Personally Benefitted
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Dave Alfonso |
For 50 years, Automotive Fleet has been a staple in the fleet industry and I’ve personally benefitted from both the publication and the Bobit organization for nearly half those years.
I remember all the times that I asked for and received support from the AF staff, Mike Antich and Ed Bobit personally. It has been a special comfort knowing that they would always be there, and all of us in this industry are better for it, as we also are from all the information AF has provided.
Congratulations and Happy 50th to all of you at Automotive Fleet!
An Exceptional Resource
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Jim Anselmi |
The 50th anniversary of Automotive Fleet magazine has given me the opportunity to reflect on the hundreds of articles and issues that I’ve read or referenced over the years. It is an understatement to say that AF is an exceptional resource for fleet trends, current, past, and future. I looked forward to the annual benchmarking statistics to compare and measure the efficiency (or lack of) for my fleet. The personnel section is an excellent forum for keeping informed about accomplishments and career changes of colleagues and associates. Finally, but actually what I read first, is Ed Bobit’s editorials. You may not always agree but you always respect Ed for “telling it like it is.”
Congratulations to AF and the entire team for 50 years of commitment and dedication to the automotive industry. I wish them another 50 years and can only wonder what the industry and vehicles will be like then?
Opened A New World
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George Argueta |
As a novice fleet manager with Celanese Corporation, Automotive Fleet introduced me to and opened the world of automotive fleet management. Throughout my years in the industry both as a fleet manager and as an affiliate supplier to the fleet industry, AF magazine continued to afford the opportunity of keeping my hand on the pulse beat of what is current and happening in the fleet business.
One of my most memorable events occurred in 1980 when I was chairman of the New York Chapter of NAFA. During the Chapter’s annual new car show at the old Giants Meadowlands football stadium, I had the distinct honor of introducing the two deserving and diverse speakers of the event.
The first was Rocky Blier, a Vietnam veteran war hero and most recent halfback of the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The second speaker was our own Ed Bobit, editor of AF.
A Vocal Proponent
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Richard Battersby |
I have been an avid reader of Automotive Fleet for many years now, going back to when my responsibilities were primarily for a fleet of vans and trucks for an overnight delivery company. At the time, AF seemed focused primarily on corporate fleet issues. Although I did have a small role in the management of company cars, most of the articles at that time did not directly pertain to my operation. However, I always enjoyed reading and learning about other facets of the fleet industry even if I could not immediately take advantage of that knowledge.
Eventually, my career ended up taking me through management of federal, private, commercial, state, county, and now a university fleet, and I was able to put that knowledge gleaned over the years to good use. AF has always been and continues to be an excellent tool for anyone wishing to learn and grow within our industry. Over the years I have copied and forwarded many articles and strategically placed issues with pertinent topics for “discovery” by upper management and customers.
I have enjoyed observing and participating while AF grew into modern Web-based and e-news formats and also spawned the now-indispensable staples such as Government Fleet magazine, Fleet Financials, Green Fleet eNews, and of course, the annual conferences. Thank you, AF, for always being there and helping me in my career, and thank you Ed Bobit, Mike Antich, and the rest of the AF team for being such knowledgeable, loyal, and vocal proponents for our industry. Congratulations on your 50th anniversary!
AF Makes a Difference
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Mike Bedard |
I have been with Ford Fleet since 1988 and have read a lot of issues of Automotive Fleet over these years. The cars and the industry have really changed, but the principles remain. Imagine the reaction if someone had asked you in 1990 if you participated in the AF Blog?
When I reflect on AF magazine, the memories become more than just about the magazine. It really becomes the great memories of working with the Bobit publication team members. I have found the Bobit team to immerse themselves into the industry with passion and concern, making their involvement a significant benefit to all involved and leaving a positive mark on the business. Whether it’s an article or a training event or fleet show, they love the business and it shines through. Ed Bobit is truly a legend, and I enjoy any time I get a chance to chat with him.
Some of my best memories include things like reading years ago about Patsy Brownson and Charles Bowen winning Fleet Manager of the Year, and then years later having them as fleet customers! It was great to walk into their offices for the first time knowing so much about them already and appreciating the contribution they make to their employers and the commercial fleet community. This highlights just one of the ways the magazine brings the industry closer together, creating friendships and admiration within our community.
I have had the unique pleasure of working with Bobit professionals in two distinct industries: commercial fleet and limo livery. My five years as the Limousine & Livery Manager brought me very close to a number of team members. The professionalism, knowledge, enthusiasm, and expertise were a clear benefit to the industry and customers operating in that space. The Bobit team constantly looked for ways to grow the knowledge and diversity of information available to both large and small operators. That differen-tiated the Bobit team from other publications in the business by a wide margin. Sure it was still business, but the effort and passion for the industry made it a lot more than “just business.”
Sara McLean (publisher of Limousine, Charter & Tour magazine) and Ty Bobit immerse themselves on a daily basis to a level beyond comprehension to become part of the industry and truly listen to customers to find out what they want and need to prosper. Oftentimes there are many different agendas, but they would publish advice or create show seminars to fill the need for all participants.
I have many great memories. Congratulations AF on your “Fabulous 50” and thanks for all the hard work over the years! It is truly appreciated and it does make a difference!
What an Accomplishment
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Ricky Beggs |
What an accomplishment to reach 50 years in business! I remember back in 2005 when Black Book reached that glorious age and the excitement we had in celebrating with all of our associates and their spouses and many industry friends.
Over the years, I have found Automotive Fleet to be an important and informative tool in keeping up with the fleet part of the market, from quick industry news regarding the people and services that were making the news, Mike Antich’s thought-provoking insight about fleet issues, the latest model vehicles that are so vital to the fleet companies, to the always-intriguing thoughts from the Godfather of the fleet industry, Mr. Ed Bobit. His listing of a few quotes from famous and infamous people in history always created thoughts to help the reader see another viewpoint or to strengthen an existing one.
