The history of Black Americans is an unparalleled one-of-one. No facet of societal movement, daily living, nor business progress exists without the direct influence of Black men and women. From the inception of European conquests of the western hemisphere, the role of diasporic Africans was perfectly integral to the full spectrum of the American experience. From simple survival to development of an economic machine that would alter the world forever, the Black contribution was one without which this nation would not fare - well. Under systemic duress specifically designed to suppress and oppress the very spirit of Black people, an undying hope and forged tenacity resulted in recurring ingenuity that would transform an abysmal plight into a standard for perseverance [the marathon continues].

The shoulders of these Black forefathers and foremothers will always inspire the present and expectant future of our community. At Black Fleet Network™ (BFN), community is our existence. It’s the day-in-day-out truth of getting the job done; parenting; self-improvement; failure; celebrating incremental wins. And in what world would these life-defining actions be relegated to a single month of the year? Therefore, we recognize Black History Month (BHM) by de-romanticizing it. Recognition is polite, but reality is a continuum.

So, we celebrate the now and the pending that’s evident in the current journeys of patent-wielding technologists like Bill Pugh; award-winning mobility professionals like Al Curtis, Cedric Roberts, and Tim Fitzgerald - who keep American cities safely moving forward; pioneering companies like J3 Management Group, SHZoom, and ChargerHelp!; along with cultural heroines like André 3000, Beyoncé, and the Obamas, who are vibrant reminders of recognized potential and the power of unhinged expression. The beauty of these examples is that they’re here with us now, serving as intergenerational bridges of progress and imagination.

But as is normative to the Black life, we can’t afford to revel in the achievement. We’re living another pivotal point in time where we’re, again, contending with government-sponsored attempts to eradicate our unique narrative. From textbooks to town halls, fear mongers are investing dollar, rhetoric, and votes for hopes of a Black-less return. This assault isn’t merely about textbooks and leveling emotions within the academic context. Its intent is the erasure of truths that reveal a gross lack of responsibility: the horrors historically unleashed from one group upon all the others - with Black people being the constant reminder of those ills. But no amount of legislation nor political pandering can muzzle the countless cries from centuries of staring terror in the face and telling it to get behind us.

So, this day, this month, BFN celebrates the fullness of Black history: a variegated series of lived experiences that have opened the eyes of the world - extracting tears of joy while calling out injustice and championing its antithesis. Our recognition spans 365 days of the calendar, in the spirit of lifting all limits and claiming the fullness of who we are. Everyday.

Written by Exavious (Zā) Farley, Founder and CEO at Black Fleet Network

Originally published in the February 2024 Issue of Fleet Insight. 

I felt the excitement of being in my soon-to-be college dorm. Walking the campus with my family, meeting the different college groups, and looking at my schedule was proof that my lifelong goal would happen. All the hard work through high school was worth it, and because I would be only about an 8-hour drive from Lawrence, Kansas, to my home in Illinois, I felt it was close enough to be near my family. 

Those initial plans to start college out of state quickly detoured when my dad gave me some stomach-turning news a week later. He told me that my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and as someone who has had several relatives lose their battle with this disease, I did not want to be away from my mom during this time. It’s a time of uncertainty when facing a loved one’s illness. I chose not to attend that college to be close to my mom. I recall being in a daze when I started learning about the process she needed to endure. I became my mom’s translator as she made many doctor visits, and I quickly learned much more than any 17-year-old should know. A support group of cancer survivors showed up at the hospital and met with us. They had each fought and overcame this horrible disease, and they were a blessing. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, this month is more than awareness. For 31 days, pink ribbons appear as the impact of breast cancer is brought to the forefront of national conversations. According to the American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer is one of the most common cancers in women in the United States. Overall, the average risk of a woman in the US developing breast cancer is about 13%--a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer. There are support groups throughout the US that help people face their challenges. We were fortunate enough to have a support group reach out and help us in our time of need. 

Support was critical during this time of confusion and doubt. I was not prepared for what we were dealing with. My mom was there for me as a child to help me learn, grow, and flourish. She worked hard to ensure I had what I needed and could become the young man I wanted to be. She was there to help me face every battle, and now, as she faced the battle of her life, I could not jump in to help her with her fight, or so I thought. 

