PRINCETON, NJ – Long-time NAFA member and former president, fleet professional Patsy Brownson, CAFM, recently announced her retirement from Cox Enterprises, Inc. Brownson has been with Cox for the past 22 years, first taking a position as fleet manager.

Brownson became a Member of NAFA in 1978. New and unfamiliar to the fleet industry, Brownson turned to the help of several fleet colleagues who said one word that would help her run a fleet: NAFA.

"They mentioned that NAFA would help me learn how to handle the fleet and answer any questions I would have," Brownson said.

Without hesitation, Brownson joined NAFA and within two years, she was already taking her first position in NAFA — a first of many to come — as Secretary of her local chapter, the Southwest Chapter.

As Brownson became more involved with NAFA, she was promoted to fleet director of Cox Enterprises and held that position for 10 years. During this time, she also held a steady stream of positions in NAFA, including several Board of Trustee titles and was president of NAFA from 1993-1995. Brownson remembers having a number of specific goals that she wanted to accomplish in her term.

"The biggest change was taking the annual NAFA Conference to the next level and shaping it as the Fleet Management Institute," Brownson said. "That was more of an educational experience. I thought it was important to really promote the educational aspect of NAFA, including the Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM) program."

With an abundance of fleet knowledge under her belt, Brownson moved to the fleet relations aspect of Cox Enterprises, Inc. and became manager, Fleet Relations, a position she held until her retirement.