NAFA's Old Dominion Chapter Sees Importance Of Making The Data "Real"

The Old Dominion Chapter kicked off the meeting on February 11 at the Richmond, VA location of the Department of Motor Vehicles by addressing a couple house-keeping issues. The 2015 budget was presented and approved and the slate of officers was elected. Effective April, the officers will be:

Chapter Chair Michael Bisogno, CAFM^®, Director, Fleet Management, Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of General Services
Chapter Vice Chair Beth Cooley, CAFM^®, Fleet and Risk Management Manager, Virginia Department Of Motor Vehicles
Treasurer Craig Willingham, Fleet Manager, Virginia Commonwealth University
Secretary Steve Specht, Senior Software Consultant, FASTER Asset Solutions

When you see them, please offer your congratulations!

Bill Griffiths, Division Chief with the Division of Fleet Management in Montgomery County, MD, shared how your vehicle data should tell a story for others to understand, and that's how it becomes real to them. Griffiths said that today’s fleet manager needs to be fiscally minded, a future planner, a savvy communicator, and a customer-driven individual. Data needs to be attainable, legitimate, and understandable. A team needs to create the metrics to "drive" the mission.

Next, fleet managers need to assure their basic data core is correct, understandable, and useable, eliminating "garbage in – garbage out." All this is with the understanding that while you want to collect the best data possible, there's really no such thing as "perfect data," and you need to be cautious. With your fleet information management system, you are already collecting the data, showing how the data impacts companies and organizations by having fewer breakdowns or spending less money. In all cases, whether the recipient of this information is a council member, upper management, or the driver, let the data do the storytelling.

A lot was accomplished and learned during this insightful and impactful session!

Special thanks to Beth Cooley, CAFM^®, for material in this article.

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