Hello Fleet Professionals!
Can you believe that this week is the unofficial last week of summer? Where has the time gone? Last week, my youngest, Samantha, started high school! If that doesn't point out that summer is ending, it certainly reinforces how old I'm getting!
Can you believe that this week is the unofficial last week of summer? Where has the time gone? Last week, my youngest, Samantha, started high school! If that doesn't point out that summer is ending, it certainly reinforces how old I'm getting!
In the fleet industry, there are a number of milestones that herald the unofficial end of summer. The fall ordering cycle is underway for many fleets (or will be soon), as is one of my favorite conferences of the year: AFLA. Now for those of you that may be unaware, AFLA, otherwise known as the Automotive Fleet and Leasing Association, holds it's annual conference in September. This year the conference will be held in Phoenix, AZ at the Arizona Biltmore and runs September 9th through the 11th.
The AFLA Board works hard every year to put together an educational program that balances the core topics (that would be the "hard core" fleet topics) with the professional development topics. These are mixed in with many opportunities to network with other attendees during breaks, dinners and the Annual Pete Z Memorial Golf Outing. Not being one to brag about my golf skills (or lack thereof) I usually join many other fleet professionals poolside (and even in the pool). You might be surprised how productive and informative these pool networking sessions turn out to be. While many take advantage of a little downtime to enjoy that fine Arizona weather, most turn it into an extremely productive brainstorming session.
I've been a fan of the AFLA conferences since I started attending in 1995. It's a more intimate group of industry professionals, most of whom are industry veterans. While I've always found the education sessions top notch, I like the networking opportunities which are outstanding. Attendees include veteran fleet managers, senior management from the manufacturers fleet departments, remarketing company leaders, fleet minded dealers from all over the country and senior management from the fleet management companies. It's a surprisingly intimate group and you just can't beat the setting! I'll be there and I hope you will too. If you haven't registered yet, you can get all the details at http://www.aflaonline.com/. Drop me a line and let me know you're coming too!
Before I close, I want to mention a loss we all shared in early August. Following a long illness, our friend Pam Pence of First Choice Remarketing passed away. I met Pam at one of my earlier AFLA meetings when she was still with Western Fleet Remarketing. She was well respected and had a grace and elegance that is a rarity today. All of us at Fleets USA will miss her.
Keep your chin up and let me know what you think.
The AFLA Board works hard every year to put together an educational program that balances the core topics (that would be the "hard core" fleet topics) with the professional development topics. These are mixed in with many opportunities to network with other attendees during breaks, dinners and the Annual Pete Z Memorial Golf Outing. Not being one to brag about my golf skills (or lack thereof) I usually join many other fleet professionals poolside (and even in the pool). You might be surprised how productive and informative these pool networking sessions turn out to be. While many take advantage of a little downtime to enjoy that fine Arizona weather, most turn it into an extremely productive brainstorming session.
I've been a fan of the AFLA conferences since I started attending in 1995. It's a more intimate group of industry professionals, most of whom are industry veterans. While I've always found the education sessions top notch, I like the networking opportunities which are outstanding. Attendees include veteran fleet managers, senior management from the manufacturers fleet departments, remarketing company leaders, fleet minded dealers from all over the country and senior management from the fleet management companies. It's a surprisingly intimate group and you just can't beat the setting! I'll be there and I hope you will too. If you haven't registered yet, you can get all the details at http://www.aflaonline.com/. Drop me a line and let me know you're coming too!
Before I close, I want to mention a loss we all shared in early August. Following a long illness, our friend Pam Pence of First Choice Remarketing passed away. I met Pam at one of my earlier AFLA meetings when she was still with Western Fleet Remarketing. She was well respected and had a grace and elegance that is a rarity today. All of us at Fleets USA will miss her.
Keep your chin up and let me know what you think.
Cannot wait till our annual pool gathering/brainstorming!!! heading out in the morning and will have a brainstorming session very very soon thereafter.
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