Former NAFA president Gayle Pratt is one of the speakers who will present during the upcoming International Fleet Academy, presented by NAFA Fleet Management Assn. NAFA’s 3rd Annual International Fleet Academy will take place Oct. 21-23, 2013, at Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson, AZ.
Pratt recently retired from Ecolab, where she directed the company’s North American fleet operations, some 8,000 vehicles, and the global fleet of 18,000 vehicles in 78 countries. Among her responsibilities were strategic global and regional supplier sourcing and relationships for products/services, fleet budgets, and sustainability plans. In 2008, she was among the final candidates for the International Fleet Manager of the Year award.
Also speaking will be Joe LaRosa, NAFA’s International vice president. LaRosa, CPA, MBA, is director of global fleet administration for Merch Sharp and Dohme. He became NAFA’s first-ever International vice president in 2012 and has been working in fleet management since 1995, starting with Bristol-Myers Squibb. LaRosa was named Professional Fleet Manager of the Year in 2007. The following year, LaRosa moved on to join MSD to start the Global Fleet COE (Center of Excellence). In his current role, LaRosa manages 29,000 cars worldwide in over 100 countries with 12 team members strategically placed in EMEA, North and Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.
“We’re compiling a true all-star team of speakers and faculty for NAFA’s 3rd Annual International Fleet Academy,” said NAFA’s Executive Director, Phillip E. Russo, CAE. “Gayle and Joe are both highly respected innovators who helped shape the direction of global fleet management. NAFA will be announcing more members of our lineup later this week, including fleet managers based around the world. It’s the greatest collection of global fleet managers ever assembled in one place!”
The three-day conference was designed to meet the needs of those who manage fleets outside of the United States and Canada. In addition to over 15 educational sessions, the conference offers exclusive networking opportunities and a cocktail reception and dinner each night.
Early-bird registration is $650 for NAFA members and $1,105 for non-members. After Aug. 16, registration costs are $799 for NAFA members and $1,550 for non-members. Fleet professionals may save $200 off the registration costs by joining NAFA as they register.
Attendees receive several value-added educational items to take back to the office including a ready-to-use executive summary; free subscription to International Fleet World magazine; the newly published NAFA’s Global Fleet Guide; and valuable checklists for policies, RFIs, and RFQs. All total, it’s a resource package valued at $2,500.
