Mark A. Smith, GE Capital Fleet Services: Venture Off The Beaten Path
Mark and Tamara Smith in Murdo, South Dakota
My wife and I just returned from a 3,000 mile road trip to take our daughter out to school. Driving from Minneapolis to Idaho and back gives one an opportunity to enjoy our beautiful country, as well as plenty of time to think. We choose to complete much of the drive on rural roads rather than sticking to the freeways. In doing so, we drove though many cities and towns, both large and small. It took a little longer and it was well worth it.
Signs of our industry were everywhere: sales vehicles at hotels, delivery vehicles bringing products and packages, maintenance vehicles on the side of the road, dealers displaying the latest models, maintenance shops, fuel stations, transport providers, and collision repair facilities. We even saw a few antique cars. Included were many companies represented by NAFA Members and Affiliates. It was a great reminder on both how pervasive and critical our industry is!
It was also a great reminder that if we stick to the beaten path our experience will be quite different than if we take the time to explore a little and venture off it. NAFA provides many opportunities for Members and Affiliates to explore, learn, and get involved beyond just the Annual Meeting. These include participation in regional NAFA meetings, creating courses and training materials, attending training sessions, sharing best practices with your peers, drafting white papers, presenting and/or attending webinars, and completing your CAFM or CAFS certification.
Please take a moment to share your thoughts, ideas, or suggestions with a member of the Affiliates Committee (listed below). Our next Affiliates Committee meeting will be held at the NAFA Board of Governors meeting in Phoenix, AZ on October 24 and we welcome your input.
Chair
Dennis M. Christina
BusinessLink Commercial Manager
Telegraph Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Inc.
dchristina@southfieldchrysler.com
Vice Chair
Mr. Alain Primeau
National Sales Director, Major Accounts
UAP Inc., NAPA Canada
aprimeau@uapinc.com
Reporting VP/Officer/Trustee
Mr. Mark F. Klein
Strategic Account Manager
Safelite Solutions
mark.klein@safelite.com
Mike Antich
Editor
Automotive Fleet Magazine
mike.antich@bobit.com
Denise L. Berecz
Business Development Manager
Chrysler LLC
DLB1@chrysler.com
Michelle Christie
Event Planning Manager
Ford Motor Company
mchris48@ford.com
Betsy Flegg
FCO Marketing Manager
General Motors Corporation Fleet Operations
betsy.flegg@gm.com
Joe McDonald
Sr. Director, Account Management
Wheels, Inc.
jmcdonald@wheels.com
Mark Miller
Show Manager
NaylorCMG
mmiller@naylor.com
William E. Pierce
Marketing VP
ARI
epierce@arifleet.com
James M. Spellissy
Vice President - Business Development
PHH Arval
jim.spellissy@phh.com
Richard P. Wanders
National Account Sales Manager
Leggett & Platt Commercial Vehicle Products
rich.wanders@leggett.com
It does take a little more time to get involved but the benefits are well worth it.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Smith
Vice President
GE Capital Fleet Services
mark.a.smith@ge.com
