GF Blue logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Highlighting Women in the Fleet Industry

This International Women's Day Government Fleet is highlighting stories about the achievements and contributions of women in their various fleet roles.

March 8, 2024
Highlighting Women in the Fleet Industry

From technicians and mentors to fleet managers and industry leaders, women in fleet are doing it all. 

Photo: Government Fleet

2 min to read


From technicians to fleet managers to engineers and more, women continue to make an impact on the fleet industry. Within the public sector, women have been breaking the mold and taking the lead within their workforce to bring fleets into the future. 

This International Women's Day Government Fleet is highlighting articles that tell the stories of women in the fleet industry who are making a difference within their organization. Despite the challenges many have faced, these women have not only persevered but continued to make progress. Here are several stories of those female leaders in fleet. 

Ad Loading...

Women in Public Fleet Management: The State of the Industry

Women in public fleet management face unique challenges — whether that’s establishing respect with vendors, getting buy-in with technical staff, or often being the only woman in the room. During GFX, four women in fleet discussed these topics.

PepsiCo Nor Cal POD Fleet Manager Makela Owens, Agile Fleet Senior Client Success Manager Kathy Wellik, CAFM, Sara Burnam, MSL, CAFM, fleet management director for Palm Beach County, and Alison Kerstetter, the Fleet Manager for the city of Sacramento. 

Photo: Ross Stewart Photography 

Empowering Women in Fleet with Diesel Mechanic Missy Albin

Missy “Diesel Girl” Albin discusses her unique path to becoming a diesel tech and shares her thoughts on the industry, how the industry is changing, and what fleets can do to be more inclusive for new workers.

Driving Change: Women Leading the Way in Fleet Management Careers

Ad Loading...

Dive into the experiences of two women in fleet management. From handling solid waste collections to tackling industry challenges, these trailblazers share their insights from the heart of Texas.

Solid Waste Department Deputy Director Josephine Valencia with a San Antonio refuse truck. 

Photo: City of San Antonio

The Cultural Crossroads of Women in the Government Fleet Workforce

As public fleets look to target and recruit female drivers, they have an opportunity to change the narrative around who is fit for what job by understanding the barriers that create the imbalances in the first place.

Highlighting NYC DCAS' New Dep. Chief Fleet Management Officer

Tamika Johnson manages Fleet Acquisitions and Administration for the City fleet and oversees the division’s hiring and human capital efforts.

Ad Loading...

‘Stay Informed’ Fleet Manager Makela Owens on Building Connections, Industry Transitions

Fleet manager Makela Owens discusses the changes and challenges of the fleet industry as well as the motivation for being the fleet industry. Owens is now the Nor Cal POD fleet manager for PepsiCo.

Heavy Equipment Superintendent Naomi Puente Good Shield gets into a heavy-duty truck. 

Photo: City of San Antonio

Managing Recruitment & Maintenance as a New Fleet Manager

Alison Kerstetter, fleet manager of the Sacramento, California, Department of Public Works, shares the latest updates on her fleet and how she started her career in fleet.

Sara Burnam, fleet management director for Palm Beach County, Florida, was named the 2023 Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year. 

Photo: Palm Beach County

Lessons Learned from 2023 Award Winner, Sara Burnam

Ad Loading...

Burnam, who was named the 2023 Fleet Manager of the Year, discusses her journey to the public sector, challenges in the industry, and plans for the fleet's future.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Operations

A RoadFlex graphic for fleets.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseJune 16, 2026

RoadFlex Brings Fuel Tax Compliance and Audit-Ready Reporting to Government, Public Works Fleets

New capabilities aim to help public-sector and public works fleets streamline fuel tax exemptions, reclamation, reconciliation, and audit-ready reporting.

Read More →
2026 public fleet hall of fame inductees
Eventsby Staff WriterJune 10, 2026

2026 Public Fleet Hall of Fame Inductees Honored

This year's class includes leaders whose work has helped shape the public fleet industry.

Read More →
2026 GFX Honors Ceremony
Eventsby Staff WriterJune 10, 2026

David Renschler Receives 2026 Legendary Lifetime Achievement Award

Andy Campbell of Sourcewell, which partnered with Government Fleet in presenting the award, recognized Renschler.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Ross Jackson Jr winning public sector fleet manager of the year
Eventsby Staff WriterJune 10, 2026

Ross Jackson Jr. Named 2026 Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year

His leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence earned him one of the industry's top honors.

Read More →
 the GFX main stage.
Operationsby Staff WriterJune 4, 2026

Public Fleet Professionals Set to Converge as GFX Gets Underway

Known as the largest gathering of public fleet professionals in the nation, GFX will feature in-depth training sessions, emerging fleet technologies, and access to leading suppliers and service providers.

Read More →
A blueprint with tool graphics and text about technicians.
Operationsby Nichole OsinskiJune 1, 2026

The Technician Pipeline: Finding, Keeping, and Promoting Techs Within the Operation

A look at where to find good talent, what fleets are doing to incentivize those techs to stay within the fleet, and what promotion looks like for a technician within the public sector.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
a youtube graphic of fleet images.
OperationsJune 1, 2026

5 Public Fleet Stories Worth Revisiting Before GFX | The May Dispatch

Public fleet leaders are being asked to prepare for more, communicate better, and make decisions that hold up under pressure.

Read More →
White cargo van driving on a paved road with trees and greenery in the background.
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Drive More Profit with Greater Fleet Uptime

Fleet downtime costs money. JASPER helps keep vehicles on the road with quality remanufactured components, fast nationwide delivery, and reliable solutions that boost uptime and profitability.

Read More →
fleetio coast pay
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?

Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A graphic of a fire department logo.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseMay 28, 2026

Minneapolis Fire Department Prepares to Add Three New Pierce Enforcer Pumpers to Front-Line Fleet

The order, secured through Pierce dealer MacQueen, marks the department’s move from commercial chassis pumpers to Pierce custom fire apparatus designed to meet the operational demands of Minnesota’s largest city.

Read More →