Celebrating Membership Milestones

June 2013

55 years



Alfred J. Cavalli 
Massapequa Park, NY
Al Cavalli served as President of NAFA 1969-1971, but his ties to the Association go back much farther: to the very beginning as the Round Table Group. Cavalli saw NAFA through an unprecedented time of growth and had to make hard choices, including one to raise membership dues in 1970 to match the requirements brought on by the influx of new members.

"It almost wrecked NAFA," Cavalli said in a recent article in FLEET Solutions magazine. "We found it necessary, at the time, to increase membership fees. They started out at $50 and we raised them to $100, and there was an uproar." Although there had been talk of upheaval and secession, the Association still held firm.

Cavalli has a long and prestigious history working with some of the most influential individuals and companies in the industry. He also takes great pride in his work on the NAFCAR and NAFVAN projects, wherein fleet professionals helped design vehicles that would best suit the needs of the profession (based on fleet survey feedback). While not much is spoken of these designs now, they had profound influence on automakers in 1976.

Uncredited, virtually all of the NAFCAR concepts were integrated into the future models from the U.S. car manufacturers, with some remaining even to this day. 

"It was really amazing how manufacturers took to it," Cavalli said. "Whether they admit it or not, many of the innovations they came out with were in that survey."

To read the FLEETSolutions article with Al Cavalli, click here. The NAFA family wishes Al a speedy and healthy recovery from recent health issues.

25 years



Norma G. Maxvill 
Customer Service Rep.
BBL Fleet
Troy, MI

"I began my career in fleet leasing in 1976 at McCullagh Leasing, Roseville, MI, working in many different areas, but especially in client service. In 1988, I was hired by BBL Fleet, Pittsburgh PA, as the on-site vehicle administrator for a major OEM automotive supplier in Troy MI. The past 25 years with BBL Fleet and our customer have been exceptional.

"Membership in NAFA has been important as I worked as an affiliate on site with a client. My local chapter, Great Lakes, has always provided an invaluable resource for information, best practices, education and support. More importantly, I’ve met fleet professionals who have inspired me with their dedication and commitment, especially to NAFA. Networking with them has proved to be the highlight of my NAFA membership, since many of them have become lifelong friends.

"It’s been my privilege to work with BBL Fleet, and to be a member of NAFA."

Jacqueline A. Porter 
Director of Risk Management
Block Communications, Inc.
Toledo, OH

Jacqueline Porter was the Member recipient of the Outstanding Chapter Service Award in 2008. She is a Member of the Michigan chapter. It is the strength of Members like Jacqueline Porter that have helped make NAFA the fleet industry’s strongest association.

NAFA thanks all of the members celebrating their anniversaries this month for their years with the Association. It is the strength of the membership that has helped make NAFA the fleet industry's strongest association.



For more membership milestones, click here.