Celebrating Membership Milestones
This month several Members and Affiliates are celebrating important NAFA membership milestones. NAFA would like to thank them for being a part of our family. It is our Members who help make this Association successful. Your volunteer work has helped create and successfully run various committees, provide publications, educational workshops and testing, and annually offer our Institute and Expo. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication!
Celebrating 45 Years With NAFA:
Edward J. Bobit
Chairman of Bobit Business Media
Edward J. Bobit, Chairman of Bobit Business Media, is celebrating his 45th anniversary with NAFA this month.
"NAFA is proud that Ed Bobit has been part of our family for so many years," said Phillip E. Russo, CAE, Executive Director, NAFA. "NAFA is all about relationships and our long-term association with Ed and Bobit Business Media has been a valuable win-win throughout the years. On behalf of the NAFA Board of Trustees, and the entire NAFA membership, I thank Ed for his support and contributions to NAFA. It wouldn't be the same without you!"
Bobit Business Media was founded in 1961 and the company currently publishes 20 business-to-business magazines, 10 trade shows, and 50 industry websites. Seven years prior to establishing this successful company and launching Automotive Fleet Magazine, Bobit was a Chicago sales manager for McGraw Hill. He served two terms on the MSU Business School Board, on the Development Board, and the Athletic Council. He is founder, and currently Executive Director, emeritus, of the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association and was honored with the President's Award.
"It is almost certain, if not probable, that Ed Bobit has been and is to this day, the most influential factor in shaping what the fleet management industry is today," said Chuck Parker, Automotive Information Network, Inc. "He created a magazine, a company, and a whole business model around providing media and information to fleet managers and has given the manufacturers and suppliers a platform to deliver their messages for nearly 50 years. Ed is an icon, a mentor, and a visionary."
Bobit's services have included Board membership for American Business Media (formerly American Business Press) and Business Publications International; member of the Transportation Safety Committee and Awards Committee for the National Safety Council, and membership to the American Society of Association Executives, and Newcomen Society.
"Ed is one of our industry's Icons," said Douglas Weichman, CAFM, Director, Fleet Management Division Palm Beach County. "He is one of the few people that you can just mention 'Ed' and everyone knows who you are talking about. He can always be counted on to be an active member within our industry and NAFA. Ed is currently active within NAFA and is considered a cornerstone member from almost when the Association was formed. One of his qualities is that he is no wall flower and at times I may not agree with everything he says but he keeps us on our toes and is always thinking. He is a true champion for the fleet manager and has always worked at raising the profession's bar and getting recognition for the fleet manager."
Bobit has been honored by NAFA with (Honorary) life membership, the National Association of Pupil Transportation who inducted Bobit into their Hall of Fame, the Nation Vehicle Leasing Association for Life Time Contributions, the Circle of Excellence Award from the International Automotive Remarketing Alliance, and the President's Award from the Association of Car & Truck Rental Independents & Franchisees.
"Ed Bobit is a fleet management industry treasure with his fingers on the pulse of the industry and his voice in the ears of its leaders," said Christopher Amos, CAFM, Commissioner of Equipment Services, City of Saint Louis, Mo. "He was made a Honorary Member of NAFA Fleet Management Association many years ago for his consistent support of its Members, Affiliates, and goals to raise the level of professionalism within the fleet community. He has been a mentor of mine and it gives me great pleasure to congratulate him on his impressive 45-years of NAFA membership.
"Knowing part of Ed's family informally for many years and his background, I can say Ed is one of a kind and has many things to be proud of over his life," Weichman said. "I truly believe Ed's legacy will live on through many generations, and through his son Ty, and Bobit Business Media, which are some of the hallmarks of his success. Ed, congratulations on your 45th year of service to NAFA. You are the man!"
Additional NAFA Anniversaries To Celebrate:
Elizabeth B. Linck, CFM
Green Valley, AZ
Elizabeth B. Linck, CAFM, celebrated her 30-year anniversary with NAFA in January. She has been involved in Fleet Management for 35 years, starting her Fleet career in 1975 with a Fortune 500 company. She joined NAFA in 1980 and for the past 19 ½ years was employed as Fleet Director for the Town of Greenwich, Conn. Linck is also one of the original Wharton C.F.M. graduates. As Fleet Director, many objectives were achieved, including meeting the requirements for an ASE Blue Seal facility since 2005, with pay grade increases for the Technicians, successfully outsourcing the parts room function since 1999, and implementing an Outcome Based Budget for four fiscal years. In addition, the department received recognition as a Top 100 Best Fleets for four consecutive years.
NAFA involvement includes 25 years on the NAFA Board of Governors and 29 years as an active member of Inter-County Chapter as Chapter Chair and numerous Chapter Committee Chairs. She made numerous presentations at the NAFA -FMI, Inter- County Chapter meetings, and at several organizations on various Fleet topics. Linck was twice nominated Fleet Manager of the Year (1996 and 2007); was a Fleet Women of Influence in Automotive Fleet, 2008; and was a recipient of the Outstanding Chapter Award, 2000.
Currently living in Green Valley, Ariz., she enjoys scuba diving, horseback riding and hiking, and still plans on continuing her involvement within the Fleet Management area.
Also celebrating their 30-year anniversary with NAFA is David R. Rush of London, ON.
Celebrating their 25-year anniversary:
Randy Shadley, CAFM
Corporate Claims Management
Denver, CO
Long-time NAFA member Randy Shadley celebrated his 25-year anniversary with NAFA in April. He has recently joined Corporate Claims Management (CCM) as "Director of Safety Programs," where he can apply his nearly 30 years of fleet industry experience to help organizations evaluate and improve their Vehicle Fleet and Fleet Safety programs. Shadley achieved his Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM) designation in 1998 and re-certified in 2003 and 2008. He began his fleet career in 1982 at U.S. Fleet Leasing, with positions in Purchasing and Customer Service. He left USFL to manage the fleet and travel programs for Xerox Engineering Systems from 1984 through 1994, and then joined Nextel Communications to create and manage their fleet program. When Nextel merged with Sprint in 2005 he became Fleet Safety Manager for the combined companies' fleets, where he continued until accepting his recent position at CCM.
Shadley has been an active member of NAFA Fleet Management Association for much of his career, serving terms as Treasurer, Vice Chair, and Chapter Chair of the Rocky Mountain Chapter, followed by positions on NAFA's national board as I&E Curriculum Chair (2003), Regional Trustee (2003 – 2007) and Vice President (2007 – 2009).
Shadley has served on the Client Advisory Boards of Corporate Claims Management, Associates Leasing, and Ford's SuperDuty Truck Focus Group, and he represented NAFA on the ASSE committee that in 2006 published the Approved American National Standard (ANSI) Z15 - "Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations."
He encourages members to get involved with NAFA, to take full advantage of the collective knowledge of our diversified membership.
Also celebrating their 25-year anniversary with NAFA is Richard Stehr, CFM, Fleet Manager for the City of Oklahoma City, Jean M. Nosek, Senior Dir., Facilities and Support Services for Broadcast Music Inc., and Bonnie Whidden, CAFM, Graphics, Fleet & Administration Services Manager for Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.