Hall F Lobby

Sponsored by

Room 26
Coming to a show for the first time can be daunting. This session will give you one-on-one time with other first time attendees, the GFX show organizers, and magazine writers. Get an inside look at the schedule and show highlights. Think of us as your personal tour guides for the show.

Fifth Avenue Landing Lot
This event within an event will be a mix of ride & drives, hands-on training, experiential learning, including an interactive demonstration on adding drones to your fleet, and a technology showcase. Plus a fun street fair atmosphere with games, prizes and food including hot dogs, sausages, ice cream, coffee bar and drinks, plus vegetarian options too!

Stop by the registration area at the Convention Center Hall F/G and pick-up your badge and then hop on the shuttle to the Block Party.

More details, click here>>

Room 28
MEMA brings a laser focus on Fleet Best Practices with a panel discussion featuring past winners of the Leading Fleets competition.  These experts will give you workable take-aways on training dollar returns, demonstrating a “power curve of credibility,” and developing a bulletproof capital equipment program.  A second panel looks to the future of connected mobility and features experts from the companies leading the transition from managing assets to managing the mobility needs of the next generation.  Expect to learn how cars of the future will integrate together as well as how the upcoming shift to service-based people delivery will work.

Room 28
Do you worry about highlighting your fleet operation for fear of failure? Become more comfortable acknowledging setbacks and overcome anxiety in order to accentuate your fleet’s successes. Learn how to develop valuable talking points and soundbites that you and your staff can use to deliver your fleet’s message. The “secret sauce” in the fleet management world isn’t always about how you do it, often times, it’s having the ability to explain the compelling reason why.
Keynote Speaker: Craig Croner, City of Boise, ID

Sponsored by

Join us on the Plaza Terrace for small bites, passed hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and conversation with your peers.

Plaza Terrace
Sponsored by

This evening is set aside for exhibitors and sponsors who choose to invite existing and potential customers for dinner meetings.

Hall F Lobby

Sponsored by

Room 28
Millions have been inspired by the movie Rudy; now let the man behind the movie inspire you. GFX would like to introduce you to Rudy Ruettiger, the inspiration behind the movie Rudy. He’s brought his message to corporate America, colleges and universities, schools grades K -12, sports teams, fundraisers, churches, and community events across the country. Rudy will share a dynamic presentation, choreographed to a video production, which tells his story and will inspire you to dream big and never quit!
Keynote Speaker: Rudy Ruettiger, Author and Motivational Speaker
Sponsored by


A hearty buffet breakfast will be served from 8:00am - 8:45am along with coffee and drinks.  

Sponsored by

An Outsourcing Journey: How Staff Won the Battle to Keep Their Jobs
Room 24
In 2014, large a city embarked on a managed competition project, with city employees competing to keep parts management in house. Learn how and why management pushed for an outsourcing initiative, as well as steps taken by employees that led to their victory, saving them their jobs. Attendees will learn that sometimes organizations can be their own worst enemies and that positive, collective action can lead to substantive change.
Presenter: Bob Stanton, Stanton Consultants

Sounding the Alarm: New Patrol Vehicles, Safety Features and Innovative Uses
Room 25
In the past year, OEMs have announced three new pursuit vehicles and one discontinuation. In addition, they’ve added more safety features to their police offerings. Join the discussion about the new vehicles, in-vehicle features, and what else may be coming from the OEMs. In addition, find out the latest about police motorcycles and fleets using non-traditional vehicles for police work.
Moderator: Mario Guzman, CAFM, City of West Palm Beach, FL
Panelists: David Callery, FCA - Dodge Law Enforcement; Tony Gratson, Ford Motor Company; Dana Hammer, General Motors Fleet; George Petropoulos, Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Roundtable Discussion: The Good, the Bad and The Ugly: An Honest Discussion About Fleet Tracking
Room 26
You’ve undoubtedly heard about the benefits - and disadvantages - of telematics systems. Join this interactive discussion with other public fleet professions and subject matter experts about the benefits and challenges of telematics deployment. Subject matter experts will also be able to answer questions and give examples of real-world implementation from public fleets, including success­es, challenges, and shortcuts to smooth deployment.
Facilitator: Eric Bearly, Government Fleet Magazine
Subject Matter Experts: Rob Donahue, Lytx, Inc.; Chris Jackson, BSM Technologies; Tyler Mortensen, GPS Insight; Matt Ilardi, Verizon Connect; Jean Pilon-Bignell, Geotab

