CAFM Virtual: Instructors, September 2024

With the fleet and mobility industry advancing at a rapid speed, it’s crucial to stay relevant with cutting-edge education offered at CAFM Virtual, a live virtual instruction program for advanced fleet education.

Session dates: September 3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, 19

Ruth Alfson, CAFM
Manager at Matrix Consulting Group

Ruth Alfson, CAFM is a Manager with the Matrix Consulting Group. Ruth has over 30 years of industry experience with a unique blend of government and corporate fleet management organizations. She started her career as a corporate Fleet Manager for Follett Corporation in Illinois, worked for Exelon Corporation in Chicago, then for Serco Group in Dayton for over 13 years. Prior to joining Matrix, Ruth was the Fleet Operations Manager for Mettler-Toledo in Columbus, OH. On the government fleet side, Ruth was the Fleet Manager for Seminole County, Florida and later the Fleet Manager for the City of Cincinnati. Ruth also has a distinguished career with NAFA Fleet Management Association since earning her CAFM designation in 1996. She worked on numerous committees and projects, culminating in her election to NAFA President in 2015. She has spoken at many conferences and seminars, including FedFleet, Parar in Sao Paolo, Brazil and numerous NAFA Fleet Management Seminars and Institute and Expos. In 2006, Ruth was presented with NAFA’s Excellence in Education Award and In 2018, she was honored with NAFA’s Distinguished Service Award.

Beth Cooley, CAFM
Director at Commonwealth of Virginia Office of Fleet Management

Beth Cooley, CAFM, is the Director, Department of General Services (DGS), Office of Fleet Management Services (OFMS). She has more than 20 years of fleet management experience and her background includes risk management, contract management, capital outlay construction, and facility leases. She is responsible for a fleet of 3,000 vehicles assigned to more than 175 state agencies and state colleges. In addition, Beth serves as the Secretary/Treasurer with the NAFA Board of Directors. The CAFM adventure added to her creditability, expanded her knowledge, and still offers a resource that she uses today.

Timothy Coxwell, CAFM, CPFP, CEM
Fleet Management Division Director at Leon County Sheriff’s Office

Tim joined the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in September of 2013 where he took over a fleet of now 576 vehicles and 1049 VEUs operating with an underutilized FIMS and two technicians. He earned his CAFM in December 2017. He completed his APWA CPFP in March of 2018.  He earned his AEMP CEM in June of 2021. Using what he has learned, Tim has established a vehicle lifecycle, vehicle replacement budget, improved staffing levels, implemented a new FIMS from the ground up, and overhauled his fleet garage.  His fleet was recognized by the Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund for Fleet Safety and Loss Prevention in FY 2016 and he was selected as the FSRMF’s Outstanding Fleet Manager of the Year for 2017. Leon County Sheriff’s Office has maintained ASE’s Blue Seal of Excellence since 2016.

Rod Place, CAFM
Senior Director, United States Operations at AMECO

Rod has thirty-four years of professional success, leading people, processes, and systems to positively impact safety and bottom-line performance. Strategically develop, plan, direct, and control broad activities needed to ensure business success. Accountable for safety, technical and financial performance for multiple project management teams. P&L delivery responsibility, capex budgeting and demonstrating clear safety leadership; achieving monthly and annual targets. Draw on extensive experience in operations, fleet management and maintenance, small tools management, construction and maintenance site operations, and leading health & safety initiatives, in conjunction with global project experience to meet precise objectives. A seventeen-year career in industrial site and fleet services to include Director of Operations roles at Ameco and Jacobs. Prior to industrial, the previous seventeen years encompassed leadership roles in operations and sales, supporting automotive, automotive aftermarket and food service that forged the foundation for continued experience in fast paced, results driven environments.

Kathy Wellik, CAFM
Sr. Client Success Manager, Agile Fleet

Kathy Wellik, CAFM has 30 years of finance and fleet experience. Outstanding customer service, cost savings, and helping other fleet managers are the fundamental principles that she and her team focus on each day. Kathy is President-Elect of NCSFA, a member of the GM EV Customer Advisory Board, a member of the NTEA Advisory Group, and active with NAFA on multiple projects – as well as serving as Chair of the NAFA Northcentral Region. She holds two AA Degrees in Business Administration – Accounting, Business Administration- Sales and Marketing, and a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration.

Jim Schmidt, CAFM
Deputy Director, Enterprise Services, City of Salem, OR

Jim Schmidt, CAFM, a Deputy Director for the Enterprise Services Department with the City of Salem, oversees the Fleet and Facilities Services Divisions. Jim started his career in farming and construction, owning and operating several business lines. With a master’s degree in Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Jim possesses more than 25 years of leadership and management experience in the trucking and construction industries. The City of Salem’s consistent recognition as a top 100 Best Fleet in each of the last four years is a reflection of the division’s unwavering commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.

Katherine Vigneau, CAFM
Director at Matrix Consulting Group

Katherine (Kate) Vigneau, CAFM is the Director of Fleet worldwide for Matrix Consulting Group and of all business streams in Canada for MCG Consulting Solutions. Previously she served 27 years in the Army and was the Fleet Manager for the Canadian Department of National Defense, responsible for asset management and sustainability oversight of 32,000+ vehicles. As a volunteer and later a consultant, Kate led NAFA’s fleet education and certification programs for almost two decades and is a winner of NAFA’s Excellence in Education Award. Kate is an author and presenter on fleet topics ranging from electrification to replacement planning and has a regular column known as Kate’s Corner at Autosphere.