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Interview with Christopher Amos, CAFM, Commissioner of Equipment Services, City of Saint Louis |
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Commissioner of Equipment Services |
City of Saint Louis |
cdamos@swbell.net
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About Chris Amos: Chris Amos has served as Commissioner of Equipment Services for the City of St. Louis, Missouri since 1995. The Equipment Services Division supports a diverse municipal fleet of over 2,500 vehicles from multiple garages and fuel sites as well as a wide variety of contract service providers. A freelance author, he also works part-time as a Senior Associate Fleet Consultant for Mercury Associates and as fleet and energy Webitor for Automotive Digest. His previous fleet experience includes five years as St. Louis County’s first fleet manager and ten years as a Regular Army officer. He began his career with automotive technician training at O'Fallon Technical High School in St. Louis, Missouri.
Chris holds a Masters of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. He completed the Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM) program with the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) in 1994. He is the recipient of NAFA’s Distinguished Service Award, inaugural Excellence in Education Award and the Larry Goill Quality Fleet Management Ideas Award. He also serves NAFA as Vice President. He has served on federal fleet rulemaking committees, testified before the U.S. Senate Energy Committee, published articles in multiple fleet magazines, and taught at multiple fleet conferences and seminars. Chris married his high-school sweetheart Kim in 1981, has a daughter Sarah, son Bryan and Dalmatian Mandy.
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Ted: How did you get involved in fleet management?
Amos: Growing up, I was fascinated with vehicles so I took auto mechanics for half days each of my four years in high school in addition to my college prep courses. That training resulted in being the officer in charge of unit motor pools (fleet and maintenance garage) throughout my Army career. I answered a newspaper ad to be St. Louis County’s first consolidated fleet manager thinking, “Hell, I used to do that and three other jobs in the Army.” It didn’t turn out to be quite as easy as I initially thought it would be but the contacts I made through NAFA and what I learned in the CAFM program filled in my experience gaps.
Ted: Tell us about the fleet that you manage.
Amos: The City of St. Louis’s fleet is a diverse but modest 2,500 units maintained at four garages with centrally fueled diesel and commercially fueled gasoline and alternative fuel programs. The Metropolitan Police and Lambert Airport run their own operations but the rest, including public works, refuse, parks, sheriff, and fire and EMS, are all mine. I have a supportive boss, great staff, and normally cooperative customers so coming to work has been a pleasure on most days in the past decade.
I’m also fortunate enough to work as a part-time fleet management consultant with Mercury Associates, write articles, edit for Automotive Digest, and volunteer as a NAFA leader. I say fortunate because all of these opportunities have helped me stay engaged with my peers and continue learning. The coolest experience I’ve had is testifying before a U.S. Senate Energy Subcommittee about recognizing biodiesel as an alternative fuel. I put a picture of that on my “I love me” wall.
Ted: How has the fleet management world changed in the past few years? What are some of the changes you expect in the next few years?
Amos: I’m seeing government fleets becoming more business-like and customer oriented. Attitudes have changed from employees feeling like they are entitled to a job to understanding that our fleet operation is only as important as its value to those operational divisions we support. The application of lifecycle cost analysis is catching on too. This is saving us from accepting inferior vehicles and equipment offered with a lower initial bid price.
Information we need to make informed decisions is getting easier and quicker to acquire. Much of this is owed to the explosion in information systems technology and Internet sources—including Automotive Digest. Well-trained managers no longer need a horde of office support personnel to gather and process data and that cost savings places less of an overhead cost burden on the backs of our technicians and other cost allocation centers.
Vehicle technology continues to improve so fewer technicians can support more vehicles. However, those technicians need to be better trained diagnosticians with up-to-date tools and information.
Ted: Give me a few words that describe your leadership style.
Amos: I practice participative leadership encouraging my staff and customers to share their views openly and frankly. This is not management by committee, however. Once I have gathered input, I make the decision and we move forward. One of the Army generals who mentored me as a junior officer told me, “when you are in charge, be in charge.” This philosophy applies to everyone in my circle of influence. People have to have the authority to exercise control over those things for which they are to be held responsible. Getting innovation out of people means you have to accept some failures as part of the learning process. In the end, though, empowered people are happier and look for ways for the organization to succeed.
Ted: What piece of advice would you have for someone who wants to break into this field (or rise up this field)?
Amos: Fleet management involves managing assets and leading people, so both technical and people skills are important to master in order to be successful. It also involves a healthy dose of public relations and some political savvy. It’s not enough to know the right answers. You also need to be an agent for change. Oddly enough, the technical things about vehicles are the easiest to learn these days—NAFA’s certification program has put all the core competencies into a neat package. So . . . more than many jobs, fleet management is a good place for a well-rounded professional whether they started out turning a wrench or counting beans. Find good mentors and learn from them—never stop learning.