The support group was there to listen to our questions. To be a calming person to talk to. To give my mom hope and to listen to anything she was worried about regarding her cancer. After each visit, they always gave her a big hug, as if we were family. Those comforting moments were crucial to our well-being. I sat through each procedure, each appointment and each hospital overnight stay, sleeping there whenever I could. I didn’t realize that I was supporting her just by being there. Honestly, I was just afraid I would lose her, so being there was more about me and not wanting to be away if she suddenly left us. My mom was a strong mom who told me not to worry. “Your fears and tears are not going to cure my cancer, so don’t worry” is what I remember her telling me. I learned a new perspective: sometimes you don’t know how to act, or what to say, but that’s okay. Being there when someone needs you is power. It’s the power of support. 

As my mom recovered and fought hard with all of her chemotherapy and doctor visits, we were on the road to recovery. I am thankful for that support group, which just showed up and then played a crucial role during times of uncertainty. The simple act of being present or just giving a hug is encouraging. What we think are small acts of kindness can make a big difference. 

There are many ways you can help during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Reach out to someone you know is impacted and offer to help no matter how small you think the act is. You would be amazed how far that simple support goes. I never returned to that college since life’s detour took me on a different path, but I am grateful that the detour took me to a better place—a place of compassion, a place of support, a place of empathy. This month and every month let’s continue to look out for each other. May your journey always take you where you need to go. 

Written by Carlos Oropeza, Director of Marketing at Wheels

Originally published in the October 2023 Issue of Fleet Insight. 

The starting line for this alone has my mind reeling with the many ways I could finish that sentence. I am sometimes defined by my relationship to others. I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend. I am sometimes defined by my demographics. I am middle aged, middle class, middle America. I am sometimes defined by my job. I am a fleet professional, a Marketing writer, a manager of strategic communication projects. I am sometimes defined by my personality traits or my hobbies. I am witty, a loyal friend, a cat-lover, a true crime junkie.

All of these are facets of who I am—none independently defining me, and only a few are identifiable just by looking at me. And while they’re all more or less important parts of me along with a dozen other adjectives, I’m not writing this to talk about my education or job or love of cats and serial killer documentaries. I’m open for a lunchtime coffee run to talk about any of these things with any of you! Instead, I’m writing to share my personal experience with racial and ethnic identity and belonging. It’s a big part of what has fostered and fueled my love of diversity, my passion for human rights, and my belief in equality. So on that note, let’s start again.

Soy Puertorriqueña.

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, which is a time to celebrate my background. I am Puerto Rican. Swedish Puerto Rican to be specific. Or should it be Puerto Rican Swedish? My mother told me when I was little that I was a Swederican. My abuela was from Jayuya, Puerto Rico. She grew up on a farm in the mountains and was one of 16 children. My abuelo was an only child from Caguas. I don’t know how they met, but they fell in love, were married, and my grandmother gave birth to my aunts Luzbelen and Migdalia in San Juan. In the 1950s, many US businesses recruited on the island. Opportunities abounded state-side—and Puerto Ricans, born US citizens, were a great source of labor. One day a man handed my grandfather a flier for Inland Steel, and leaving my grandmother and aunts behind, my grandfather headed to the States to setup a home for his young family.

Adjusting to life in the Harbor (East Chicago, IN) was tough. My grandfather spoke no English. As a child I was told that the only words he knew were “banana split.” It made for a wonderful story of my grandfather eating nothing but banana splits for days until the other Puerto Rican families in the community helped him. I didn’t hear many stories about the “No Puerto Rican” signs posted on restaurants at that time or the overt bigotry he faced. Most of the stories were the kind of stories you’d tell a child—banana split stomach aches and how he learned English by watching Mr. Rogers.

It took about a year for my grandfather to get setup before he sent for my grandmother and aunts to join him. My mother was born 9 months later. Loving his new life so much, he wanted to name her America. They settled on Nancy. My aunts became Lucy and Midge. American life was on a roll! My grandmother went on to have four sons. Times were tough, but as more of our family came to the states, there was an entire apartment building of Puerto Rican aunts, uncles, and cousins. My mother remembers many of the hardships, but also a sense of family and community and belonging that, at times, I envied. I have many memories of visiting the apartment building in the Harbor, going from apartment to apartment to visit my tias and tios, eating plates of arroz con gandules, and shooting BB guns in the alleys.

