Automotive Fleet, July 2018

AUTOMOTIVE FLEET I JULY 2018 46until 2003 when he assumed the position of fleet director In 2018 he joined The Hawk Group a Chicago area dealer group with 12 dealerships to head off its new national fleet department DON ESMOND Ford Toyota Motor Sales USA Esmond joined Toyota in 1982 and served as corporate fleet and truck manager and national fleet manager He later served as VP of the large car sales team where he launched the new Camry Esmond retired in 2016 as senior VP for Toyota Motor Sales after serving with the company for more than 30 years Prior to joining Toyota Esmond had a 12 year career with Ford Additionally Esmond spent five years in the U S Marine Corps serving as captain naval aviator and helicopter pilot in Vietnam KEVIN MCGRATH Fleet Street Remarketing McGrath entered the auto business in 1980 but struck out on his own in 1985 and formed a wholesale auto business called RAM Auto Leasing with friend Bob McDevitt RAM soon transitioned to Eastern Fleet Remarketing after McDevitt moved on to another venture and ultimately the company was rebranded as Fleet Street Remarketing to better capture the companys new remarketing focus and global reach McGrath has also been a member of AFLA for more than 20 years and served on the board of directors for the association MIKE LAPORTA Deceased Chrysler ARI Laporta left Chrysler Motors Corp in 1976 and joined Holman as the marketing manager at Reconditioned Motors and Parts and transferred to ARI in 1981 as VP of sales and marketing In 1984 Laporta became president During his tenure ARI experienced a four fold increase in the number of vehicles under management The companys acquisition of Lend Lease in 1989 allowed ARI to enter the Canadian market and Laporta also took the company into Mexico permitting ARI to establish the most comprehensive North American presence Laportas leadership led to ARIs global alliance concept in 1994 JIM PICCOLI Chapman Auo Group Piccolis career in fleet began in 1974 as a leasing rep for Holman Leasing and he later moved to Potamkin Chevrolet as a Truck Fleet sales person In 1985 he had a brief stint as GM for Pacifico Fleet Group He then returned to Potamkin to bring them to a national presence in 1989 and in 2008 he joined Chapman Auto Group as director of fleet operations PATRICK PAT OCONNOR NAFA As U S Legislative Counsel for the NAFA Fleet Management Association OConnor has been the voice for fleet management in Washington D C for more than two decades In testimony before Congress and federal agencies or in face to face meetings with lawmakers OConnor provides a fleet managers perspective on a diverse range of issues OConnor is leading NAFAs efforts to shape federal requirements for autonomous and connected vehicles AF JIM CHRISTIANO Buick PARS Christiano joined Buick in 1971 serving as director of fleet sales among other positions He led Buicks 1984 Olympics project placing 10000 Buicks on the ground in Los Angeles He later founded PARS in 1998 which he led until 2006 his daughter Lori took over but remains active in the business KATHY CROZE Hughes Aircraft Company Computer Sciences Corp The CEI Group Croze began her career in fleet as a division fleet administrator with Hughes Aircraft Company During her time with the company she created the first driver safety training program and van pool program She later joined Computer Sciences Corporation in 1981 as a fleet and travel manager Croze served as The CEI Groups western region sales manager from 1991 to June 2018 PAUL LAURIA Ernst Young Mercury Associates Inc Lauria is co founder and president of Mercury Associates Inc a role he has held since 2002 Mercurys consultants have assisted more than 500 organizations in improving their fleet management and operating practices Lauria began his career in fleet management with Ernst Youngs transportation consulting group in 1984 MIKE SIMS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Sims has been the Global Fleet Planning and Acquisitions Manager for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints since 1983 Sims is responsible for the vendor relations and acquisition of the Churchs global fleet which covers 142 countries Sims was named Fleet Manager of the Year by Automotive Fleet in 2010 BOB BROWN Bobit Business Media BBM Brown former VP and later Great Lakes sales manager for BBM was a member of AFLA and NAFA He served as a resource for OEM fleet managers in Detroit for more than three decades and had a hand in launching several fleet publications including Fleet Financials Business Cars and Trucks and Business Vehicle Management DAVID LIGHTHALL CFM CAFM Siemens The Kraft Heinz Company Dave Lighthall CFM CAFM was an active participant in the fleet management industry for more than 35 years He managed large corporate sales and service fleets for Moore Business Forms Johnson Diversey and Kraft Heinz Foods before retiring in 2017 RUSS CASS The Hawk Group Piemonte National Fleet Cass first started at Piemonte National Fleet formerly Al Piemonte Ford in 1976 He was later recruited into the fleet side of the business by Milo Matick former VP of fleet for Piemonte National Fleet Cass held this position for 26 years EXCLUSIVELY SPONSORED BY AFLA