Pictured at the West Palm Beach 100 Best Seminar are (left to right): George Baker (Volusia County), Tom C. Johnson (The 100 Best Fleets), Michele Amengual (Volusia County) and Robert Gilmore (Volusia County). George Baker and his team at Volusia County were the # 1 Fleet in the country in 2007 and George was named the #3 Government Fleet Manager of the Year in 2008.

The 100 Best Fleets seminars have always been a very pragmatic and valuable resource to my organizations in Texas and Florida. Tom Johnson is a trusted colleague that always does an excellent job in assembling a power-packed day of training seminars, exhibitors, site visits and professional networking opportunities.

The nominal cost of the seminar allows me and several other team members to attend. Our team never fails to glean improvement initiative ideas that we incorporate into our annual business plan. This innovative event never fails to yield an exponential return-on-investment.

As leaders in our organizations we are either a catalyst, showing our team a vision and moving them into the future, or we are a cataract, obstructing their vision and holding them in the past. Tom and his seminars have always expanded my vision. I whole-heartedly recommend the 100 Best Fleets seminars.

George Baker; Director Of Central Services; County of Volusia, Florida

It was great seeing you again...

In reference to the seminar, it was outstanding. I’ve been in the fleet business for over thirty years now and I still managed to glean several wonderful ideas from this seminar. In addition, simply being around some of the best fleet minds in the business has a contagious effect that re-motivates even the most battle-weary fleet manager into positive action.

The 100 Best Fleet seminar is without a doubt one of the best financial/educational bang-for-the-bucks sessions a fleet professional (of any level of experience) could attend. Keep up the good work Tom!

Alan Savarese; Fleet Manager; Deerfield Beach, FL

I wanted to thank you...for a GREAT meeting. It is always refreshing to gather as a group of dedicated professionals with a common goal. Well done!

Aubrey Felton; Region Vice President; First Vehicle Services; Jupiter, FL

Thank you for having these events, so we can attend. Your love of the field and concern for others is clearly self evident. It is my honor to have met you.

David Kilbourne; Director – Fleet; San Antonio Water System

Thanks so much Tom. We are both looking forward to another great, interesting and upbeat time with you. I wish I could bottle your attitude toward life….I’d be rich in so many ways.

Karen Yeo; Fleet Services; Sarasota, FL

I enjoyed the meeting and the fact of the matter is I received a very important thought before the meeting. When I first got there, I spoke with the [fellow] that was to do a presentation on benchmarking using indicators. He sparked my interest and it revolves around budgets and replacing vehicles. Thanks for keeping me in the loop.

Rodney Todd; City of Jackson; Jackson, Tennessee

Steve, I wanted to thank you for your presentation in Florida but you left before...I could catch you. You made me realize that I have to revisit our numbers to ensure that our fundamental financial assumptions are still correct. Thanks again.

Ernie Ivy; Director of Fleet Management City and County of Denver, CO
2009 APWA Fleet Manager of the Year; His fleet was rated #2 in The 100 Best Fleets

This was the first of The 100 Best Fleets conferences that I have been able to attend. I thought the program was fantastic and at this point I have no suggestions for improving it.

Don Hathaway; Fleet Manager; Chelan County Public Works; Wenatchee, Washington

I wanted to follow-up and thank you again for having us last week. It was great to see the enthusiasm folks have for controlling all fleet related costs including accidents. I greatly enjoyed the experience and would welcome our involvement in your future plans.

Ed Finnegan, State Auto Insurance Program Officer, State of Georgia

Tom, I enjoyed your presentation the other week. We are unique, a new city – incorporated in 2003.

Overnight our fleet grew to 400 units. Aside from the many items you brought up in your presentation, I have some ideas I am going to incorporate as well.

David M. Motola; Fleet Service Manager; City of Miami Gardens, Florida

Thanks Tom - For all you do to keep Fleet Managers across the nation inspired.

Michael Brennan; CEM Fleet Manager; Manatee County, Florida

I do want to thank you for what you have set up, I often pull out your criteria for best fleets and use that as a measuring stick and reference for the changes we are working on...

Remember to keep your batteries recharged.

Harold Pedersen; Fleet Services Manager, City Of Fargo; Fargo, North Dakota

Following up our meeting last week; I really enjoyed your presentation. My plan now (you usually ask for a plan) is to take your criteria along with the 100 Best summary from “Gov’t Fleet” and compile an action plan on those items we can implement. Thanks for that detail and the information you offered.

Bob Stanton; Director – Polk County Fleet Management; Bartow, Florida

I really appreciated the invitation to your 100 Best workshop. I wish we all would have had another day at the very least.

Don Hathaway; Chelan County, WA

I really appreciated the meeting you hosted in Boise, the information was timely and very relevant. I enjoyed the opportunity to meet people in the same profession facing similar challenges. I especially enjoyed listening to Ernie and Craig. I would have liked to spent an hour asking Ernie questions about fund balances, rates, service intervals and a hundred other things. I’m sitting at my desk making notes and several ideas presented will be implemented or affect our policies here at Walla Walla County.

Scott Wagner; Equipment Maintenance Manager; Walla Walla County Public Works

"Tom, thank you very much for the very informative and direct seminar. Joy and I were both impressed with the compact but informative nature of the seminar. We talked about it most of the way home. It is always good to have seminars that focus on us and how we conduct business versus a lot of fluff that really does not help in our day to day operations...

"Great job and thank you again."

Dennis R. Hogan - CAFM; Fleet Services Manager; City of Cedar Rapids, IA

"Tom Nelson and I found the day to be very valuable. I sure would enjoy another opportunity to speak to Roger. He was awesome. The whole presentation was very well done. Thanks again for the invite."