All the best to AF for the next 50!
50 Years of Leadership
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Matthew Betz |
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Automotive Fleet magazine as an organization, and Ed Bobit personally, for 50 years of leadership in the automotive fleet industry.
When I joined the fleet industry in 1979, I was fortunate to work with a number of industry veterans that taught me the ins and outs of the fleet industry. They instructed me on salesmanship, leasing (and all of the various moving parts of that business), the importance of relationships, and being involved in our industry organizations. All of that advice has served me well, but the thing they did that has paid the biggest dividends was the initial subscription that they gave me to AF.
AF has been my source of fleet information ever since. The articles are timely and full of useful information. The editorial staff makes every effort to be accurate, unbiased, insightful, and enlightening. In every issue I find a topic that I have wanted to learn more about, or discover a topic that I realize I should know more about. However, the highlight of every issue, the reason to read every issue from cover to cover, is the Editorial at the back of every issue.
The dictionary defines a “Coach” as:
a: a private tutor
b: one who instructs or trains; especially one who instruct players in the fundamentals of a competitive sport and directs team strategy
Having the joy of meeting Ed “Coach” Bobit on numerous occasions, and having read countless editorials he’s written in AF, I feel that I have had a personal coach for the past 32 years. I could not have asked for a better source of information, a better instructor, or a better team.
I hope to help AF celebrate on your 75th anniversary!
A Reflection of Its Audience
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Michael Bieger |
When Automotive Fleet first arrived addressed to me as Supervisor of Fleet 14 years ago, my reaction was something akin to Steve Martin’s response to the new phonebook in his movie "The Jerk”; I was excited. Here was a publication that would assist me in understanding this new world I had stepped into. I was never a "car guy,” though I had enjoyed all my vehicles from my first 1964 Chevelle (a hand-me-down from my grandmother with three on the tree!), to my ’66 Mustang, my Dart, and my Pinto. So here I was entering an industry that was initially interesting to me, but one that I was relatively naive about.
Over the next 14 years, I have depended upon AF as much as I’ve relied upon the personal contacts I made. In many ways the magazine was, and is, a reflection of its audience: welcoming, knowledgeable, informative, and always a foundation to build upon. The magazine became a friend as did many of its staff, from Ed Bobit, to Mike Antich, to Sherb Brown, and others.
'Bible' of Fleet Information
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Ray Breault |
Unfortunately, 50 years has passed too quickly, along with many of our old fleet friends. I remember vividly when Ed Bobit introduced Automotive Fleet. As an avid reader and follower of the Bobit family of publications, I want to congratulate Ed and the entire dedicated staff for providing what many over the past 50 years referred to as the "Bible” for fleet information. You could always count on receiving the latest updated fleet information in every monthly issue.
The fleet industry has been fortunate to have a dedicated communication venue and reference library available to all of us all these years. On a personal note, on numerous occasions, I relied on AF publications to provide me solutions to fleet issues and how-to ideas. Having been in the fleet industry for 50-plus years myself and currently semi-retired (former corporate fleet manager/director for two major multinational corporations), I want to extend my best wishes and continued success to one of the most valuable publishers in the fleet industry. All the best, Ed!
Quality Information while Maintaining Confidences
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Doug Brown |
I believe Jack Taylor took me to my first AALA meeting in the late ’60s where I quickly met Ed. I was not yet 30 and Enterprise was a small player in leasing and barely into daily rental, so most of my view of the fleet and leasing world outside of St. Louis was though the pages of Automotive Fleet and a couple other trade papers. I still receive and enjoy AF today.
Over the years, Ed and I spent significant time together, including a terrific trip in the ’80s to Japan with Toyota. I always respected Ed’s and AF’s ability to deliver quality information while maintaining the necessary confidences, which I believe allowed many like me to be forthcoming, which I was not with most other publications.
I thank you and your staff for the many years of good reporting, and a special thanks for Ed’s continuing efforts in his editorials. Happy 50th anniversary!
Doug Brown worked for Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Enterprise Fleets Inc. from 1963 to his retirement in 1993. He started in1963 part-time, then switched to night school and became full-time employee of Enterprise Rent-A-Car in spring of 1964. In 1965, Brown was named Manager of a new branch; in 1968, he was Sales Manager; 1969 pro-moted to Vice President Sales; 1972 Executive Vice President-St. Louis; 1976 EVP-Corporate; 1979-1993 EVP-Corporate & President of Enterprise Fleet Inc.
In 1976-1993, he was additionally President of various subsidiaries.
Memories Flood Back
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Bob Cavalli |
There is simply no other publication in the fleet industry, for me, other than Automotive Fleet. It has chronicled the business and its people for 50 years, and I’m particularly proud of having written for it for more than 20 years now. Memories? I can remember the issue back in 1984, when AF printed a press release about a promotion I’d received published over a picture of my dad, Al! I still have issues dating back some 25 or 30 years. The articles, the ads, seeing the names of peers and friends — the memories flood back.
No one who has been in fleet since the early 1970s, as I’ve been, or who literally grew up in the business, as I have, can remember those days without AF. Even today, I look first at the Letters to the Editor, then to the Personnel Personals, looking for friends, and names of those I know. Ed Bobit’s editorials on the back page, accompanied by those wonderful literary references, generate much thought and debate. Mike Antich’s Market Trends, keeping all of us up on what's going on, and where he sees the industry going.
AF is now, and always has been, the history, the timeline of this fleet business to which we’re all so dedicated. Many thanks, Ed, and here’s to 50 more years.
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