Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA)

Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA) was founded in 1969 and has grown to a dynamic organization that promotes growth, expansion, and professionalism within the commercial fleet management industry by providing education, networking, research, technical standards, representation, and advancement of member interests. Today, AFLA has more than 300 member companies representing all industry segments, including: fleet managers and sourcing professionals; auto manufacturers and dealers; remarketers; fleet lease; management; maintenance and repair companies; safety, transporting, upfitting, and many other specialized suppliers.

Since its founding, AFLA has emerged as a dynamic organization that promotes growth, expansion and professionalism within the fleet industry by providing education, research, technical standards, representation and advancement of member interests.

AFLA has brought unity to an industry so fragmented in 1969 that it had no networking forum for fleet buyers and sellers to exchange reliable industry information or education.

Ed Bobit

In 1969 in Toronto, Canada, Edward J. Bobit, assembled a group of fleet-minded professionals, which included M.C. (Bud) Morrison, Konner Chevrolet, Levittown, NY, president;Don Fenton, Tom Edwards Chevrolet, Elmhurst, Ill., executive vice president; Jack Rosenbaum, Park Circle Chevrolet, Baltimore, Md., first vice president; E. Woody Woodard, Al Piemonte Ford, Melrose Park, Ill., second vice president; Mark Rosenstock, Dale Oldsmobile, Bronx, NY, third vice president; and Ed Bobit, Automotive Fleet magazine, Glenview, Ill., executive secretary-treasurer.

These pioneers discussed some changes in the commercial fleet management industry they felt were needed. Afterwards, Bobit met with an attorney who helped put together a set of association bylaws. Later in the year, a group of 12 individuals which included Ed Bobit of Automotive Fleet, Don Fenton of Long Chevrolet, Bob McGarvey of Beach City Chevrolet, Jack Rosenbaum of Legum Chevrolet, and Mark Rosenstock of Dale Oldsmobile met at the New York Sheraton and elected Bud Morrison president, as well as designated additional board members. AFLA was born.

Click here for a list of AFLA’s past presidents, 1969-present.

AFLA works with member companies to address key issues facing the entire commercial fleet industry and deliver leading-edge programs from the commercial fleet perspective, which advance member skills and enhance the environment in which they buy and sell products and services.

A link to AFLA's photo gallery is available here.

Watch the AFLA 40th Anniversary video.

History

The following articles by Automotive Fleet show how AFLA has grown and developed since its start in 1969.

1969 to 1979

  • 1971: AFLA Conference: Spring Meeting held April 23-25, at the Ambassador Hotel in Chicago. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1971. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1971 here.
  • 1978: AFLA Conference: More than 250 fleet professionals attended the 10th annual AFLA meeting held in Houston, March 31-April 2. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1978. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1978 here.
  • 1979: AFLA Conference: Annual Spring Meeting was held in Chicago. 2nd gasoline shortage. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1979. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1979 here.
  • Ed Bobit, Chairman of Bobit Business Media and one of the founding members of AFLA, reminisces about the start of AFLA in 1969. Ed Bobit Time Capsule

1980 to 1989

  • 1982 - AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1982. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1982 here.
  • 1983 - AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1983. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1983 here.
  • 1985: Sam Lee, one of the pioneers in fleet and leasing, passed away in Huntington Beach, Calif. He started his automotive career in 1929. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1985. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1985 here.
  • 1986: AFLA Conference: The 18th Annual Conference was held in Chicago from April 17-19, 1986. It included a record 415 attendees from 215 companies. Greg Janik was AFLA president. The Keynote Address was given by Douglas Fraser, former president of the United Auto Workers, Douglas Fraser passed away in Feb. 2009, he was 91. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1986. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1986 here.
  • 1987 - AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1987. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1987 here.
  • 1988 - AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1988. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1988 here.
  • 1989 AFLA Conference: The 21st Annual Meeting was held at the Sheraton Centre in New York City and attracted 250 attendees. AFLA held its fall conference Oct. 5-7, 1989 at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1989. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1989 here.
  • Helene Kamon (AFLA past president – 1988-1989) interviews Mark Conroy (AFLA past president – 2006-2007 Mark Conroy Time Capsule.