Tom Vetsch, Public Works Supt. City of Plymouth

"Tom - I wanted to let you know that we appreciated the opportunity to attend the Minneapolis fleet event this week. Every time we get together with other fleets that are grappling with similar issues, we pick up information that helps us to improve our programs and get better at what we do - which ends up saving $$ for our customers, in our case - the taxpayers. Too much of the time we end up with our heads down focused on the immediate work in front of us - which certainly needs to be done - and not scanning the horizon for what's coming or perhaps better approaches. That you're taking this on the road to our respective "neighborhoods", eases some of the time (and travel) constraints, and makes it easier for us to get (and stay) good.

"Thanks for your assistance, and thank you also for the certificate for being among the 100 Best. We think we're pretty good in a lot of respects, but we also know that we've got a lot to learn from others and we've got plenty of room to get better. Thanks!"

Dave Schiller CAFM; Fleet, Safety & Materials Manager; MN Department of Natural Resources

"There isn't a better use of your time than brainstorming with your successful peers for better ways to do the business of government."

John Hunt, 2005 Government Fleet Manager of the Year from Portland, Oregon

"It was worth the three hour drive. We got one idea we implemented that saved us $20,000 immediately."

Paul Patterson, Fleet Manager of Oneonta, New York

Quotes from post-event surveys

What was the one best idea you got that you could implement immediately?

"By the way I like Tom's jokes. I have great respect for Tom and I extremely happy he and those who work with him have put this entire program together."

"Keep doing what you are doing."

"Performance keys and cost of service. I'm looking forward to attending again."

"Self-promote fleet accomplishments."

"I loved the metrics briefing. It provided me a new way of looking at some data. We have metrics and crunch various numbers, but any new idea offers new insights. I really loved the man's enthusiasm for the topic. Zeal he had it and it was apparent."

"The program is great that I observed and learned. I like the presentation of each representative because they placed their best ideas to help fleet managers more progressive in time, budgeting, what best for their organizations. Run this business like your own business."

"Vehicle repair process, proper mechanic staffing and supervision, key performance indicator and good ideal on good performance measures and implementation. And good business contracts."

"Dashboarding"

"Fleet evaluation outline for Managed Competition."

"The fleet audit self assessment check list was one and focusing on KPI's."

"From a vendors standpoint it was all good information."

"NJPA was very interesting and could prove helpful. Betty Linck's suggestions regarding blowing your own horn (make bosses/everyone aware of what you are doing and what you have accomplished) is terrific. Too often we are doing great things that nobody really knows about. It makes sense to champion your teams' accomplishments."

"Fleet Managers who are progressive have a very high level of interest in learning about new ideas and solutions."

"Although the presentations were all first class, the opportunity to network with my peers was the most valuable part of the 100 Best event program. The environment fosters exchange of ideas and even work product, thus potentially saving hundreds of work hours by avoiding 're-inventing the wheel'."

"There were many ideas that could be implemented. I think the best idea for me is Joint purchasing contracts. It is time saving tool and will give me more time to put towards other areas of operation."

"As a potential supplier to the audience the best thing I was able to receive was the opportunity to meet with other municipalities and provide solutions to the issues and challenges they face on a daily basis."

"After viewing the site at Moline it reminded me to include, in the expansion of our own site, a lube area for operators accompanied by a product dispensing unit. I immediately added this to the list of things for this expansion."

"I really though all the presentations and discussions were exceptional. I really appreciated the sample Fleet Business Plan. I also appreciate Tom’s dedication and commitment to the Fleet Industry."

"This was my first meeting with 100 Best Fleets and didn’t know what to expect. I walked away with an renewed appreciation of the importance in participating in this sort of forum. I brought back the information to my Manager for the NJPA Program and we are looking into joining."

"Both the National Joint Powers Alliance information and Bill De Rousse’s Explanation of the 100 Best grading criteria-very informative and well done!"

"Well, I really was going to to comment on Tom’s jokes but since they are off-limits, I though the program was well thought out and addressed current Fleet Concerns. I hope sessions like this continue."

"I have been to two so far and they have been informative. The program has been fantastic, thanks."

"Didn’t think anything needed improvement. All was very professional. Excellent! Presentations were informative."

"The program covered all needed areas of interest."

"Information was well presented and very helpful. Thank you and continue the good work."

"We also learned ideas about how to improve the greening of our Fleet. We felt we were doing our best, but we were just looking at the economics alone and not the political aspects."

"I think it was a very good program. The modern economic situation does not allow us to go to many of the national venues and conferences that are over several days. This meeting was within driving distance and very economical for us to get together and exchange ideas. Thanks."

In response to a question about the best idea that you could implement immediately: "The self-assessment checklist."

"Repair shop design and especially organization is an important aspect of efficiency. Every shop needs some cleaning/organization and in the day-to-day operation one can become comfortable with a situation that needs improvement. A little effort and low cost can have big effects on operations."

"I was very impressed with how well things went. All presentations were informative and on time."

"The program was structured well and kept on track with the time available. More time at the host facility to discuss and share actual day-to-day operations and procedures would be helpful if time allowed."

"Felt good about the content. Enjoyed learning about the challenges fleets face in today's environment outside of budget restrictions."

"Fuel monitoring information offers some real possible cost savings. The presentation by NJPA offered some new possibilities for contract alliances. Both will be pursued."

"Information on deferred maintenance."

"To review and organize our fleet data better."

"Loved everything about the presentation."

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