Hall G

Hall G, Booth 709

Presented by Geotab

Hall G, Booth 1317

Presented by Privacy4Cars.com

Hall G

Enjoy a buffet lunch in the exhibit hall.(Included with Fleet Full Conference Pass.)

Sponsored by:

Hall G, Campfire A
While in the exhibit hall, drop in on our micro-training sessions. Designed to get straight to the point in a less structured setting, these “campfire” presentations will feature maximum take home value.

CPFP: Certification Basics and How It Can Advance Your Career
What is the American Public Works Association’s Certified Public Fleet Professional (CPFP) program and why should you get one? Meet with current CPFPs to discuss what the certification is and how it can benefit your fleet and advance your career. Learn how to get the certification and how CPFPs have used it to benefit their operations.
Presenter: Jeffrey Tews, CPFP, City of Milwaukee, WI

Hall G, Booth 601

Presented by FASTER Asset Solutions

Hall G, Booth 701

Presented by Agile Fleet

Sponsored by

Facility Construction & Renovation: What Every Fleet Manager Should Know
Room 24
Are you working on building a new fleet facility, renovating one, or curious about the process or features of new buildings? Fleet managers that have recently opened new facilities will share their experiences and lessons learned. Whether your present building is on its last legs, or you’re being pushed to another location, learn about the challenges of building or renovating a maintenance facility.
Presenters: John Manring, County of San Diego, CA; David Worthington, County of Sonoma, CA

Electrification the Easy Way: New EVs, Upfits, and Deployment Best Practices
Room 25
To meet sustainability requirements, more government fleets are seeking electrified vehicle solutions. Some are purchasing OEM vehicles, while others are considering aftermarket upfits. Join a panel discussion about deploying electrified vehicles, including sedans, vans, and trucks, and new options available for fleets looking to electrify.
Moderator: Kevin Wood, Center for Sustainable Energy
Panelists: David Breault, XL Hybrids; David Brosky, Lightning Systems; Sam Houghtaling, City of Seattle, WA

Dig into Data: What to Track and How to Use It
Room 26
What are the biggest challenges related to new and growing sources of data, and what can you do about it? Discuss what data needs to be collected from fleet and external sources, how to make decisions based on this data, and how to develop and implement processes and policies based on what the data is telling you.
Facilitator: Maggie Laird, Dossier Systems

What It Takes To Be an Effective Fleet Leader
Room 24
In today’s fast-paced fleet environment, competent leadership is one of the most important factors for an organization’s success. But what is effective leadership at the fleet level, and how can you motivate your employees to perform at their best? Learn the five basic traits of a leader and how to use those traits to get the most out of your employees, as well as five things you can do immediately, every day, to see improvement in your organization. Lastly, learn simple leadership philosophies that are unique to a fleet environment that you can implement in your organization.   
Presenter: Todd Richardson, City and County of Denver, Public Works​

Prevent Brain Drain: How to Create an Effective Succession Plan
Room 25
As more baby-boomers retire and exit organizations, it’s becoming essential for organizations to capture institutional knowledge before they experience “brain drain.” Lack of a succession plan can hamper the employee replacement transition, drive up costs, and impact customer service. Learn how to design an effective succession plan and how other fleet managers have successfully tackled this challenge before exiting their organizations.
Presenter: Steven Saltzgiver, Mercury Associates Inc.

