NAFA has made a number of changes to the 2019 I&E to improve upon the association’s conference, which includes a new community program, updates to its certification program, and a larger focus on strategic fleet practices.

Phil Russo, CEO of NAFA, broke down the significant changes to NAFA I&E 2019 into several segments, detailing the specific changes, and why they were made.

One of the most significant changes at the 2019 I&E was the addition of a mobility day, which will be held on Wednesday, April 17. It will feature a number of forward-thinking sessions, including a panel of fleet management executives revealing their vision on the future of fleet; a keynote address from Lukas Neckermann, managing director of Neckermann Strategic Advisors, who will cover the impact the mobility revolution will have on the fleet management industry; and several forward-thinking educational sessions.

Additionally, Russo said NAFA has added more strategic focused educational session, in addition to the sessions focused on tactical fleet management.

At the start of the 2019 I&E NAFA, Russo also kicked-off the unveiling of the Association’s new NAFA Communities program, which is an online virtual community that offers a platform for fleets of every segment to be able to engage with online, sharing best practices and resources.

Also new this year was the restructuring of its certification program, now dubbed CAFM U, which is now conducted a few days prior to the official start of the conference and extended a day after its end. This was designed to provide attendees with more opportunities to receive their Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM) or Certified Automotive Fleet Specialist (CAFS) and also have more opportunities to attend I&E sessions.

Russo said this year, the conference developed more sessions designed for newer and medium and smaller suppliers. Providing opportunities to help educate them on the fleet industry.

Also, the NAFA I&E was shortened to three days from four days and held earlier in the week, which was decided based on member feedback to help reduce travel concerns.

These changes were driven largely by member input, course evaluations, surveys, and focus groups, Russo said.