May 2008, Government Fleet - Cover Story
28 Vie For 2008 Public Sector Fleet Manager Of The Year
By Staff
John Alley
City of San Diego
With more than 40 years of fleet management experience, Deputy Director John Alley and his team of professionals have successfully implemented the City’s new management best practice titled "Business Process Reengineering," consolidating fleet operations for all customer departments under one organization.
The results have saved the City more than $3.5 million in the first year. It has allowed the City to establish a long-term vehicle replacement plan; implement a comprehensive vehicle financial plan; establish standard lifecycle classes for all city vehicles; improve PM-to-unscheduled maintenance ratios; reduce maintenance backlog and overtime; increase customer service levels; reduce overall vehicle emission levels; and increase team morale in all shops.
The results of unifying operations were evident in the recent Fire Storm 2007 when fleet had more than 65 fire engines ready to deploy the night three fires broke in the County. Throughout the operation, fleet deployed assets and staff where and when required and recovered within days following the emergency.
George Baker
Volusia County, Fla.
A 32-year fleet veteran, primarily in the public sector, George Baker currently serves as director of central services for Volusia County, Fla. Under Baker’s direction, the fleet management team accomplishments in the past 2½ years include implementing a fuel master plan that increased fuel capacity by 58,000 gallons; providing fuel sales and fleet service to 10 local agencies, generating a revenue stream of $1.1 million; creating an in-house generator PM, load bank, and mobile fueling team that reduced cost 45 percent below private vendors; greening the fleet with 11 hybrid-electric vehicles and more than 120 E-85 flex-fuel vehicles; installing GPS on more than 350 vehicles; becoming a Ford and GM warranty station; establishing leadership development and succession plans; developing training and technology master plans; and being selected the 2008 No. 1 Fleet in North America by the 100 Best Fleets.
Barb Bonansinga
State of Illinois
The State of Illinois fleet is a leader in green fleets, purchasing E-85, hybrid, and biodiesel vehicles and fuels, making green products more available to the public as a result. Fleet Manager Barb Bonansinga credits a dedicated network of state agency vehicle coordinators and the leadership and staff at central management systems (CMS) for continued creativity and innovation in spite of tough economic times.
With 25 years of fleet experience, Bonansinga is currently helping implement a Web-based interface for ongoing utilization analysis of the Illinois fleet. She has assisted in developing agency vehicle replacement criteria and was instrumental in reducing fleet by 1,600 underutilized vehicles, reducing costs by $17 million. As one of the country’s largest alternative-fueled fleets, the State has used more than 2.6 million gallons of E-85 and biodiesel fuel to date.
In a customer service survey in 2008, the majority of agency liaisons ranked the Illinois fleet entity as "Accomplished, exceeds at times," when asked for an overall rating of performance including fleet management, repair and maintenance, and fuel. Fleet also developed a calculator for best practice vehicle acquisition decision-making.
David Bragg
City of Fayetteville, Ark.
Thirty years of truck dealership and leasing company management uniquely trained David Bragg to lead municipal fleets. His fleets have won two managed competitions. Since returning to lead the Fayetteville fleet, he has achieved four years with zero staff turnover, and the fleet has been listed in the "100 Best Fleets" twice — top 10 in 2007. The dedicated staff implements innovative fleet processes and technology, earning fleet operations city-wide recognition of professionalism and trust. Supporting Fayetteville’s sustainability efforts, the fleet is 52-percent alternatively fueled, provides fuel for a University of Arkansas biodiesel study, and is at the forefront of hybrid technology.
Bill Burns
City of Columbus, Ohio
Although Bill Burns has more than 18 years of fleet management experience and has been the Columbus fleet operations manager for almost three years, he is most recently recognized for his construction management skills.
As project manager for the City’s new state-of-the-art, $27-million fleet facility, Burns almost solely spearheaded this 150,000-square-foot construction project in 2007. Under his direction, this new technologically advanced repair facility opened on-time for business in March 2008. Burns is responsible for overseeing operations for the City’s more than 6,200-vehicle and equipment fleet as well as 120 fleet employees.
The City of Columbus was recently awarded ASE Blue Seal, the only municipality in Ohio to receive such recognition. Burns has been responsible for pushing forward many of the City’s green initiatives, including implementing its first anti-idling policy and the developing and implementation of its first green fleet policy, which includes the use of biodiesel and CNG.