The Government Solutions Team (GST) and Government Fleet are partnering to provide Public Fleet Summits (PFS), regional education and networking events that will take place around the country. The summits address the need for high-quality professional fleet and facilities training while recognizing that budget restrictions are making travel difficult for many. The two-day summits, designed for fleet and facilities managers, provide education and networking opportunities and introduce participants to industry leaders, cutting-edge technologies, and industry best practices.

GST is a new group formed by Greg Haglin of Haglin & Associates and Dave Seavey, CAFM, currently fleet management division director for the City of Seattle and soon to be director of fleet operations for Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

“Dave [Seavey] and I came together combining my business and visionary mind with his fleet expertise and love of teaching to create what the fleet industry has been asking for — professional events with great educational and networking value,” Haglin said. “We are thrilled to partner with Government Fleet magazine on these summits. With GF’s resources, we can expedite the process of reaching and serving more of the industry.”

Eric Bearly, publisher of GF, said, “This partnership fits perfectly with our goal to provide the highest level education for fleet decision-makers. Public Fleet Summits is one more avenue to educate and promote fleet professionals who want to strive to improve, along with Government Fleet magazine, gfleet.com, our enewsletters, GFX, GFMA certification, the FleetShare social network, and our awards programs.”

Inaugural Summit ‘Recharges’ Attendees

The inaugural Public Fleet Summit took place in the Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., area on August 14-15.

Scott Minnix, General Services director for the City of Houston opened the Summit with his keynote presentation, “Leadership in Public Service.”  Other sessions included “How Change Management Can Improve Your Operation,” by Kathy Merrill of Agilency, “Return on Investment: How to Sell Your Fleet or Facility Project to Upper Management,” by Doug Dunlap, CEO of Syn-Tech Systems, “The Skills and Knowledge Required of Today’s Fleet Manager,” by John Hunt, fleet manager for the City of Portland, Ore., and “Fleets, Facilities and Central Stores Business Plan,” by Rick Longobart, facilities, fleet, and central stores manager, City of Santa Ana, Calif. Haglin and Seavey also led sessions updating the attendees on the NJPA and the fleet industry best practices.

Throughout the two-day event, time was provided for the attendees to question the presenters, discuss issues and solutions with their peers, and see the latest offerings of industry vendors. 

“The summit was one of the best I have attended,” Randy Winders, manager, King County Metro Transit in Washington, said. “The agenda was structured in a way that allowed great training but more importantly, interaction between vendors and fleet managers. GST did an outstanding job developing the summit agenda and putting together speakers and topics that can help all fleet managers improve our industry.”

Participants left the summit with ideas for improving their operations, solutions to problems they were dealing with in their own fleets and a connection with peers that will serve them for years to come.

“After two days I returned to work recharged with half a dozen new ideas, solutions, and techniques,” Michael Roy, fleet supervisor, City of Redmond, Wash., said. “Besides the opportunity to learn from leading local fleet managers, GST also delivered professionals from Texas and California that brought great value and perspective. Furthermore, I developed new relationships with fellow fleet managers and industry vendors in my area through the open forum format.” 

The next scheduled summits will take place in Minneapolis, Minn., on Oct. 9-10 and Austin, Texas, on Nov. 20-21.