Buying Methods: When to Lease, Finance or Outright Purchase
Room 26
Does the manner in which your organization finances (pays for) fleet acquisition costs matter? You bet it does. Some financing methods actually discourage fleet owners from replacing their vehicles and equipment in a timely manner, while others, which have a reputation for being more costly, may offer larger immediate savings than an organization could ever hope to achieve through business process improvements or outsourcing. This roundtable discussion will offer participants the opportunity to share and compare examples of both success and failure related to leasing, lease-purchasing (debt financing), replacement reserve funds, and upfront cash purchase of fleet assets.
Facilitator: Janis Christensen, Mercury Associates Inc.
Subject Matter Experts: Bob Crowe, Acme Auto Leasing; Maria Neve, Merchants Fleet Management

Room 28
After a 25 minute reception, the honors ceremony will begin with Government Fleet magazine recognizing the 50 Leading Fleets, announcing rankings for the top 20, and the top fleets in three size categories. The magazine will also name the 2018 Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year recipient and honor the Public Fleet Hall of Fame inductees. The Government Fleet Management Alliance (GFMA) will present Certified Fleet Management Operation (CFMO) awards and Fleet Masters Operation awards.

Reception includes passed hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

Sponsored by

Join us at The QuartYard! A unique venue like you've never seen before, located in the East Village of downtown San Diego for a Night on the Town. Get ready for a night of music, networking, fun and yummy dinner stations including pizza, burgers, tacos, flatbread and so much more to enjoy! 

Located about a 15 minute walk from the convention center:

The QuartYard
1301 Market Street
San Diego, CA  92101

Hall F Lobby

Sponsored by

Room 28
What are your biggest challenges? Whether it’s fuel management or budgeting concerns, this interactive session gives you a chance to discuss these topics and more with your peers and brainstorm solutions. Then, learn from the rest of the group as other fleet managers share the best solutions their groups found.

A full continental breakfast, breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches will be served from 8:00am - 8:30am along with coffee and drinks.  

Sponsored by

Utilizing Internal Service Fund Rates to Modify User Behavior  
Room 24
Rate development and internal service funds aren’t just cost recovery methods, they can be used as a tool to improve operations. In this advanced session, discover how to use various aspects of rate development to drive proper behavior at the end-user level, resulting in more efficient operations and less impact to the fleet customer.
Presenter: Brent Wahl, Pasco County, FL

Looking at the Future of Fleet
Room 25
From mobile fueling to disaster readiness and recovery, to government mandates, the fleet industry consistently faces significant changes that have potentially wide-ranging impacts on fleet operations. Join the discussion about the trends of the future that could lead to significant transformation in the industry, as well as ones that are just around the corner. How can fleet managers and their customers in the public sector make sure they’re prepared?
Moderator: Bob Mentzinger, WEX Inc.
Panelists: Michael Jones, ChargePoint; Ryan Kelly, WEX Inc.; Phillip Kobernick, County of Alameda County, CA; David Pope, GPS Insight

How to Build Credibility and Make Major Fleet Improvements
Room 26
Many fleets are challenged by things they can’t change because of precedence or the structure of their agency — perhaps it’s a purchasing method, software, or organizational structure that isn’t right for their operation. Rather than passively accepting it, fleets can take steps to push for seemingly impossible changes. Join the APWA Fleet Services Committee, including a fleet manager who spent four years advocating for centralization (and succeeding), in a discussion of how to build credibility and what steps to take to make major fleet improvements.
Presenter: Kevin Schlangen, CPFP, CAFM, CEM, Dakota County, Minnesota

Hall G

Hall G

Enjoy a buffet lunch in the exhibit hall. (Included with Fleet Full Conference Pass.)

Hall G
While in the exhibit hall, drop in on our micro-training sessions. Designed to get straight to the point in a less structured setting, these “campfire” presentations will feature maximum take home value.

