GFX Day 2: Focus on Educational Opportunities, Networking, and Meeting Suppliers

Day two of the 2024 Government Fleet Expo & Conference (GFX) in Louisville was jam-packed with plenty of opportunities to learn, network, meet new potential fleet suppliers, and sightsee in the Derby City.

The day kicked off with a keynote message from Capt. Gail Harris, the highest ranking African American female Navy officer at the time of her retirement. Harris made a nod to former President Harry Truman, with the famous quote: It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.

She went on to encourage fleet managers to set goals for their teams.

"One of the things you have to do when you are building a team is make sure they know what you're trying to accomplish," she said.

Bottom line, it's about working as one team with one mission, Harris said.

Chances to Learn from Fellow Fleet Professionals

Day two was also the first of two days filled with educational sessions on the main GFX track, as well as the Poice Fleet Conference (PFC) and Public Transit Conference (PTC) tracks.

In the session titled Top 10 Performance Measures for 21st Century Fleet Managers, seasoned fleet professionals shared about key practices managers should take to gain optimal results within their operations.

"If you don't have a fleet-specific [fleet management] system, you're not going to be able to track [data to get the kind] of results you need for key performance indicators," Kevin Schlangen, CAFM, CPFP, CEM, fleet manager for Dakota County, Minnesota, said.

At PFC, Sgt. Tom Gorman of the Connecticut State Police and Billy Sterner from the city of Flower Mound, Texas, were joined by representatives from tire manufacturers BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, and Goodyear.

The team emphasized the importance of proper tire care for officer safety.

"I want to get home at the end of the day. I want to make sure the car I'm driving is going to perform the way it's supposed to, particularly if I have to drive it at speed for some particular reason," Gorman said.

Additionally, at PTC, attendees learned from industry leaders about trasnit fleet modernization.

Opportunities to Meet with Over 100 Fleet Suppliers

Government Fleet Executive Editor Nichole Osinski cut the ribbon for the 2024 Exhibit Hall, where over 100 suppliers from various OEMs, upfitters, fleet management software companies, and more showcased their offerings to attendees.

Fleet professionals gathered to hear from their peers at various shop talks, including discussions on fleet rightsizing and leadership traits.

Getting Together at the Louisville Slugger Museum

The day wound down with the Night on the Town, sponsored by Samsara, at the Louisville Slugger Museum. Attendees enjoyed beverages from local distillers, checked out historic artifacts, and spent time in a batting cage while networking with their peers.