Celebrating Membership Milestones

February 2012

NAFA thanks all of the members celebrating their anniversaries this month for their years with the Association. It is the strength of the membership that has helped make NAFA the fleet industry's strongest association.

35 years

Joseph M. Clark
Raleigh, NC

Joe Clark worked at Burroughs Wellcome Pharmaceutical Company twenty-nine years, at Lab Corp three years, and at Qualex for five years. He retired in 2003, but has been involved with Corporate Claims Management as a Consultant. Clark cited, as some of his proudest NAFA moments, starting the Carolina Chapter in 1979, and serving as President as well as serving as Trustee on NAFA's Board.

Clark said of his experiences, "My memories are many and the professional NAFA Members and Affiliates will always have a special place in my life."

25 years

Keith E. Branner, CAFM
Director, Fleet Services
Harris County
Houston, TX

Keith Branner, CAFM started his career with Harris County, TX as an Auto Technician in 1975, then was promoted to the position of Shop Manager in 1982. He served in that capacity until his appointment as Director of Fleet Services in 1986.

In this position, Branner directs the overall operation of the department, including vehicle procurement and disposition, vehicle maintenance and repair, fuel management, environmental and governmental regulations, data compilation and analysis, and departmental policies. He currently oversees 2, 857 vehicles, five maintenance facilities, eleven fuel stations, and forty-two employees.

Branner's professional accreditation includes achieving ASE Master Auto Technician status for 1986-1992 and Certified Automotive Fleet Manager status from 1993 to present. "I have been a member of NAFA since 1987 and have served in numerous board positions on the Chapter and National levels," Branner said. "I have been very fortunate to have an extremely dedicated and qualified staff of employees. (They) have helped the department grow and cope with numerous changes and demands over the years."

"Even after a long and successful professional career, I feel my greatest accomplishment is as a parent in the raising of two wonderful young men, my sons Garrett and Justin," Branner said.

Michael R. Colbert
Purchasing Manager
Ash Grove Cement Co.
Overland Park, KS

Michael Colbert joined the NAFA Mid-America Chapter in 1987, saying "(I) was immediately welcomed into the world of fleet. I found it was the best way to meet experts in the profession and exchange practices and ideas."

Colbert has been active ever since, having held the chapter officer positions of Treasurer, Vice Chair, and Chair, and has been on the chapter board for over twenty years. "The networking opportunities are fantastic and the knowledge gained through my association with NAFA has saved our company a lot of money," Colbert said.

In his spare time, Colbert is a car aficionado and stays active by playing tennis.

Bob Martines
President
Corporate Claims Management
Ivyland, PA

Martines is the Founder of Corporate Claims Management (CCM), and currently serves as President and CEO. He began his career in 1977 with Salex Fleet Specialists. Having conceived, developed, and implemented the concept of accident management in the fleet industry 1979, Martines helped build CCM into a viable fleet service provider organization with a commitment to traditional "old fashioned" work ethics; honesty, diligence, integrity, and commitment to excellence on behalf of each client CCM serves.

Martines also conceived, helped to create, and oversaw the development of CCM’s FleetGuard Safety Management Program. FleetGuard is an online program that ensures corporate fleet managers of effective safety training, reduced vehicular accidents, and saving driver’s lives.

Active in NAFA, AFLA, and RIMS since 1987, Martines has made numerous presentations and authored articles for each throughout the U.S. covering accident management, subrogation recovery, vehicle remarketing, and insurance in fleet. He served on NAFA’s National Educational Committee as an instructor and on the Editorial Committee.

Martines received NAFA’s "Outstanding Chapter Service Award" in May of 2003; the first Affiliate in the history of the award to be recognized by multiple chapters. He was featured in Automotive Fleet Magazine "Fleet Personalities of the Year" in 2002 and 2009, and elected to Automotive Fleet's Hall of Fame in August, 2011. Martines received an award from NAFRD exemplifying their "Code of Ethics" for professionalism and integrity.

Martines is married with three adult daughters, one grandson, and one grand daughter.

William K. Roberts
Business Analyst
University of Minnesota
Parking & Transportation Services
Minneapolis, MN

For most of Bill Roberts’ twenty-four year career, he was the Director of Fleet Services at the University of Minnesota. Prior to the University he spent ten years at automobile dealerships. In 2009 he moved to the fleet department’s parent, Parking and Transportation Services. For one year he was the Transit Manager and is now the department’s Analyst, reviewing all aspects of the department and leading its sustainability efforts. His main project during the last year has been replacing parking attendants with automated payment machines.

For his last five years as Fleet Manager the University of Minnesota fleet has received the "100 Best Fleets in North America" designation from Fleet Equipment Magazine and, during his year as Transit Manager, the operation was named Minnesota Transit System of the Year. He was very active in fleet safety, creating and teaching a fifteen-passenger van training course and the National Safety Council’s Four-Hour Defensive Driving Course.

Roberts has been very active in NAFA, holding all North Central Chapter positions including two terms as chapter Chair for a total of four years. He has served on numerous NAFA national committees, and chairing the Fleet Information Resource Center Committee for two years. He has presented at the I&E, being very active in the University group.

For more membership milestones, visit: www.nafa.org/milestones

NAFA Fleet Management Association
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Princeton, NJ 08540

Telephone: 609.720.0882 Fax: 609.452.8004