NAFA I&E 2026: Amplifying Knowledge, Support and Excellence
Bill Schankel addresses the audience at I&E 2026 . Photo Credit: NAFA
Ride and Drive Program was shifted to the first day and proved extremely popular. Photo Credit: NAFA
Robert Martinez speaks, following receiving the prestigious 2026 Tom Johnson Award. Photo Credit: NAFA
Kevin Curran, General Manager at Toyota North America delivered an engaging keynote address. Photo Credit: NAFA
Attendees sample a vehicle on display during I&E 2026. Photo Credit: NAFA
Expo Hall was buzzing during the conference and was sold out this year. Photo Credit: NAFA
Duncan Stevens delivered an entertaining and engaging interactive session on leadership and managing teams through change. Photo Credit: NAFA
Building Bikes and NAFA teamed up to assemble bicycles for kids in need. Photo Credit: NAFA
Former Navy SEAL Stephen Drum delivered a fascinating and insightful keynote. Photo Credit: NAFA
Event was the largest in a decade, with a sold out Expo Hall
NAFA Fleet Management Association, hosted its 2026 Institute & Expo (I&E) in Cleveland, Ohio. Taking place from April 13-15 at the Huntingdon Convention Center, this year’s event was notable in not only being the best attended I&E for a decade but also boasting a sold out Expo Hall!
In total, there were more than 60 education sessions, and over 250 exhibitors showcasing their fleet related products and solutions. With attendees coming from all corners of the U.S., and from across Canada, plus 13 additional international countries, it was a packed event to say the least.
Wide variety
Each year I&E has a theme, and in 2026, it was “Amplify Your Drive.” General and education sessions covered a whole range of topics, from emerging technologies, to operations management, safety, sustainability and also leadership and legislative advocacy, as well as sessions designed specifically for technicians, law enforcement professionals and those new to the fleet sector.
Over the course of the three days of I&E 2026, each one commenced with a NAFA FleetSolutions breakfast panel discussion. Topics ran the gamut from building smarter fleets using AI and accurate data, to key industry trends shaping the automotive sector, plus navigating through the top five challenges facing fleets in 2026. These interactive sessions featured strong audience engagement, with discussion questions taken directly from the pages of NAFA’s FleetSolutions magazine. It was a great way to start each day of the conference.
Among the general sessions in 2026, a keynote from retired U.S. Navy SEAL Master Chief Stephen Drum, hit on all cylinders. Drum, using insights gained from his 27 years in developing and leading teams in some of the most challenging operational conditions, provided insights in how fleet managers can ensure they and their organizations are ready to meet any challenge, by being prepared and having the courage, confidence and instincts to tackle obstacles head on and seize opportunities, even in the most unpredictable of environments.
Popular panel
Always a popular fixture at I&E is the OEM Panel Discussion, and this year was no different. Once again hosted by Chris Brown, Associate Publisher, Automotive Fleet, Auto Rental News and Fleet Forward, it featured Jennifer Costabile, General Director, Marketing and Sales Enablement, GM Fleet, Jeff Hines, Senior Vice President, North America Fleet Solutions, Stellantis; Eric Rice, General Manager, U.S. Fleet Sales, Ford Pro and Jerry Zielinski, Senior Manager, Fleet and Commercial Sales, Nissan North America. A key focus for the panelists this year was the evolving fleet and mobility landscape, as well as unpredictable economic and market conditions, that are making it challenging for all stakeholders. They also discussed technology developments and provided insights into future product planning—a topic of noted interest among many attendees.
Sticking with OEMs, Kevin Curran, General Manager at Toyota North America, emphasized the need for fleets to reach out to their OEMs and suppliers to help them navigate through the unpredictable and chaotic economic and market conditions we’re currently experiencing. He noted that a key attribute of the automotive and mobility space has and continues to be resilience, and no matter what challenges we as an industry may face, there is always a solution.
Leadership tools and solutions
Duncan Stevens, global High-Performance Coach and bestselling author delivered an inspiring session where he provided attendees with effective techniques, tools and solutions to lead management teams through change and transitions.