I know far less about my paternal grandparents. My grandmother was the first generation only child born to Swedish immigrants. Her mother raised my father while my grandmother worked as a teacher. My grandfather was strained from his family, and I know very little about their past. The few stories I heard as a child about my father’s childhood were like tales from an unimaginable time of history. He listened to radio programs growing up—they didn’t have a television! I couldn’t imagine. My great-grandfather was a successful gardener who had his own nursery, and my great-grandmother told my father stories about the boat she took to America while taking on trips downtown for Cubs games or shopping at Marshall Fields. My father was older than my mother—7 years older. Most of the stories I heard painted a picture of a very typical 1950s middle-class life. Sock hops, roller skating, slicked back hair, record players—growing up I imagined his early life to be a lot like Happy Days.

My parents met in college in a Spanish class. My father was impressed by my mother’s ability to speak Spanish so well, not realizing that Spanish was actually her first language! They dated, fell in love, and got married. While my father was a long-haired hippie at this time, growing up I pictured it like West Side Story. Nothing quite so dramatic happened, of course. My mother’s family took no issue with my father being white. My father’s family had reservations—but they were far too proper to say much of anything.

When my older brother was born, he had a mop of curly blond hair. Curls aside, my mother thought he was certainly more Swedish than Puerto Rican. I’m convinced that comments on this were frequently made around my brother from a very young age. When he was a toddler, my mother tried teaching him Spanish. He resisted, stating outright that he was not Puerto Rican—he was Swedish! My mother told me this story many times growing up when I asked her why we didn’t speak Spanish. She said hearing her son say this broke her heart, and she decided to not push any sense of being Puerto Rican with him.

When I was born, I was dark-haired and looked to have darker skin. My father commented on my skin tone immediately, noting that I looked a bit dark. My mother simply replied, “No—she looks Puerto Rican!” This was not the case, though, and my parents would soon be alerted by doctors that I was having apneic seizures and the darkness of my skin and lips was caused by a lack of oxygen. My parents were sent home with the caution to keep me awake during car rides and use a heart monitor when I slept. Of course I don’t remember these times, but I’m told that I was always treated differently by my mother’s family because of this. My cousins tell me that I was never to be left alone, always paraded around like a baby doll while everyone watched very closely to make sure I was breathing.

Being carted around like a doll is something I do remember. I was my mother’s constant companion as a child, often dressed in matching outfits that my grandmother would sew. Whether fueled by my health or by my gender, I believe that this is why I had such a different concept of my identity compared to my older brother. He was, after all, a boy—and he loved my father deeply. My mother talks about the early times with my brother as being mixed with feelings of rejection—for her culture and for her personally. She tells me how when I was born, she felt she finally had a baby who looked like her and wanted to be by her side.

I was by her side often, and this meant a lot of time immersed in Puerto Rican culture. While my family always loved and accepted me, I remember very early on having a sense that I didn’t quite fit in. First, it was the names and nicknames. I imagine in any Puerto Rican family there are an assortment of nicknames, and my family is no exception. I grew up with cousins Papo, Tata, Teeta, Chilito, Bebe, Suki, Yayi, Tito, Tiny—there are probably a half-a-dozen more that I can’t remember. I had a nickname too, given to me by my grandfather—La Nena. But this was only used by my mother and grandfather. To everyone else, I was Kimberly. Kimberly has such blue eyes—it’s because she’s Swedish. (My mother has blue eyes that are quite similar to mine.) Kimberly has such porcelain skin—it must be the Swedish. (My mother is light skinned as well, with only a slight olive undertone). Kimberly doesn’t speak Spanish—her dad is Swedish. (This one was painfully true. Despite begging to be taught Spanish, my brother’s early rejection of Spanish combined with my father not speaking Spanish led my mother to refuse.)

Despite the slightly out of place feelings, I knew I was Puerto Rican. I was proud of this. And admittedly, I felt more out of place on the rare occasions we visited my paternal grandparents. It was starkly different from one culture to the other. Holidays with my mother’s family were loud and fun, full of music, dancing, the food I knew and loved, and a steady flow of cousins to play with. In contrast, visits with my gringo family were quiet and, frankly, boring. We weren’t allowed to run in the house, there were no other children around, the food was bland and somewhat unfamiliar, and there was no music and certainly no dancing. I grew up truly believing that this was the way that Swedish people were. Quiet, conservative, boring. For the bulk of my childhood, this perception of gringo culture heavily fueled a resentment toward this part of my identity. I hated that I couldn’t speak Spanish with my family, that comments were made about how Swedish I was, and that some part of me was made up of these boring people who I barely knew who always smelled of boiled cauliflower.