Your Ideas: The Best Efficiency Ideas from Fleets Nationwide 
Campfire A
Why reinvent the wheel when you can learn tried-and-true ideas? Government Fleet staff will present the best ideas for operational improvement, collected from fleets around the country. Learn what has worked for others and may also work for you, followed by a discussion with your peers.
Presenter: Za Farley, Government Fleet Magazine

What Fleets Need to Know About Vehicle Hacking
Campfire B
As more advanced technologies are added to vehicles, the threat of vehicle hacking grows. Learn about whether fleets should worry about vehicle cybersecurity, as well as the steps the automotive industry has taken to secure vehicles.
Presenter: John Tintinalli, SAE International

Hall G
While in the exhibit hall, drop in on our micro-training sessions. Designed to get straight to the point in a less structured setting, these “campfire” presentations will feature maximum take home value.

Paving the Way for Connected, Autonomous & Electric Vehicles
Campfire A
What will the cities of the future look like, and what roles do fleets have in this future? Check out the City of Columbus, Ohio’s vision of the future and its Smart Cities projects under way to get it there. Learn about cars that talk to each other, in-vehicle safety technologies, ways to improve mobility for residents, autonomous vehicles to supplement transit use, and electric vehicles — and how they all affect fleet operations.
Presenter: Kelly Reagan, City of Columbus, OH

Understanding Mobility 2.0
Campfire B
The Internet changed the world, but it didn’t happen overnight. The Web 1.0 and 2.0 eras saw more failures than successes, and business models needed to evolve before reaching sustainability. When it comes to transportation, we’re in similarly exciting times. But with change happening so rapidly, it’s hard to know how or when fleets should take advantage. You’ve heard the buzz words: smart mobility, Internet of Things, Transportation as a Service, and others. This seminar will give fleets perspective on them, separate reality from the noise, and impart a greater understanding of this era of Mobility 2.0.
Presenter: Chris Brown, Business Fleet magazine

How to Streamline Workflow in Your Shop
Room 24
Is your facility streamlined for peak shop efficiency? Learn how to improve the flow of repairs in your shop by optimizing your shop's advantages and eliminating the disadvantages. Case studies will allow attendees to gather tips to reduce or eliminate repeat repairs.
Presenter: Mike Cleary, Automotive Technical Support Services

Sink or Swim: Navigating the Deep Waters of the Procurement World
Room 25
Fleet professionals are realizing that being experts in their domain is not enough. They need to understand strategic sourcing in order to lend their expertise to the process and ensure their needs are being met. In order to have a voice in the process, a little procurement knowledge goes a long way. Understand the key terms from the procurement world, the ideal roles of stakeholders in the supply chain, and how to best cooperate with procurement specialists for optimum results.
Presenters: Mario Guzman, CAFM, City of West Palm Beach, FL; Gary Lentsch, CAFM, Eugene Water and Electric Board

Extending Equipment Uptime & Life Through Contamination Control 
Room 26
Are you achieving optimal component life in your off-road equipment? There’s one area you may not have considered — contaminants. Contaminants such as dirt and metals can enter the fluid systems of your equipment, negatively affecting the life of engines, components, hydraulics, and fuel systems. Learn how contaminants affect your equipment and how you can keep them clean for greater longevity.
Presenter: Brian Redpath, Caterpillar Inc.

Before you say goodbye, join us for good conversation and drinks to round-out your GFX experience.

Located in Session Room Hallway

Rooms 24 and 25
Learn about the latest features in AssetWorks’ FleetFocus fleet management software, as well as the FuelFocus fuel management system, KeyValet automated motor pool solution and integrated GPS. AssetWorks senior project management staff will review all the great features in the current release, discuss what is in the pipeline for the next release, and help with all functionality questions. Interact with other AssetWorks users to learn how they cope with the business challenges you face every day. Lunch will be included.

Room 26
This session will include an overview of FASTER Web, highlighting the newest features and business intelligence. Next will be an overview of FASTER’s Web add-ons including: motorpool reservation and dispatch and key box integration; VIN decoder; inventory import utility; and more. Lastly, the session will include a high level overview of the features, reports and system switches of FASTER Win, and remind users of general tools that are often forgotten.