The First/Last Word With NAFA CEO Phil Russo, CAE: Thank You For Making NAFA Great

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Thanks to you, Jose landed a great new fleet job in California. And, Jeff came to understand the benefits of implementing a telematics solution for his localized fleet. Jessica learned from the best on how to manage her international fleet. Keith earned kudos for his outstanding sustainable accomplishments. Bob picked up valuable skills to help him make executive presentations. Mary signed a new client that made her a rock star with her boss. Joe experienced the support of dozens of friends from across the continent during a family crisis. And Pat retired with a Rolodex full of names of life-long friends.  


Who are these people and what do they have to do with you? They are real NAFA Members and Affiliates – just like you – who expressed to me at various points throughout the year the benefits they received from the powerful and valuable network that is NAFA.


So thank you for being a part of NAFA, in whatever role you play. Your contributions, your willingness to help others and share your knowledge, and your support of this organization, are the main reasons NAFA is successful. And for that, I offer you my most sincere thanks.


I am honored and blessed to have the opportunity to be NAFA’s CEO. I say it often, and perhaps at the risk of sounding trite, but your dedication to NAFA and your love of this association simultaneously humble and inspire me. When people like Jose and Jeff and Jessica and Pat and all the others tell me about their great experiences with NAFA, I feel like Pac-Man eating his pellets. I get energized and want to do everything I can to make NAFA even better for everyone. Yet I know that for all I do for this association, it pales in comparison to your zeal for NAFA, which is very humbling.   


That’s why I want to use this space, which I’ve typically reserved for a round-up of the year’s accomplishments, to simply say "Thank you." To be sure, NAFA achieved a great deal this year and made huge strides in many areas. But this isn’t the time to boast; I’ll save those details for another time and report. This year, my message to you is simply one of thanks, for everything.  


Know that you have my complete dedication and 100 percent of my efforts to make NAFA everything you want it to be and everything it can be. As I said when I was introduced as NAFA’s Executive Director in 2005, "leadership has nothing to do with the position, but everything to do with the ability to serve."  I hope I serve you well.

Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and safe holiday season, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Phil, NAFA's CEO, @PhillipERusso

 

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