NAFA Announces Nominees for 2025 Fleet Technician and Fleet Professional of the Year Awards, Along with Tom Johnson Award Nominees

Edison, N.J. (March 17, 2025) – NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA), the vehicle fleet industry’s largest membership association, is pleased to announce the nominees for this year’s prestigious Fleet Technician of the Year and Fleet Professional of the Year Awards, as well as the nominees for the inaugural Tom Johnson Award. These awards, part of NAFA’s celebrated 100 Best Fleets in the Americas competition, recognize individual excellence within the fleet management industry.

“We are excited to highlight the exceptional contributions of this year’s nominees, who have demonstrated exemplary dedication and expertise in the fleet management field,” said Bill Schankel, CAE, CEO of NAFA. “The Fleet Technician and Fleet Professional of the Year Awards, along with the Tom Johnson Award, are the pinnacle of achievement within the industry. These professionals are not only excelling in their respective roles but are also paving the way for future innovation and success in the fleet management industry.”

The top five finalists for these individual awards will be unveiled at NAFA’s 2025 Institute & Expo (I&E) during the General Session on Tuesday, April 29. The winners will be announced during the General Session on Wednesday, April 30, along with the top winners of the Public Fleet and Commercial Fleet contest.

Tom Johnson Award Nominees

The inaugural Tom Johnson Award honors exceptional fleet professionals who have demonstrated leadership, mentorship and long-term dedication to improving both fleet operations and the industry as a whole. This award was created to honor the life and legacy of Tom Johnson, who founded the 100 Best Fleets in the Americas competition, the Green Fleet Awards, and the Green Garage Contest. This award recognizes those who continue his legacy of promoting best practices and advancing the fleet industry. The following nominees have been selected for their outstanding service:

• Dan Zenger – City of Vancouver, WA
• Darryl Syler, CPFP, BCFP – City of Alexandria, VA – Division Chief Fleet Management
• Facundo Tassara – RTA: The Fleet Success Company
• Kevin Schlangen, CAFM – Dakota County Minnesota Fleet Management
• Mark Stinson – City of Lee’s Summit, MO
• Patti Earley, CAFM – Florida Power & Light
• Robert Martinez – RSM Fleet Consulting LLC
• Ronald Wirth – County of Sacramento, CA Department of General Services\
• Sam Lamerato, CPFP – Public Fleet Advisors
• Scott Rood, CAFM – RTA: The Fleet Success Company
• Steve Saltzgeiver, CAFS – RTA: The Fleet Success Company
• Tim Coxwell, CAFM – Leon County Sheriff’s Office
• Tony Yankovich – RTA: The Fleet Success Company

Nominees for the 2025 Fleet Technician of the Year Award:

• Roger Davis – City of Roanoke, VA
• Cody McGuire – Benton County, WA Public Fleet Works
• Daniel Freed – County of San Bernardino, CA Fleet Management
• John Nieves – City of Round Rock, TX
• David Burch – Prince George’s County, MD Government Fleet Division
• Albert Foulkes II – City of Chesapeake, Central Fleet Management
• Anthony Jackson – Las Vegas Valley Water District
• Blaine Lewis – City of New Orleans, LA Equipment and Maintenance Division
• Brett Hasty – City of Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Dave Orlow – City of Naperville, IL
• David Miley – City of Knoxville, TN Fleet Services
• Ernesto Lopez – Town of Queen Creek, AZ
• Jaime Lujan – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
• Jared Jones – El Paso County, CO
• Jason Bischoff – Premier Truck Rental
• Jeff Carden – City of Salem, OR
• Jerry Dake – City of Buckeye, AZ
• Jerry Rundles – Leon County, FL Sheriff’s Office Fleet Management
• Jesse Guymon – The City of Palm Coast, FL
• Jin Young Ro – Cobb County, GA Fleet Management
• John Fickers – Town of Davie, FL
• Johnny Gonzalez – City of Boynton Beach, FL
• Jonathan McCormick – County of Hanover, VA
• Joseph (Joe) Daigle – City of Tampa, FL Fleet Maintenance Division
• Joseph Robinson – WSSC WATER – Laurel, MD
• Joseph Williams – City of Coral Springs, FL
• Juan Tapia – City of Santa Fe, NM
• Justin Rael – Colorado Springs Utilities
• Kenneth Cordell – DeKalb County, GA Fleet Management
• Kenny Schmidt – Spire
• Kevin Cromwell – City of Greenville, SC
• Manuel Olivas – El Paso Fire Department
• Mark Nonis – The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority
• Mathew Adcock – City of Little Rock, AR Fleet Services
• Nicholas Sevaas – 56 FW Vehicle Management, Luke AFB
• Orlando Salazar – CPS Energy
• Pete Kinder – City of Anaheim, CA
• Raymond DeHelian – City of Lakewood, FL
• Ricardo Barrales – City of Long Beach, CA Fleet Services
• Roger Miller – Lake County, FL Fleet Management
• Rusty Delaney – City of Plano, TX
• Shane Peckham – City of Richmond, VA Fleet Management Division
• Thomas Coates – Harris County, TX Universal Services – Fleet Services
• Troy Habeger – City of Tallahassee, FL
• Wyatt Grogan – City of Fayetteville, AR – Fleet Operations

