How We Got Here: A Pre-I&E Message From NAFA Executive Director Phil Russo, CAE

It’s hard for me to contain my excitement for this year’s I&E! For the third straight time, our Expo Floor is completely sold out. Each of the last three conferences saw an increase in the amount of available exhibit space, yet each Expo Floor sold out quicker than the one before! In fact, this year was completely sold out on February 15, a full two and a half months before the show’s opening.

Not to be outdone, registrations for this year’s I&E consistently came in at a far higher rate than in previous years. By December, it was clear that we had turned a corner and were headed back to the conferences of old for NAFA. Our expectations are that this will be the best attended conference in seven years!

Part of this success is due to a rebounding economy, but a bigger part is due to listening to you – our members. For the past few years, you have been telling us what you’d like to see with the I&E; from a more diverse selection of educational sessions to more registration options to fit your budget. We listened and have been tweaking the I&E a little each year.

Last year introduced a mix of educational sessions designed to focus on every aspect and experience level of fleet management as well as specific sessions for the veteran corporate fleet manager. We have continued to strengthen our educational offerings for everyone from those just starting out in fleet to veteran fleet managers who have decades of experience. I personally believe this year’s educational program is our strongest to date!

Networking has always been an integral part of the I&E experience, but attendees said that they wanted even more networking opportunities throughout the conference. So this year we have incorporated scheduled networking coffee breaks in between educational sessions. This gives you the opportunity to unwind after a session, enjoy a beverage, and converse with a colleague before continuing your education.

This year also introduced a variety of new registration options designed to make it easier for attendees to fit the conference within their budget. We now let attendees choose whether or not they wish to have food included in their conference package or if they would prefer to take care of their meals on their own, thereby reducing their overall cost. In addition, one and two day passes are now available alongside the full conference registration. These new options have allowed many fleet managers to attend this year’s I&E who otherwise would have been unable to get time out of the office or funding to attend.

Our goal is to present the very best conference for fleet professionals that we can. We sincerely believe this is the "fleet management industry event of the year" and it’s all because of you. The I&E is unique because it is designed entirely by fleet professionals for fleet professionals. This is your conference. Never hesitate to offer a suggestion or two. The I&E is always evolving, always striving to be the best it can be; and, with the help from fleet professionals like yourself, it will be.

So with that in mind, we hope you have a wonderful time in St. Louis for this year’s I&E. Thanks for making NAFA such a special organization.

Sincerely,

NAFA Fleet Management Association
125 Village Blvd., Suite 200
Princeton, NJ 08540

Telephone: 609.720.0882 Fax: 609.452.8004