It wasn’t until my brother and I were school aged that how we identify became a more public and pressing issue—and my brother and I adjusted and responded to this in different ways. We grew up in a very white community with very little diversity of any kind. For me, I loudly broadcast that I was Puerto Rican every chance I got. This was partially fueled by pride, but mostly by a need to clarify who I am—to reaffirm, to qualify, to define, to…be seen. And there was a strong element of rejection. I was not white. I was not like my father’s family. I knew that when people looked at me, they saw me as white, and I hated it! I did everything I could to make a clear distinction—to stand out.

My brother’s experience and motivations were very different. He wanted to fit in. I asked him once when we were adults why he never told people he was Puerto Rican until he was in his 20s. He told me that when he was in grade school, they had a family tree project they were working on in class. As he was filling out the template with my maternal grandparents—Pablo Solano and Antonia Rivera—a classmate called out to the teacher: “Paul is cheating on his family tree and he’s making them Mexican!” It made a strong impression on him, and after that, only those close friends who would visit our house knew that we were Puerto Rican.

I didn’t receive that type of reaction as I loudly proclaimed that I was Puerto Rican at every possible moment. My school troubles with my identity came later, after I made my first Latina friend in middle school. She was Mexican and had beautiful long dark hair and brown skin. I was beyond excited to have a classmate who reminded me of the cousins I visited growing up. I was bound and determined to make her my new friend. I quickly succeeded in that front, until more of her family moved into the neighborhood and her cousin joined our class. My initial excitement over yet another Latina friend quickly transformed to a sad angry rejection. I tried desperately to keep up with the Spanish my new friends would speak. Having shadowed my mother and spent my early life listening intently to Spanish, I understood a great deal—but I was very self-conscious about my accent, a mix of American and Puerto Rican, both of which were different from the Spanish my new friends spoke. I became a subject of jokes and ridicule, in Spanish primarily, with the assumption that I couldn’t understand. As quickly as I had made my first Latina friend, I lost my first Latina friend. And once again I hated the part of me that caused this—the whiteness that I couldn’t deny that made me not quite Latina enough.

I imagine teenage years are times of self-discovery for most people. You’re coming into your body, your interests, developing new friendships, and figuring out who you are at your core. For me, I was realizing and feeling how much I didn’t belong. While I certainly had the fair skin and blue eyes that would help me fit in with the popular girls in school, I had a mop of unruly curly hair that I couldn’t figure out how to straighten into the cute styles girls wore at the time and couldn’t stomach the bigoted comments I would hear. To fit in was to hide—hide my hair, hide my family, hide my very self. It was even more difficult to fit in with the growing Latino population at my school. I couldn’t hide my skin or my name or ever speak Spanish in the way a native speaker would. It was less of an effort to hide and more of an effort to be enough, which just didn’t seem possible. When I finally found my place, it was with the other “weird” alternative kids—an assortment of punks, goths, emo, and other social misfits. We formed our own group that allowed us to fit in by not fitting in. This is when I learned the most about acceptance and belonging, and about the struggles we all had in common while being so uniquely ourselves. This is where I felt I most belonged—with a group bonded not by ethnicity or race or culture or gender or sexual orientation or any other single definition. We were an assortment of individuals, each with our own experiences that shaped us and made us interesting to one another.

College was where I found an even greater sense of belonging in the activist groups working for social justice and equality. It was there that I learned the power that each of us has to challenge status quo assumptions on identity. I learned how change can happen through many channels, and I seized the opportunity to fight for every cause I could. I was certain that this was my path—a warrior for social justice! I had felt the pain of my identity being assumed based on my appearance. I felt both empathy and solidarity with those who defied categorization—who fought to show that we are so much more than a singular definition. This is the fundamental core of my passion for diversity—belonging within a system so heavily built on singularity requires uniformity and conformity, a polarizing stance of you are this or you are that. All I wanted was to challenge the assumptions we make and use to devalue certain groups in our world. I wanted to build a society where belonging didn’t require restrictive labels. I left school convinced that I would be a professional activist, fighting the good fight with my shaved head through clouds of tear gas. Instead, life would get in the way. I would marry, have a child, divorce, remarry, and build a family of my own. I had to put aside my dreams of professional activism to find a way to support my child.

