategies adapt — but the industry advances because of the professionals who lead, inspire, and support one another.

As the industry looks ahead, it does so on the foundation these leaders have laid. Their work — and the spirit behind it — ensures that fleet continues to evolve, excel, and thrive.