Automotive Fleet, July 2017

AUTOMOTIVE FLEET I JULY 2017 34 These 11 nominees have fleet careers that have made an impact in the fleet management profession The winning nominees will be chronicled with the Hall of Fames 75 previous nominees Automotive Fleet magazine and the Automotive Fleet Leasing Association AFLA are proud to announce the 2017 nominees for the Fleet Hall of Fame The Hall of Fame recognizes fleet industry leaders and pioneers who have contributed significantly to the commercial fleet management profession Inductees must have fleet careers spanning 10 years or more and are selected by their peers via an online ballot Three honorees are inducted into the Hall of Fame annually This years list of industry veteran nominees are as follows 2017 FAME NOMINEES NAMED FLEET HALL OF Dave Hansen GM Fleet Commercial Operations Dates in Fleet 1998 2008 Retired Hansen joined General Motors in 1965 after graduating from high school working in a GM assembly plant while attending college After graduating from college with an engineering degree he worked in several roles including chief engineer for the Chevrolet Division Hansen often comments that the highlight of his career was leading the turnaround while serving as general manager of GM Fleet Commercial Operations in the late 1990s and into the next century After leaving GM Hansen became COO for Tecstar a second stage manufacturer for GM then assisted SCT with its fleet fuel economy software device He is now retired but provides pro bono support of the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research Ron Mawaka Sr Fleet Response Dates in Fleet 1986 2016 Mawaka Sr founded Rental Concepts Inc in February 1986 A unique rental consortium and first of its kind it provided temporary cars trucks and specialty vehicles to fleets nationwide His vision was a centralized service for fleet managers to eliminate unnecessary insurance requirements multiple vendors and invoices Today Rons vision has become Fleet Response a fully customized accident management maintenance management claims adjustment salvage subrogation and safety service provider Mawakas sons Scott and Ron Jr carry on his work at Fleet Response Ron has been a member of NAFA since 1984 and would like to recognize his initial partners for their contributions to the companys success Kevin McGrath Fleet Street Remarketing Dates in Fleet 1980 Present McGrath entered the auto business in 1980 working for a multi line dealership in St Petersburg Fla After selling used cars working in the finance department and buying autos and trucks at wholesale for the dealership McGrath struck out on his own in 1985 and formed a wholesale auto business called RAM Auto Leasing with friend Bob McDevitt Along with one employee who handled administrative tasks the three bought and sold 20 40 used corporate cars per month RAM soon transitioned to Eastern Fleet Remarketing after McDevitt HANSEN MAWAKA McGRATH EXCLUSIVELY SPONSORED BY AFLA Tom Callahan Ford GE Commercial Finance Donlen Dates in Fleet 1987 Present Callahan is currently president of Donlen setting the strategic direction and driving the execution of key growth initiatives He began his career at Ford Motor Company where he held various sales and management positions Additionally Callahan held global leadership positions in general management sales management product development quality and operations in North America the United Kingdom Japan and Australasia with GE Commercial Finance Fleet Services and GE Consumer Finance Callahan also serves as AALA VP of energy environmental affairs Under Callahans guidance Donlen has received numerous awards for its customer service employee satisfaction engagement product development and technology platforms Callahan is a member of the Hertz Executive Committee and served as president of AFLA from 2012 to 2013 CALLAHAN Warren Feirer deceased Standard Brands Nabisco Feirer served as NAFA president from 1979 to 1981 is a past president of the NAFA Foundation and is a recipient of NAFAs Distinguished Service Award During his career he accepted an award on behalf of NAFA from President Jimmy Carter for NAFAs efforts in planning fuel conservation during the height of the 1970s fuel crisis FEIRER