Slowly I came to appreciate that social change comes from both marching in the streets and changing the way it looks in a corporate boardroom.

Only in recent years, as my father’s health declined, did I begin to learn more about his experiences growing up. It was only after his death that I truly embraced being Swedish. In the first weeks and months surrounded by grief, I was seemingly obsessed with Scandinavian culture—it made me feel close to him somehow, though I could count on one hand the number of times we talked about his background. I still have pain when I think of how rejecting and resenting this part of my identity dishonored my father and the reality of who I truly am. This is worth noting because it shows the complexity of identity—and the forced dichotomy that I believe many from a mixed background experience. Swederican aside, I felt that I had to choose—because I never met (and still haven’t!) another Swederican to reaffirm that it was ok to embrace both. This grief-fueled shift in my perception of my ethnic identity rippled through my life, to the extent that I no longer feel the strong pull to explain who I am. Realizing the irony in this statement as I write this, the reality is I’ve become more quiet and pulled back. Not from shame or any negative feelings—more from a mixture of contentment and exhaustion. My focus is far more external these days, having a solid understanding of myself and that there are far greater struggles than my own.

If you’ve made it here—to the end of this long-winded and perhaps self-indulgent essay—I trust something has resonated. And while this feels a bit like the broadcasting of myself that I did in my younger days, if I’ve accomplished what I hoped with all these words, you can see the reality here: it’s complicated! Identity is complex because we’re more than one thing, and yet to belong often requires focusing on one thing.

The truth is, we all have bits and pieces of our lives that are remarkably similar—and some that may be drastically different. If we can see and truly accept this reality, then we can all see that we all belong in a rich, vibrant, and diverse world. If you can see it—see yourselves in it—I hope you are inspired to help us all create it. During Hispanic Heritage Month, I embrace my Puerto Rican heritage, and also reflect on my Swedish side which makes it a month of fully embracing who I am.

See me.

Written by Kimberly Magruder, Senior Product Marketing Strategist at Wheels

Originally published in the September 2023 Issue of Fleet Insight. 

“I am honored to be elected to the AFLA board,” Rajapakse said. “I am committed to serving the AFLA community and excited to listen, learn, and do my part to continue to provide the best in-person and virtual forums for corporate fleet professionals to network with industry leaders. To the entire AFLA community – thank you all for this fantastic opportunity!” Rajapakse is Vice President, Client Management at Wheels.

Don Wright, was re-elected to the position of Director, Dealers. Erin Gilchrist was elected to serve as Director, Allied Service Providers. Dan Fierro will hold the office of Director, Remarketers.

“I am honored to serve AFLA as Director of Dealers,” Wright said. “Thanks so much for the opportunity. I look forward to doing my best to help AFLA be the best. Hope to see you in October.” Wright is Commercial Sales Director at Five Star Ford.

“To the entire AFLA member community, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks for your faith in me to serve you on the AFLA Board of Directors,” Gilchrist said. “I greatly look forward to giving back to the association that has helped me build and enhance my career over these many years and mentor others as well. I promise to actively, humbly and creatively serve.” Gilchrist is Vice President of Fleet Evangelism at IntelliShift.

“I am thrilled and honored to be Director, Remarketers on the AFLA Board of Directors,” Fierro said. “It is a privilege to be part of such a distinguished association. I am eager to collaborate with this exceptional group and contribute my expertise to serve wherever I can make a meaningful impact.” Fierro is Senior Account Executive with Flexco Remarketing Services.

AFLA’s new leaders will officially begin their terms at the close of the AFLA 2023 Corporate Fleet Conference, Best is Yet to Come, which will be held October 2-5, 2023 in Palm Springs, CA.

Visit afla.org/June2023VotM to learn more about Gary and advice he has for those looking to advance their careers in the corporate fleet industry.

Congratulate Gary on LinkedIn >>

Visit afla.org/May2023VotM to learn more about Jann and advice she has for those looking to advance their careers in the corporate fleet industry.

Congratulate Jann on LinkedIn >>

It all makes sense now when I look back on the pictures of my loved one and see the drastic change over the past few years. That young, optimistic little girl who had an enormous smile with a wrinkled nose, stopped smiling a few years ago—and that should have tipped me off that she was facing a real challenge. It breaks my heart to know she was dealing with these challenges, and I only learned about it within the past year.

