NAFA I&E 2025: Forward and Upward
NAFA welcomed attendees to its 2025 I&E at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in Long Beach, California. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
NAFA CEO Bill Schankel, CAE (left) and Board President Maria Neve. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
CAFM graduates assemble for a group photo, NAFA I&E 2025. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Tim Padandreou of ETA Advisors delivered a fascinating keynote on technology and AI, where it appears to be going and how fleets can capitalize on these trends. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Vendor showcase featured a huge variety of displays from OEMs, to upfitters, fleet solutions providers, telematics and more. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Ram Professional crew pose for a group photo. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Tariffs were a popular topic at the event, including Wednesday’s breakfast panel session. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
At the Vendor Showcase, Sean Masson, from Ford Pro, provided an overview of some of the solutions on offer, including those for the electric F-150 Lightning. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Media Day returned to I&E 2025 and we got to learn about some fascinating products and solutions. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Manuel Braun from Sortimo North America, showed us some of the upfitting solutions available for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Holman team pose for a group photo: (left to right) Bobby Thorp, Bobby Karwoski, John Di Pompeo, Ed Powell, and Peter Nogalo. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Mitsubishi Canada has for many years, hosted the popular Canadian reception at I&E. Pictured with Lisa Marchese from Autosphere Media (centre) are Luc Grenier, (right) and Shawn Bryan. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Among the attendees this year were the crew from California Water Service including Alex Williams, Carl Chan, Davon Hicks and Elissa Ouyang. Pictured with them (second from left) is Kate Vigneau of Matrix Consulting and regular F&M columnist. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
A range of informative Education Sessions were on offer during the event. This one focused on Data Driven Fleet Management and how to leverage analytics. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
SaverOne offers a groundbreaking technology that’s designed to eliminate distracted driving, preventing accidents before they happen. Pictured are Alex Brashkin (left) and Yoav Zilber. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Subaru team pose for a group photo: (Left to right) Matt Falcone, Michelle Avello, Mega Fleck, Naomi Kislanski and Mark Cummings. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Jack Becker delivered a fast-paced and incredibly insightful keynote in Supersonic Success. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
100 Best Fleets winners and the NAFA team pose with Jack Becker for a group photo on the final day of the conference. @Photo Credit: Huw Evans
Action packed fleet expo had something for everyone.
April 28-30 saw NAFA Fleet Management Association host its 2025 Institute & Expo (I&E) at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in Long Beach, California. Three days of action-packed general sessions, education breakouts, on-site training, CAFM programs and ample networking awaited attendees, as well as an onsite vendor showcase, electric vehicle indoor test track and ride and drive on city streets following the official close of the Expo.
Propel your fleet
The theme this year was “Propel Your Fleet” and there were some major announcements, including NAFA’s philanthropic partnership with the Hourglass Foundation. Newly elected NAFA Board President Maria Neve, noted that NAFA continues to grow its membership, with more than 3400 fleet professionals and organizations now registered.
The event also witnessed the very first Tom Johnson Award, for excellence in the fleet industry, the recipient being Patti Earley, CAFM, Fleet Fuel Manager, Florida Power & Light.
We also witnessed the 100 Best Fleets of the Americas awards, for both public and commercial fleets with the respective winners being Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) for public and Charge Inc. for commercial fleets.
Fleet professional of the year honours went to Thomas Keyser from Spire Energy, while Roger Davis, from the City of Roanoke, Va., was named fleet technician of the year.
Additionally, as in past years, I&E presented the opportunity to honour recent graduates from NAFA’s prestigious Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM) program, all of whom received their certificates in front of their industry peers.
Tariffs and trade
Perhaps not surprisingly, tariffs and trade were front and centre topics at the event, with plenty of discussion revolving around the ever-changing status and implementation plans from the U.S. federal government. How fleets should adapt and meet the challenges potentially resulting from these tariffs, was the focus of several Education session workshops and Tuesday’s OEM panel discussion (look for a future article in Fleet & Mobility specifically on this topic).
Other highlights included some very inspiring keynotes, including one from Tim Padandreou of ETA Advisors, who discussed the fast-changing world around us, and how emerging technology is shaping the future of the world and the fleet industry.
Papandreou was keen to point out that technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning aren’t designed nor will replace humans, but rather serve as tools designed to enhance our roles by taking care of the more mundane tasks so we can gain more time, be more efficient at what we do and have greater opportunities to focus on our businesses instead of being immersed within them.
To succeed in this new environment, he said it was critical to embrace learning, contact the real world and build in a diverse perspective since different ideas and concepts from different people is often where those “aha” moments come from.
Supersonic success
Another inspirational keynote came from Captain Jack Becker, a former U.S. Naval Aviator and leadership speaker. In Supersonic Success, Becker shared his experiences as a fighter/attack pilot flying F/A-18 Super Hornets in both peacetime and in combat in the Gulf. He said, that having a team is critical to executing any successful military plan, and he talked about a combat mission in which his plane was strafed and severely damaged by AAA fire. Becker said it was his wingman’s instructions and encouragement that saved his life that day, enabling him to steer the crippled fighter back to the carrier for a safe landing.
Becker said, that while many consider roles such as being a military combat pilot is dangerous, a more apt term is unforgiving. He explained that for fleet managers, their role is often equally unforgiving, since they must wear multiple hats and that any small mistakes or problems, if they are allowed to fester, can prove costly and devastating fleets just as much as they can for those that fly and maintain military aircraft.
Brief, execute, debrief, perfect
Becker talked about the need to Brief, Execute, Debrief and Perfect, strategies that military aviators use for every sortie and exercise which enable them to dissect how the mission went, what worked and what didn’t and take the steps to avoid those mistakes in the future and build upon those successes.
Becker also noted that standardization is key to success and that in naval aviation circles, standardization has completely transformed what was one of the most dangerous aspects of naval aviation, carrier landings, especially those that take place at night.
Standardized processes for fleet managers can result in many things, including better driver training and safety, more efficient delivery of goods and services, and lower operating costs.
Becker also talked about the need to respond to threats, whether active (visible), or latent (not always easily identifiable). Addressing latent threats and identifying them early on can make a huge difference and can help what he termed “drifting” letting standards slide and veering off course due to external factors.
That’s why it is so critical for fleet managers to rely on their teams, much the same as combat pilots rely on their wingmen, since doing so can not only save businesses, but out on the road, also save lives.
