The First Word – My Weekend in Newark

Fleet managers and Affiliates never cease to amaze me. You are, without a doubt, the most giving and supportive group of professionals I have ever met. 

I don't know how you spent your weekend, but I just spent three days with the NAFA Board of Governors talking strategic planning for the Association. Those 50 or so fleet managers and Affiliates representing NAFA's chapters and committees arrived ready and willing to work, to solve some of NAFA's biggest issues, and to set a course for future success. Maybe it helped that we were holed up in a not-so-luxurious hotel near Newark-Liberty Airport in New Jersey, or maybe it was the fact that it was too hot to venture in to Manhattan, but those volunteers showed how dedicated they are to NAFA and the fleet profession.

NAFA Vice President Claude Masters, CAFM, from Florida Power & Light, led some of the best discussions about NAFA's chapters. Masters noted that Members and Affiliates routinely say NAFA's chapters are one of the Association's greatest assets – but often times can be one of the Association's weakest links. "Our chapters are the best places for networking, finding local experts, and building long-lasting relationships," Masters said. "However, nearly every chapter needs help increasing attendance and developing future leaders."

Masters then asked the Board to take a realistic, introspective look at the chapters, to identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. For the next four hours, these amazing fleet professionals set out in four work groups to delve deeply in to the issues, to talk about their desired outcomes, and to map out plans to achieve those results. 

As if that wasn't enough brain power to extend for one day, after lunch the Board tackled several other issues, including the future of NAFA's educational efforts, sustainable certification standards, and benchmarking. 

Can you imagine spending your weekend talking about fleet webinars, or developing surveys, or anything else for which you don't receive any compensation? The amazing fleet managers and Affiliates on the NAFA Board of Governors deserve a huge thank you from all of us.  Their only compensation is knowing they are making a difference for the entire Association and the entire fleet profession.