2017 Element Roundtable
Testing a virtual reality headset for possible fleet applications.
Kirk Budhai (left), fleet manager for Hearst Corp., networks at the 2017 Element Roundtable with Dave Rush, senior manager EHS & fleet trade marketing for RJ Reynolds.
The educational sessions at the 2017 Element Roundtable were well attended, offering attendees a choice of 12 different workshops.
Michelle Cunningham, SVP products & services at Element, and John Wall, chief technology officer for Element, spoke on “Five Technology Trends that will Reshape Fleet Management.” The Five Technology Trends are: the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented realty/virtual reality, and on-demand access for the immediate processing of goods, services, and information.
President/CEO of Element Fleet Management North America Kristi Webb commemorates the 1997 founding of the Element Roundtable by remembering some of the best-selling fleet vehicles at that time. The first Roundtable, which was started by the Element legacy company PHH, had 25 attendees. The 2017 Element Roundtable had 500 attendees.
Jon Parker, senior VP, chief commercial officer for Element Fleet Management, reviewed the past year that involved the merger of the number one and two FMCs and a $100 million investment in a new technology platform.
Michelle Franco-Birriel, fleet account manager, Southern Region for Volkswagen of America, and Martin Kiel, national fleet sales manager for Volkswagen of America were among the major OEM fleet representatives attending the 2017 Element Roundtable.
The Ferris Wheel at National Harbor was illuminated in green, Element’s corporate color, to commemorate the 2017 Element Roundtable being held at the Gaylord Hotel.
Aaron Baxter (left), CEO of Custom Fleet in Australia and New Zealand, moderated the global fleet insights educational session at the 2017 Element Roundtable. Seated next to Baxter is David Madrigal, president of Element Fleet Management Mexico. Custom Fleet is owned by Element Fleet Management.
Kristi Webb, president and CEO, North America for the Element Roundtable Conference, which was held Oct. 11-13, 2017, at the Gaylord National Harbor Hotel near Washington, D.C. This is the 20th anniversary of the meeting.
Element CEO Kristi Webb drove the Chevrolet Bolt into the ballroom during the closing keynote address on the power of crowdsourcing. Attendees were asked, via online polling, to estimate the curb weight of the Chevrolet Bolt. Based on the average of all crowdsourced responses, attendees came remarkably close to estimating the actual weight of 3.580 lbs.
One of the Element Roundtable educational sessions focused on global fleet market trends presented by representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Europe.
Matt Salm, senior VP, strategic alliances & sourcing for Element Fleet Management, co-presented a session on “Disruptive Shifts in Automotive Trends” with Mary Sticha, CAFM, senior VP - operational excellence for Element. Sticha is seated on left.
Kendall Harrell, event manager at Element Fleet Management, at bottom of photo, takes an “elevator selfie” as attendees proceed to the 18th floor of the Gaylord for the Fleet Roundtable Celebration, an evening networking event at the POSE lounge, which featured panoramic views of Washington, D.C.
Prior to the start of the Element Roundtable was a Fleet Partners dinner. One of the dinner tables was hosted by (center) Mark Hayes, chief marketing officer for Element Fleet Management. Flanking him are Lori Rasmussen, president & CEO of PARS Inc., and Mike Antich, editor of Automotive Fleet magazine.