Mental Health Month
May is Mental Health Month. Forbes Health reports that millions of Americans experience symptoms of a mental health condition and that people seeking treatment have been trending upward. Today I would like to share three tactics that helped us get our loved one back to grounding herself in reality and allowing her to cope with her challenges. I hope they can help any of you traveling this journey.


Three Tactics to Help You Manage When Your Mind Gets Stuck

1: Writing down irrational thoughts vs. rational thoughts. When any of us gets that little voice in our heads asserting that we may not be good enough, or if we are filled with negative emotions and make assumptions about an outcome—write down that thought. Next to that thought, write down a rational thought from a different point of view. Look at it from a different perspective and write down what a rational person would see in that situation. When you go back to these handwritten notes the next day, you will see that the rational thought was correct most of the time. If the same negative thought returns, refer back to the rational thoughts you wrote down.

2: The Pomodoro Technique. When you can't focus on your work, this time-management tactic allows progress to be made in small increments, helps with procrastination, and is effective when any of us need to get work done. The Pomodoro Technique breaks down work sessions with frequent breaks. Using a timer, you work on a task without interruption for twenty-five minutes. When the timer goes off, take a five-minute break focusing on anything other than the work of the past twenty-five minutes. Return to another timed twenty-five-minute focus session followed by another break. After finishing four twenty-five-minute working sessions, take a 15 to 30-minute break to do something fun. The Pomodoro Technique helps to keep activities moving forward when you’re mentally stuck.

3: 5-4-3-2-1 Method. This method lets you clear your head and momentarily remove anxiety and nagging doubts by grounding yourself. When you have a situation where you are mentally struggling, stop the negative thoughts and start using your senses:

• Recognize five things you see around you and acknowledge or describe them out loud.
• Find four things you can feel with your hands, touch, and describe the texture.
• Listen to three things you can hear and describe the sound.
• Find two things you can smell and describe what you are smelling.
• Find one thing you can taste and describe that taste.

Using your senses allows you to focus on the here and now and relaxes the tension you feel.

Take Action to Support Each Other
I don’t need to tell you that being a fleet professional is stressful. We face numerous challenges that keep us up at night, such as cost reduction, driver safety, doing more with less, staying up to date with data for strategic decisions, and staying on top of the latest fleet trends. There are so many mental health resources available, but the first step is to acknowledge your situation. If you feel stressed or overwhelmed, try one of the recommended tactics. Should you feel the need for more help, don't hesitate to contact your health professional to begin the process of receiving professional support.

It's been almost a year since my loved one started receiving professional support. While we still have our good and bad days, she has made significant progress. She turned from failing grades to a place on the honor roll in her high school freshman year. Seeing her recent pictures with that beautiful smile again fills me with joy. It serves as a reminder that we can overcome whatever life throws our way. It's crucial to get the support you need to triumph.

As a fleet family, let's continue to look out for one another and offer a helping hand if we see someone struggling because they are stranded on the side of the emotional road. May your journey always take you to your final destination—and remember that none of us needs to travel alone.

Written by Carlos Oropeza

Visit afla.org/April2023VotM to learn more about Phil and advice he has for those looking to advance their careers in the corporate fleet industry.

Congratulate Phil on LinkedIn >>

Janice Sutton, CEO, Editor in Chief, Fleet Management Weekly

Patsy Brownson, CAFM, Retired Fleet, Travel & Relocation Consultant
2014 Hall of Fame Inductee, 2001 Fleet Manager of the Year, AFLA Past President and honored with the Distinguished Service award from NAFA.

Patsy blazed an amazing personal path for her career in fleet. She started her work career in the 1970’s as an administrative assistant to the President and VP of a rental company. Part of her role was all the “fleet work” - which became so much that they asked her to take it over full time. During this period she joined NAFA and became very involved at the chapter level, holding all the chapter leadership positions and managing committees. 

Patsy joined Cox Communications in 1987 and took her local NAFA experience to the national level. Patsy held every leadership role up to, and within the NAFA Board (except for Treasurer) before being elected in 1993 to President of NAFA; only the second woman to hold that office since its inception in 1957.   

She then served 2 terms with a strong focus on education for the chapters, and changed the conference to an annual Institute to emphasize the professional development and learning components of fleet management. 