Nominees for the 2025 Fleet Professional of the Year Award:

• Aaron Kendrick – Cobb County, GA Fleet Management
• Albert Anthony Jasso – City of Fort Worth, TX Property Management Fleet Division
• Anthony Casale – City of Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Arturo Betty – City of Tampa, FL Fleet Maintenance Division
• Benjamin Wilson – Colorado Springs Utilities
• Brenda Peshel – Lake County, FL Fleet Management
• Christine Flores – WSSC WATER – Laurel, MD
• Christopher Melton – County of Ventura, CA
• Christopher Vieira – Harris County, TX Universal Services – Fleet Services
• Clayton Getchell – City of Richmond, VA Fleet Management Division
• Daria McCellan Scott – City of Coral Springs, FL
• Dave Persad, CAFM, CEI – City of Boynton Beach, FL
• David Jaramillo – City of Santa Fe, NM
• David Renschler – City of Fairfield, CA
• Eddie Tyer, CAFM – City of Tallahassee, FL
• Eloy Salinas – City of Midland, TX
• Ian Tucker – Port of Seattle, WA – Marine Maintenance Fleet
• James Lamkin, CAFM – City of Lakewood, CO
• Janessa Allatt – City of Plano, TX
• Jason Nordt – District of Columbia Fleet Management Administration
• Jennifer Ramirez – City of Miami, FL – General Services Administration
• Jordan Gilbert – City of Naperville, IL
• Jose Castro – El Paso Water
• LP Monroe – Prince George’s County, MD Government Fleet Division
• Marty Kiss – Solenis LATAM
• Matthew Suggs – Forsyth County, GA Fleet Services
• Melissa A. Stilwell – County of Hanover, VA
• Michael Duffy, CAFM – University of Virginia
• Michael Vecchione – Pinellas County, FL Sheriff’s Office
• Mike Arel – Umass Amherst
• Mike Gandolfi – City of Salem, OR
• Nicholas Bradshaw – City of Knoxville, TN Fleet Services
• Robert Gordon – DeKalb County, GA Fleet Management
• Ron Rogers – Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration
• Ross Jackson, CAFM – City of Fayetteville, AR – Fleet Operations
• Roxanne Anderson – City of Anaheim, CA
• Shae Davies, CAFM – Portland General Electric
• Shelita Stewart – City of New Orleans, LA Equipment and Maintenance Division
• Staton Wiedner – CPS Energy
• Stephen Brockman – City of Roanoke, VA
• Tania Stoughton – Monroe County, FL Fleet Management
• Thomas Poveromo – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
• Timothy Edward Coxwell – Leon County, FL Sheriff’s Office Fleet Management
• Tom Keyser, CAFM – Spire
• Tony Johnson – The University of Alabama
• Troy Lundquist – The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority
• Wayne Tinnin – Professional Contract Services

NAFA would like to extend its gratitude to the generous sponsors of the 100 Best Fleets and individual awards. Their continued support helps make these prestigious recognitions possible and furthers the advancement of excellence within the fleet management industry. Special thanks to the following sponsors: Agile Fleet, AssetWorks, Bluedot, FASTER Asset Solutions, FuelForce, Geotab, NC State Clean Energy Technology Center, RoadFlex, RTA: The Fleet Success Company, Toyota, and WHI Solutions for their contributions to the General 100 Best Fleets. WHI Solutions also generously sponsors the Fleet Technician of the Year Award, and RoadFlex supports the Tom Johnson Award. Their involvement is instrumental in celebrating the outstanding achievements of fleet professionals across the globe. NAFA recognized Sourcewell as its Government Procurement Partner.

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About NAFA Fleet Management Association 

NAFA Fleet Management Association is the membership organization for professionals who manage the mobility requirements of vehicle fleets that include commercial, public safety, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for corporations, governments, universities, utility fleets, and law enforcement in North America and across the globe. NAFA’s members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance, repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 4.8 million vehicles that drive an estimated 84 billion miles each year. NAFA’s members control assets and services well above $122 billion each year.

For more information, please visit www.nafa.org, and communicate with NAFA on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

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On behalf of NAFA
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