GM's Consolidated Fleet Operations recently created a commercial account advisory board made up of fleet managers called "The Sounding Board." The board's purpose is to assure that the voice of the corporate customer is heard at GM on a wide range of issues. The board's inaugural meeting s set for Jan. 19, 1994 in Phoenix, AZ. Organizational issues to be discussed include length of boardmember terms, frequency of meetings, election of successors, and other issues.

Members of The Sounding Board include: Charles Bowen of Georgia-Pacific; Marc Carney of Eastman Kodak Co.; Del Debilzon of Coca-Cola Enterprises; John DeLuna of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc.; Stephen Levine of The Upjohn Co.; Henry Paetzel of General Mills, Inc.; Ron Pink of Xerox Corp.; Dick Prettyman of DuPont; Pat Rishell of Safeway Inc.; Tom Smith of Frito-Lay, Inc.; Tom Sours of State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance; Greg Tarring of Philip Morris; and Ron Vogt of Home Savings of America.

Ford's General Fleet Office has a similar program in place for soliciting fleet manager input called the Fleet Advisory Panel. The panel meets twice a year - in March and July.