PRINCETON, NJ- NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA) has retained the services of veteran fleet management expert Katherine Vigneau, CAFM, to lead the Association's education efforts. As NAFA's professional development strategist, Vigneau will be responsible for identifying fleet manager education needs and recommending methods to meet those needs; directing the Association's education efforts, including seminars, products, and programs; managing NAFA's professional certification programs; leading NAFA's education partnership efforts; and serving as subject matter expert for various committees.

Vigneau, who has more than 22 years of transportation and management experience, has been instrumental to NAFA's fleet education through her work as a classroom instructor and valuable member of the Association's Certification Board. In her position as corporate fleet manager,she wasresponsible for policy guidance and oversight of a fleet of 32,000 vehicles and a national staff of 10 fleet managers, while providing guidance to another 100 fleet managers dispersed throughout Canada and on international operations. As logistics manager, she was in charge of providing all supply, transportation, maintenance, postal and food services and movement support to deployed missions. In her most recent position at logistics section chief at NATO's Joint Warfare Center in Stavenger, Norway, she was responsible for teaching, facilitating, and training NATO Headquarters personnel across Europe.

"Kate is uniquely qualified for this position," said NAFA Executive Director Phillip Russo, CAE, who negotiated the deal with Vigneau. "Not only is she an expert on all aspects of fleet management, but she is embedded in the academic world, has advanced degrees in several areas, is well-versed in adult education, and has been an active Member of NAFA for more than ten years. She fills a large void for NAFA and will help us succeed immediately and into the future."

Earlier this year, Vigneau was honored by NAFA with its Excellence in Education Award for her "unswerving dedication, commitment to excellence, and willingness to tackle the most difficult tasks that have led to a long list of unsurpassed significant accomplishments," according to NAFA President Chris Amos, CAFM.

"It was a real honor to be recognized by my peers" with the Excellence in Education Award, Vigneau noted. "This new position with NAFA will allow me to use my practical skills and experience to work even closer with NAFA and with fleet managers across the globe in a new way. I am very excited to begin this new venture, both for myself and for NAFA."

NAFA began the search for a professional development strategist in June 2010. Personal letters were sent to every CAFM graduate, inviting them to apply for the position, and a notice was placed in NAFA's FleetFOCUS e-newsletter announcing the opening to all NAFA Members and Affiliates. Many qualified applications and proposals were received, with the top six graded on more than 20 objective and subjective criteria.

Vigneau, who recently held the position of NAFA's vice president for Canada and Northern Region Trustee, resigned from the NAFA Board of Trustees to accept the professional development strategist contract.