May 2008, Government Fleet - Cover Story
28 Vie For 2008 Public Sector Fleet Manager Of The Year
By Staff
Florencio Pena
City of San Antonio
Since May 2007, Florencio Pena, director of fleet services, has led the newly created department through a major organizational assessment of needs and strategic planning. A 27-year veteran of public administration, his efforts resulted in a strategic plan, developed with employees from all levels of the organization. The plan identified five principal visions guiding the department through various short- and long-term strategies to improve fleet acquisition, maintenance, and remarketing of 4,950 vehicles and equipment.
Under Pena’s leadership, an additional 18 technicians have obtained their ASE certification, now 67 of the total 95 technicians. The fleet has added 48 hybrid vehicles and 15 CNG refuse vehicles.
To enhance remarketing efforts, a citywide inventory of vehicles and equipment was conducted and a consultant was hired to assess the City’s approximate $25 million annual vehicle replacement program. Technology improvements resulted in a cleaner database, updated vehicle diagnostic software, and improved performance reporting. These programs, coupled with a recent creation of another second shift, are improving customer service and generating fleet maintenance cost efficiencies.
Erle Potter
State of Virginia DOT
A 37-year veteran of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Erle Potter serves as the state equipment manager. Potter oversees the implementation of programs for the acquisition, maintenance, repair, and utilization of vehicles, equipment, and ancillary services in support of VDOT divisions, districts, and other state agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Potter is a licensed professional engineer, a certified equipment manager, and graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute. He received the 2006 National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) Larry Goill Quality Fleet Management Idea Award for developing and implementing VDOT’s Equipment Repair Technician Training Program.
In 2004, he received the first-ever Fleet Masters Award as the nation’s top public sector fleet manager from the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) for developing and implementing the Business Process Improvement Plan for improving equipment management in VDOT.
Pete Scarafiotti
City of Mesa, Ariz.
The City of Mesa’s fleet of 1,800 units is the responsibility of Pete Scarafiotti, fleet director and automotive engineer. He has been a NAFA and AEMP-certified fleet director and automotive engineer for the past 31 years.
Scarafiotti’s most recent accomplishments include the institution of a formal business plan, a customer Web site with custom reporting capability, detailed performance, quality, engineering, and specification standards, and a benchmark process to maintain both a quality and cost-effective operation.
He was instrumental in developing a shop supervisor’s training program and an internal service fund to finance vehicle and equipment replacements. Scarafiotti recently received the 2008 Rocky Mountain Fleet Management Association’s Fleet Manager of the Year Award. The City of Mesa has earned the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence, the largest fleet in Arizona so awarded.
John Scharffbillig
State of Minnesota DOT
John Scharffbillig has 30 years of experience with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/DOT) and he knows what it means to move snow as an operator and to break new ground as fleet manager. His interest in research and innovation has taken him around the world to study best practices. His role as a technical advisor to a team of researchers has resulted in technology that keeps snow-plow operators safer as they do their jobs. Scharffbillig regularly shares his expertise on bio-fuels and emerging fleet management issues with state and national groups, elected officials, and association members.
As MN/DOT fleet manager, Scharffbillig is responsible for 11,250 pieces of equipment at 147 locations around the state. He serves as vice-chair of the fleet management council for the Governor’s Drive to Excellence program and is responsible for setting policy and establishing performance targets for state fleets, facilities, infrastructure, and personnel. He is vice-chair of the Governor’s SmartFleet committee, which determines the direction of future fuels.
Scharffbillig takes a leadership role in the implementation of the Maximus M5 fleet management information system statewide. He also serves on the Minnesota Plug-In Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Task Force, APWA, and FEMA Equipment Typing, as well as several other state and national fleet and public works committees and organizations.