The 2019 Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA) corporate fleet conference was held Sept. 15 to 18, at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Photos by Andy Lundin.
2019 AFLA Conference in Pictures
John Dmochowsky (far left) speaks during a panel on global fleet management strategies and trends. The panel also included (from l. to r.) Mace Hartley of the Australasian Fleet Management Association; Mike Antich of Automotive Fleet; Manuel Tamayo of Element Fleet Management Mexico; Wayne Rose of Jim Pattison Lease; Adam Orth of General Mills; and Dave Durepo, president of AFLA.
Also featured at AFLA 2019 was a panel on procurement about building trust and leveraging supplier relationships. Panelists included (from l. to r.) Michael Homan of DTE Energy; Lee Miller of Boehringer Ingelheim; SuYvonne Bell of Gilead Sciences; and Marvin McClain of American Red Cross.
Before the official start of the conference, Ford Fleet hosted a Boots and Bow Ties Gala honoring the 50th anniversary of AFLA. The gala featured a music performance and a firework display that was sponsored by Wheels Inc.
Bill Elliott (right) was honored with the President's Award at the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA) 2019 Awards Dinner on Monday, September 16. Presenting the award to Elliott were Dave Durepo, president of AFLA, and Katie Keeton, VP of AFLA.
Catching up at an AFLA dinner reception are Kristin Leary, director of fleet services for Syneos Health; Susan Miller, senior fleet account manager for Geotab; and Patsy Brownson, fleet and relocation consultant.
Attendees mingle during an evening reception hosted by Element Fleet Management, which was held at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.
The AFLA Corporate Fleet Conference, one of the largest annual fleet conferences, is host to numerous educational sessions, ample networking opportunities, and is where the winner of the Edward J. Bobit Professional Fleet manager of the Year and Fleet Hall of Fame Inductees are announced. For more information, click here.
Photo by Andy Lundin.
The first morning of AFLA’s 2019 Annual Corporate Fleet Conference featured a Women in Fleet Management (WIFM) panel on leadership and mentorship in the changing fleet environment. Moderating the panel was Caroline Costello (far left) of Utilimaster. The panel featured (from l. to r.) Theresa Belding of Allergan; Jeanine Charlton of Merchants Fleet; Jennifer Costabile of General Motors; and Mary Sticha, retired senior executive of Element Fleet Management.
Joe LaRosa (left) accepted the plaque representing his induction into the 2019 Fleet Hall of Fame from Automotive Fleet Editor Mike Antich.
Posing with Erin Gilchrist, the 2019 Edward J. Bobit Professional Fleet Manager of the Year, are Laura Jozwiak (left), SVP sales and client relations for Wheels Inc., which sponsors the award; and Mike Antich, who was representing AFLA and will serve as the association’s president in 2021.
Posing with Kenneth Jack, the 2019 Fleet Executive of the Year; are John Wysseier (left), president and CEO of The CEI Group, which is the sole sponsor of the award, and Mike Antich, editor of Automotive Fleet magazine.
Doreen Paris, fleet operations specialist for Mazda North America, and Phil Moser, associate director of global driver safety for Syneos Health Commercial Solutions, mingle during the networking reception on the final evening at AFLA, which was sponsored by Element Fleet Management.
Mary Sticha, retired senior executive of Element Fleet Management, moderated a panel on the complex transformation of fleet management to mobility solutions. Included on the panel (from l. to r.) were Brendan Keegan of Merchants Fleet; John Korte of Donlen; and Ahsan Rahim of Wheels Inc.
Fleet Visionary recipients accepting their awards at the AFLA 2019 conference are flanked by Mike Antich of Automotive Fleet (far left), Brendan Keegan, CEO of Merchants Fleet (second from left), and Tom Coffey, senior VP of sales for Merchant Fleet (far right).
Sharon Etherington, manager, regional procurement services, Roche Diagnostics, was named the 2019 Fleet Visionary of the Year. Flanking her are Brendan Keegan, CEO of Merchants Fleet, and Tom Coffey, senior VP of sales for Merchants Fleet. Merchants Fleet is the sole sponsor of the Fleet Visionary Awards.
John Dmochowsky (left), senior global fleet manager for Mondelez International, gave a heartwarming speech about his mother during an emotional and introspective panel that was hosted by Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute on the television sitcom The Office.