Each year at I&E, NAFA announces its 100 Best Fleets in the Americas Awards for both Public and Commercial fleet operators. In 2026, Florida Light and Power was named the top commercial fleet operator, while the top spot for public fleets went to the City of Salem in Oregon.
Besides overall fleets, the 100 Best Fleets also singles out individuals for their tireless effort and commitment to operational fleet excellence. Fleet Professional of the Year went to Tim Coxwell, CAFM, CPFP, CEM of the Leon County Sheriff’s Department in Leon County, Florida. The Technician of the Year Award meanwhile, went to Jerry Dake, from the City of Buckeye in Arizona. Technicians attending I&E this year also found an expanded Technician Training program, and a new NAFA Garage display sponsored by Whelen Engineering, where attendees could view live product and service demonstrations from the likes of EVPros+, Garage Gurus and Mac Tools.
Outstanding commitment
The 2026 Tom Johnson Award, which recognizes fleet professionals that have demonstrated outstanding leadership, mentorship, and long-term dedication and commitment to improving fleet operations, went to Robert Martinez, Principal of RSM Consulting Services.
At I&E each year, the graduates from the most recent CAFM program are also announced. CAFM is NAFA’s most prestigious certificate program, and graduates represent the pinnacle of expertise and professionalism in fleet management. In 2026, 75 individuals graduated from CAFM and 30 were present at I&E to accept their awards on stage.
Media Day was also back for its fourth year, where 10 leading organizations showcased their products and solutions in front of leading fleet and automotive media journalists and editors.
Innovation Showcase
Additionally, this year’s Innovation Showcase saw 10 new service and technology debuts at the Expo Hall. With more than 1,000 votes cast this year, the People’s Choice Award went to Fleetio, for its AI Service Advisor. This new solution is designed to automatically triage vehicle maintenance related issues and advance approvals for repairs, so fleets experience less downtime with vehicles sitting in the shop awaiting service and/or repairs.
Other highlights included the sold-out Expo Hall, that showcased everything from vehicles, to upfitting equipment, telematics, AI and data solutions, plus the Ride & Drive Experience proved hugely popular. In a departure from previous years, the Ride & Drive took place on the first day of the Expo, from 1.00 pm until 3.00 pm, giving attendees to try out a wide range of vehicles from different OEMs, including Stellantis, Volvo, Volkswagen, Polestar, Rivian, Nissan, Honda, and Harbinger Motors.
An interesting initiative this year was NAFA’s partnership with Building Bikes, in which, following the last of the education sessions, attendees had the opportunity to assemble bicycles for children in need.
In summing up this year’s I&E, Bill Schankel, CAE, and CEO of NAFA Fleet Management Association had this to say: “Everything about I&E drove home the message that whether you are managing vehicles or services for a city, a business, a utility, or a service operation, you are not operating alone. You are part of something larger, an interconnected industry where ideas, innovation, and progress don’t stay in one place but move from one fleet to another and from one sector to the next.”
Maria Neve, NAFA Board President and Vice President, eFMC strategy, for Inspiration Fleet added that, “the challenges our fleet community faces—which include managing assets and operations with fewer resources, responding to shifting procurement and supply chain pressures, and navigating ongoing uncertainty—don’t belong to just one type of fleet. Whether you’re on the corporate side or the government side of fleet, those challenges belong to all of us. That is what makes this community so powerful, and that is exactly what NAFA represents. NAFA is every fleet—every sector, every perspective, every stage of the journey.”
NAFA also acknowledged the robust support of its sponsors, that make events like this possible. These include American Honda Motor Co., AssetWorks, BlackVue, Driverge Vehicle Innovations, Enterprise Fleet Management, Fleetio, Geotab, Holman, Hyundai Motor America, Inspiration Fleet, IntelliShift, JJ Kane Auctions, KeyTrak, Legend, Merchants Fleet, Motive, Motus, RTA: The Fleet Success Company, Samsara, Stellantis Pro One, Voyager Mastercard, Wheels and Whelen Engineering.
