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An impressive list of fleet industry professionals will head up the panel of judges for NAFA's 2nd Annual Green Fleet Awards, the association announced today. The distinguished group includes representatives from an OEM, an automotive publishing company, a leasing company, as well as fleet managers from the private and public sectors. The criteria for judging will include originality, innovativeness, and demonstrated accomplishment for reducing energy consumption. Awards will be handed out at NAFA's 2009 Institute & Expo in New Orleans on Monday, April 27, 2009 in a ceremony held in the Green Zone area of the Expo Hall.
NAFA launched the Green Fleet Awards in 2008 at the Association's annual Institute & Expo in Salt Lake City and the awards instantly captured the attention of the industry. Last year's award presentation was held in front nearly 200 fleet professionals, a response, which clearly indicated the time was right to reward the best ideas for greening fleets.
This year's judges are: Gerry Koss, Fleet Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company; Sean Kilcarr, Senior Editor, FleetOwner Magazine; Karen Healey, Director of Product Management, PHH Arval; Douglas Weichman, CAFM, Director of Fleet Management, Palm Beach County; Bret Watson, CAFM, Fleet Manager, Sprint/Nextel; and Alex Barton, CEO/Founder, Green Transportation Solutions.
"NAFA believes strongly in recognizing the best ideas to reduce energy consumption and help benefit the environment," said NAFA's Executive Director, Phillip E. Russo, CAE. "These judges are not only highly regarded in the fleet community, but they are among the leaders in the fleet industry's green movement. Thanks to their expertise, the NAFA Green Fleet Awards will continue to choose the very best ideas and help the industry as a whole."
NAFA's Green Fleet Awards honor individuals who have implemented pioneering, innovative, and creative programs to help with their employer's overall going green initiative. While implementing these ideas, the nominees have increased fleet efficiency while reducing energy consumption and vehicle emissions. Four awards will be offered; two for a sedan/light truck fleet and two for a truck/equipment fleet. Awards are separated between categories for mandated areas and non-mandated areas.
Last year's winners included George Survant, Director of Fleet Services, Florida Power & Light and Steve Weir, Director of the Office of Fleet, City of New York. Honorable mentions went out to Gerry Calk, CAFM, Fleet Administrator, City of Kansas City, Missouri; Dave Meisel, Director of Transportation Services, Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Diane Lopez, Manager of Corporate Fleet & Limo, Abbott; and Suzanne Gallagher, Commodity Manager, Johnson & Johnson.
The Green Fleet Awards is just one of many initiatives that the 50 year-plus association is implementing. A demonstration of green fleet ideas in motion will take place during NAFA's Masters' Seminar: Carbon Footprint Calculation and Management on April 24 in New Orleans. During the seminar, a new carbon emissions calculator co-created by the Environmental Defense Fund and NAFA will be introduced and demonstrated.
"This calculator, which was built to follow EPA guidelines and designed for use by fleet managers, is an example of putting green fleet ideas to work and proof of NAFA's commitment to environmental issues," Russo added.
About NAFA Fleet Management Association
NAFA Fleet Management Association (nafa.org) is a not-for-profit, individual membership professional society serving the needs of members who manage fleets of sedans, public safety vehicles, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for organizations across the globe. NAFA is the association for the vehicle fleet management profession. NAFA's Full and Associate Members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance, and remarketing of more than 3.5 million vehicles – including in excess of 1.1 million trucks. In fact, NAFA Members across the North American continent have more than 350,000 medium- and heavy-duty trucks in their fleets, totaling more than $21 billion dollars in assets for medium- and heavy-duty trucks alone.
About NAFA's 2009 Institute & Expo
NAFA's 2009 Institute & Expo (nafaiande.org) will be held at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center April 25-28. Global automotive industry expert, Graeme Maxton, will provide the Keynote Address. The I&E features over 60 hours of fleet training, education, and workshops; the Public Safety Roadeo and a large collection of emergency vehicles, the Green Fleet Ride-and-Drive where you can test drive various alternative fuel vehicles; the Green Zone, which contains the latest in "green" products, information, and services; and an Expo Floor with more than 150 compa(nafaiande.org) nies showing their products and services. Future I&E locations include Detroit (2010), Charlotte (2011), St. Louis (2012), and Atlantic City (2013).
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gwien[.]nafa.org 
