The Municipal Equipment Maintenance Association (MEMA), a Southern California-based government fleet organization, plans to expand its informational and educational programs as well as continue the association's expansion with regional chapters in 2014, said Paul Condran, MEMA's new president.

Members voted Condran as MEMA president at a Thursday meeting. Condran, fleet services manager from the City of Culver City, served as interim president after Rick Longobart's resignation.

The Ohio chapter of MEMA held its first meeting on the same day, and "we're going to be taking about the possibility of a second chapter in Northern California," Condran said. "We have a lot of activity happening in April with the Los Angeles Automotive Dealer's Association, and we're going to be offering a lot more educational opportunities to the membership."

In collaboration with the dealer's association, MEMA will hold its first conference on purchasing and procurement, connecting local dealerships with fleet managers. The event will take place at the SoCal Test Drive Expo in Long Beach on April 25.

The group elected Ron Lindsey, the City of Anaheim's Fleet Services operations superintendent, as its vice president.

Other board members voted into the same posts included Jannet Malig, director of Advanced Transportation Technology & Energy (ATTE), Cerritos College, as secretary; Craig Crowder, fleet manager, City of Beverly Hills, as treasurer; Dean Tedtaotao, shop superintendent, Fleet Management Group, Los Angeles County Public Works, as sergeant at arms; and Katie Mishler, Cerritos College, project assistant, ATTE, Cerritos College, as membership and association coordinator.

The meeting took place at the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) office in Diamond Bar. AQMD representatives spoke about emissions regulations and funding available to government agencies to purchase alternative-fuel vehicles and for infrastructure construction.

By Thi Dao