1990 to 1999

  • 1997 - AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1997. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1997 here.
  • 1998: AFLA Conference: AFLA held its Spring conference at the Cavanaugh Hotel in Seattle, April 29-May 2. More than 300 fleet professionals attended. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 1998. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 1998 here.

2000 to 2009

  • 2000: Technology to meet the demands of the 21st Century was the theme of the 2000 AFLA meeting held in Nashville, Tenn., April 13-15, 2000. AFLA President was Bob Mayfield of GE Fleet Services. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 2000. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 2000 here.
  • 2001: AFLA's Fall Meeting, scheduled for September in Boston, was canceled due to 9/11 and the fact that two of the flights originated from Boston. This was the first canceled meeting in the history of AFLA. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 2001. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 2001 here.
  • 2002: AFLA discontinues fall meeting and switches to a single annual meeting. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 2002. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 2002 here.
  • 2003: AFLA Conference: More than 200 fleet professionals attended the 2003 AFLA conference in Texas. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 2003. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 2003 here.
  • 2005: AFLA Conference: The 2005 AFLA Meeting was held Sept. 7-10 at the Camelback Resort in Phoenix. AFLA needs your help to fill in the details about the organization in 2005. Please add any facts, thoughts, or recollections about AFLA in 2005 here.

 * 2009 Conference Testimonials

  • An interview with Jim Rallo, past President of AFLA (2001-2002). Jim discusses significant changes during his tenure, including the first website and the consolidation from two meetings a year to one.Jim Rallo Time Capsule
  • Mark Conroy (AFLA past president – 2006-2007) interviews Helene Kamon (AFLA past president – 1988-1989). Helene Kamon Time Capsule

AFLA President's

For a current list of AFLA's Past Presidents, click here.

Fleet Hall of Fame

Presented by Automotive Fleet magazine and exclusively sponsored by the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA), the Fleet Hall of Fame award recognizes fleet industry leaders and pioneers who have contributed significantly to the commercial fleet management profession. Eligible nominees must have at least 10 years fleet management experience and have contributed significantly to the industry. Of these 27 nominees, a slate of nine inductees will be announced at the AFLA annual conference, Sept. 9-11 in Phoenix.

The Fleet Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 2008 with 20 founding honorees. Ten additional 2008 inductees were selected by an industry ballot.

Additional inductees will be installed with one fewer inductee each year, until three are installed in 2015. Thereafter, three honorees will be inducted in the Fleet Hall of Fame annually.

Inaugural Video

Inaugural PowerPoint Presentation

2009 Hall of Fame Inductees

Time Capsule Videos

1. Ed Bobit, Chairman of Bobit Business Media and one of the founding members of AFLA, reminisces about the start of AFLA in 1969. Ed Bobit Time Capsule

2. Helene Kamon (AFLA past president – 1988-1989) interviews Mark Conroy (AFLA past president – 2006-2007. Mark Conroy Time Capsule.

3. An interview with Sue Miller, past President of AFLA (1997-1998). Sue Miller Time Caspule

4. An interview with Jim Rallo, past President of AFLA (2001-2002). Jim discusses significant changes during his tenure, including the first website and the consolidation from two meetings a year to one.Jim Rallo Time Capsule

5. Matt Betz (national VP, sales at AmeriFleet) interviews Patsy Brownson (AFLA past president - 2005-2006). Patsy Brownson Time Capsule.

6. Mark Conroy (AFLA past president – 2006-2007) interviews Helene Kamon (AFLA past president – 1988-1989). Helene Kamon Time Capsule

40th Anniversary

Watch the AFLA 40th Anniversary video.