During her 1993-1995 term as NAFA President, Patsy was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the Federal Fleet Fuel Task Force. Patsy recalls Patrick O’Connor, then Legislative Counsel for NAFA, as being invaluable during that time. She worked with the Dept. of Energy, the EPA, members of Congress and the Policy Dialogue Advisory Committee to discuss options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It was through this work that the Alternative Fuels Task Force and the Clean Cities Program were developed and are still active today. 

Patsy was also an AFLA member during this time. When her commitment to NAFA was completed, she became involved in various AFLA committees and the board leading to her AFLA Presidency in 2005-2006. It was during her time on the board that AFLA moved to a professional event management company which broadened and extended the breadth of the association. 

The main thing Patsy cherishes is the friendships and the camaraderie availed to her by our associations.   

As author of this article, I completely agree with both Janice and Patsy that without our associations and networking, we would not know, or have known, the people that enriched our lives and careers.  Thank you Janice and Patsy for your contributions to our fleet industry, past and present!

Written by Susan Miller, Broadcast Producer, at GEOTAB

Originally published in the March 2023 Edition of Fleet Insight

Visit afla.org/March2023VotM to learn more about Michelle and words of wisdom she has for those advancing their careers in the corporate fleet industry.

Congratulate Michelle on LinkedIn >>

Exavious (Za) Farley, Founder and CEO, officially introduced BFN to the industry at the end of 2022, but the idea for the Network is one he was contemplating for a while. Over the years, Farley noticed a theme emerging from conversations with Black colleagues. They wanted to talk about their experiences and issues that were meaningful to them, so he set out to create a space for raw and unfiltered conversations and from there, the BFN was born. 
 
On top of creating an open dialogue for Black fleet professionals, BFN aims to foster greater equity across the industry by providing channels of opportunity for its members that haven’t existed before. Their vision includes outreach to all ages and career levels to allow for Black people to have increased access and ownership within the fleet industry. The Network will not only become a collective of established and aspiring fleet professionals but will provide value to the industry at large through awareness and by cultivating subject matter experts.
 
BFN is mindfully building their team, which already includes the impressive roster of Karla Jackson (J3 Management Group) as COO; Dr. Tyra Jones (JA Consulting and Corporate Tax Solutions) as CFO; Makela Owens (City of Stockton, CA) as CCO, and Al Curtis (Cobb County, GA) as Peer Advisory Chair. 
 
Later in 2023, Black Fleet Network plans to share details on membership, DEI consultation, sponsorship and collaboration. In the meantime, the BFN team will be attending a number of upcoming industry events and I hope you connect with them to learn more and see how you can get involved.

Written by Brett Ashley Bridges, Director, Communications & client Services at BBL Fleet

Originally published in the February 2023 Edition of Fleet Insight

Visit afla.org/Feb2023VotM to learn more about Corey and words of wisdom he has for those advancing their careers in the corporate fleet industry.

Congratulate Corey on LinkedIn >>

Visit AFLA.org/Jan2023Votm to learn more about Theresa and words of wisdom she has for those advancing their careers in the corporate fleet industry.

Congratulate Theresa on LinkedIn >>

Visit AFLA.org/Dec2022Votm to learn more about Peter and words of wisdom he has for those advancing their careers in fleet.

Congratulate Peter on LinkedIn >>

Congratulate Brenda on LinkedIn >>

Congratulate Mike on LinkedIn >>

Sharon Etherington

Carlos Oropeza, Director of Marketing at Wheels Donlen, is being recognized for his contributions to the Communications task force, including regular columns in the monthly Fleet Insight member newsletter as well as identifying and contributing towards thought leadership in AFLA’s Fleet Forward article and knowledge center archives on the AFLA website.

Joe Stergios, Vice President at Motorq, is being recognized for his contributions to growing AFLA’s membership and engagement through his ambassadorship for the benefits of being involved as a member of the association. His contributions as a member of the conference task force are appreciated as we seek to find dynamic speakers able to provide actionable insights for our corporate buyer attendees from knowledge leaders able to address the industry as a whole.

Karyna Zarate, Fleet Manager at Jacobs, is being recognized for her contributions to the communications task force whose work this year continues to focus on providing actionable insights on key topics facing corporate fleet, while also balancing industry knowledge with wider insights focused on the diverse thoughts and backgrounds present in our industry.

AFLA president, Mike Antich, announced the awards stating, “It is my privilege and honor to be able to recognize these four individuals for their strong commitment to both AFLA and the corporate fleet industry, and to thank them for their time, talents and efforts towards supporting and furthering the mission of AFLA.”

