TORRANCE, CA – Government Fleet magazine has announced the three finalists for the 2008 Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year. They are: George Baker, Volusia County, Fla.; Windell Mitchell, King County DOT; Wash.; Douglas Weichman, CAFM, Palm Beach County, Fla.

The annual award, now in its fourth year, sponsored by Automotive Resources International (ARI) and Fleet Counselor Services, Inc., will be presented on May 4 at the NAFA Fleet Management Institute & Expo, held May 3-6. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held in the Venezia Garden Salon at the Grand America Hotel located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The award ceremony will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Fleet managers who have been nominated completed a short essay questionnaire based on nine principles. The questionnaire is based on some of the fleet certification standards developed by Fleet Counselor Services, Inc., and will serve as a prequalification process for an independent panel of fleet professionals appointed by Government Fleet magazine, who will be charged with qualifying and ranking each nominee to determine the winner.

The Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year questionnaire consists of nine questions not to exceed 100 words per answer:

• Business plan development.

• Computer systems and technology utilization.

• Productivity initiatives.

• Policies and procedures development and implementation.

• Preventive maintenance programs.

• Utilization management.

• Vehicle acquisition and replacement programs.

• Customer service and downtime initiatives.

• Fuel management program.

The three finalists are: