announcing the 2009 inductees to the fleet hall of fame fleet hall of fame
TRANSCRIPT
Announcing the 2009 Inductees to the
Fleet Hall of Fame
Fleet Hall of Fame
Bob BetagoleMike Albert Vehicle Fleet Management
• CEO, Founder of Mike Albert Leasing.
• Winner of the Ernst & Young/ NASDAQEntrepreneur of the Year Award for Greater Cincinnati
and Northern Kentucky in 1997.
• As CEO, Betagole grew Mike Albert Leasing to become one of the top 10 fleet lessors in U.S. with more than 25,000 fleet units on lease in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada.
John BlessingMcCullagh Leasing
• Served as president and chairman of the American Automotive Leasing Association (AALA).
• Active member of the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA) and NAFA Fleet Management Association.
• Testified in Washington in 1984 on behalf of AALA toinfluence provisions in the FTC’s Used Car Rule of 1985.
Ed BobitBobit Business Media
• Founded Bobit Business Media in 1961 with Automotive Fleet magazine.
• One of the founding members of the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA).
• NAFA Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Executive Director Emeritus of AFLA.
Stan ChasonGELCO Fleet Management Services
• Joined GELCO in 1968.
• Served as executive vice president, member of the board of directors, and chairman and CEO of the fleet management services division.
• Served as AALA Chairman.
• Veteran of U.S. Navy.
Dennis LaLibertyWheels Inc.
• Started as Wheels trainee after college
in 1958 until he retired in 2002.• Promoted to Assistant Vice President
of Sales in the early 1970s and Vice President of
International Marketing in 1992.• Gained expertise in international fleet and leasing markets.
Duane PetersonPeterson, Howell & Heather (PHH)
• Came to Baltimore in 1940s as
regional manager of the mercantile
house Butler Brothers of Chicago. • Driving force behind creation of Peterson, Howell & Heather.• Pursued partnership creation and a new business model.• Developed and promoted the finance lease.
Jim RalloPeterson, Howell & Heather (PHH)
• Testified before U.S. Congress on behalf of the American Automotive Leasing Association (AALA) and PHH, lobbying legislature in regard to commercial fleet industry.
• President of the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA) 2001-2002.
Helen SmorgansJohnson & Johnson
• Co-founder of NJ Chapter of NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA).
• Co-wrote NJ chapter charter.
• Served on Board of Governors for NAFA.
• Managed fleets for Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and 10 other J&J companies until she retired in 1984.
Pat StarrConsolidated Service Corp. (CSC)
• Established industries first national
tire account, programs for glass
repair/replacement, and replacement
rentals.
• Built Consolidated Service Corp. (CSC) into largest non-lessor fleet services company in the industry.
• Retired as chairman of CSC in 2000 when CSC was acquired by LeasePlan.
• Worked at CSC for more than 50 years.
Fleet Hall of Fame 2009 Inductees
Robert Betagole
JohnBlessing
Ed Bobit
Stan Chason
DennisLaLiberty
DuanePeterson
Helen Smorgans
Pat Starr
Jim Rallo