AFLA’s President’s Awards are given at the discretion of the elected president, for those who have gone above and beyond to advance AFLA and the corporate fleet management industry.

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, AFLA promotes growth, expansion and professionalism within the corporate fleet industry by providing education, representation and advancement of member interests. AFLA is comprised of members representing all industry segments, including fleet managers and sourcing professionals, fleet management company professionals, auto manufacturers and dealers, remarketers, maintenance and repair companies and many other specialized suppliers. The organization hosts many year-round educational events and offers opportunities for members to network with key leaders throughout the fleet industry. For more information, visit www.afla.org or find us on LinkedIn.

Congratulate Kate on LinkedIn >>

Written by Carlos Oropeza, Director of Marketing at Wheels Donlen

Congratulate Mark on LinkedIn >>

Menomonee Falls, WI – The Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA) recently elected new board members and officers to serve on the 2022-2023 Board of Directors. Karyna Zarate was elected to serve as Secretary.

“It is with great enthusiasm that I thank you for appointing me in this election as the new secretary of the AFLA board of directors, Zarate said. “I appreciate that the members have granted me the honor out of the candidates who were eligible for the position. Throughout my fleet career, AFLA has provided me with education, leadership, and lifelong partnerships in our industry. I’m thrilled about the opportunity to give back to an industry and association that has given me so much. I look forward to working with fellow board members and contributing to the future growth and success of the association and our members.” Zarate is currently Fleet Manager at Jacobs.

SuYvonne Bell, was re-elected to the position of Director, Fleet. Jennifer Costabile was re-elected to serve a second term as Director, Manufacturers. Brenda Davis will hold the office of Director, Fleet Management Companies. Lori Olson was re-elected to serve a second term as Director-at-Large. Peter Young was elected to the position of Director, Strategy.

“Thank you to the AFLA community for re-electing me to the board,” Bell said. “I am honored and look forward to continuing to support AFLA and its members.” Bell is Fleet Manager for Gilead.

“I am very pleased to be able to continue as the Director of Manufacturers for AFLA,” Costabile said. “I believe that now more than ever, we all need to work together to help move our industry into the future, while helping navigate through the issues that are facing fleets are facing today.” Costabile is currently General Director, Marketing, Sales Operations and Used Vehicle Activities at General Motors.

“It is an honor to be selected to serve on the AFLA board and to serve the interests of the Lessor members and the member community,” Davis said. “Throughout my diverse fleet career, AFLA has been instrumental in my continuing education and has provided valuable opportunities to collaborate and learn from my fellow AFLA family. I am so thankful for this opportunity to work more closely with the AFLA board, and I will work hard to represent the AFLA membership.” Davis is Fleet Consulting Manger at Wheels Donlen.

“Thank you for allowing me the honor to continue serving on the AFLA Board as Director-At-Large,” Olson said. “I'm truly looking forward to assisting in steering our organization and industry further and collaborating with our leadership team.” Olson is currently Senior Customer Success Specialist at Geotab.

“First, I wish to thank all those who participated in the election and a special thank you to those who cast their vote on my behalf to sit on the AFLA Board of Directors,” Young said. “It’s an important responsibility and I’m honored to serve the fleet community and industry during these challenging but very exciting times. I’m committed to work with my fellow board members to build on past successes and to do my best to contribute to creating new ones. I look forward to keeping you our members engaged as AFLA continues to bring value to you personally as well as to your organization.” Young is Vice President at Ranger Design.

AFLA’s new leaders will officially begin their terms at the close of the AFLA 2022 Corporate Fleet Conference , Forward Together, which will be held October 10-13, 2022 in Tucson, AZ.

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, AFLA promotes growth, expansion and professionalism within the fleet industry by providing education, research, technical standards, representation and advancement of member interests. AFLA has more than 500 members representing all industry segments, including fleet managers and sourcing professionals, fleet management company professionals, auto manufacturers and dealers, remarketers, maintenance and repair companies and many other specialized suppliers. The organization hosts an annual conference, educational webinars, and offers opportunities for members to network with key leaders throughout the fleet industry. For more information, visit www.afla.org or find us on or find us on LinkedIn.

Congratulate SuYvonne on LinkedIn >>

Congratulate Carlos on LinkedIn >>