The 2013 conference showed a median 20 percent increase in attendance over 2012.

“We rolled the dice when we chose Atlantic City,” NAFA’s Executive Director Phillip Russo said. “It was only the second time in the last decade when we held our annual conference in the Northeast and the first time the I and E was ever held in New Jersey. When Hurricane Sandy hit, we worried that attendance might suffer; instead, we wound up with an amazing turnout and praise from attendees!” Attendees also voiced approval of the conference’s move from the weekend to the middle of the week.

During the four days, NAFA President Douglas Weichman recapped the success of the new Beyond Fleet Initiative designed to promote and advance the fleet manager by increasing awareness of the key financial information inherent to the position. Then, during an inaugural awards presentation, fleet managers heard keynote speaker Stuart Ellis-Myers’ challenge to stop giving the obstacles in their lives the power to hold them back from success.

In addition to recognizing the newest graduates of Certified Automotive Fleet Manager certification, participants also had the opportunity to learn how to create a risk management plan, discuss driver distraction with OEM panelists, and hear a firsthand account of Indy Car driver Derek Daly’s careerand life-threatening 1984 crash.

If you missed this year’s gathering, start gearing up now for the 2014 NAFA I and E, slated for April 8–11, 2014, in Minneapolis, Minn. The networking opportunities alone are worth the time, but there’s so much more. We’ll see you there!