Ted: What keeps you up at night?
Amos: The shortage of competent vehicle technicians has me the most concerned because it is a culturally-based problem. Even in the ‘70s school administrators didn’t want me “wasting my time” in auto mechanics—it just wasn’t something for college bound students to do. Unfortunately, this attitude has only gotten worse. If not for my parents’ direct intervention on my behalf I would have missed an excellent education in something for which I had passion. Exactly when did educators start equating skilled trades where you get your hands dirty as somehow less worthy careers to pursue?
Ted: What do you like to do when you're not working?
Amos: I get bored easily—a trait to which my wife attributes being “childlike,” except I don’t think she means that in a good way. Consequently, I’m usually busy doing something. If there’s no interesting work to do, I enjoy playing card and parlor games with family and friends, reading science fiction, and playing WWII shoot-em-up games online (a little anonymous, virtual violence is good for your sanity if not your soul).
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Tim Weaver, VP Marketing and New Product Development, Dealix Corporation |
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your preferred sales territory. |
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Center for Automotive Research - Management Briefing Seminars |
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When: August 7-11, 2006
Where: Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Traverse City, Michigan
Sponsor: Center for Automotive Research
1000 Victors Way, Suite 200
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-5214
Phone: (734) 662-1287
Fax: (734) 929-0483
www.cargroup.org
Deborah Schilz, Manager, Executive Conferences, dschilz@cargroup.org
Three Ways to Register:
What will be happening: Eric Ridenour, DaimlerChrysler; Mark Fields, Ford; Richard Wagoner, GM; Gary Convis, Toyota, NA; John Mendel, American Honda; John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America, and Jim Morton, Nissan, will share their insights and visions of the industry at the largest annual automotive management conference.
Senior industry executives from the Original Equipment Suppliers Association such as Bo Andersson, GM’s VP global purchasing; George Perry, CEO of Yazaki NA, and Julio Caspari, president of ZF Group, will speak out about what is shaping the future of the automotive industry.
Plus you get Jeff Daniels on Wednesday, August 9th and maybe he will play his guitar and sing.
Why this conference is important: First off, because David Cole is the brains and drive behind the whole incredible idea of the Center for Automotive Research and this annual conference. Sean McAlinden, conference co-chair and CAR chief economist, says, “The rapid growth of worldwide automotive sales and production has made it very difficult for even the largest automotive suppliers to compete on a global basis. OEMs have felt the strain of attempting to operate global purchasing systems. Can companies compete effectively everywhere at the same time across such diverse markets? These sessions will address this challenge with a combined panel of representatives from some of the largest global firms in the market today and the leading consultants.”
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Bennett E. Bidwell - 50 Year Career in the Auto Industry |
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Ben Bidwell, who will be 79 next month, has been known in the industry for his sharp wit and oratorical skills. A protégé of Lee Iacocca, Bidwell served first as Ford sales vice-president and then jumped to Chrysler Corp in 1983 (with Iacocca) where he became executive vice-president for sales and marketing and eventually chairman of Chrysler Corp. In between Ford and Chrysler, Bidwell was President and COO of Hertz. He received the Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Citation in 1989. His career did not end when he retired from Chrysler, January 1, 1991, as the New England native joined the board of directors of Group 1 Automotive (1999-2003), then one of the new publicly-owned megadealers and based in Houston, TX. Always a confidante of Iacocca, Bidwell was asked to help recruit Detroit Diesel chief and racing tycoon Roger Penske as the next Chrysler CEO. But Penske backed off when Iacocca announced he would stay on as chairman “for a few years” and therefore become Penske’s boss. As a member of the “Gang of Ford” that took over a nearly bankrupt Chrysler Corp in the early 1980s, Bidwell acted as a rein on corporate CEOs becoming too imperious, winning many battles against single-minded CEOs with his acerbic sense of humor – a rare quality among automaker leaders. On more than one occasion he berated the press for “accentuating the negative.” He was also a staunch fighter for dealer equities, led strong dealer organizations at every post and led Chrysler’s negotiating team for the purchase of American Motors in 1987.
Bidwell says: “We, the great believers in free enterprise, are having our pants removed, an inch at a time, by a centrally orchestrated totally committed economic aggressor (the Japanese automakers) [1990].”
Management sound byte: “Mr. Bidwell’s wise counsel and clear vision will be missed. His experience and demonstrated capabilities contributed significantly to our success in creating the future in automotive retailing.” [B.B. Hollingsworth, then Chairman, President and CEO, upon Bidwell's retirement from Group 1 Automotive Board of Directors, May, 2003]
Contact: You may contact Group 1 Automotive at 950 Echo Lane, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77024 713-647-5700 or at www.group1auto.com or investorrelations@group1auto.com.
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John Combs Joins ADESA |
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ADESA, Inc recently announced that it has named John Combs as Executive Sales Director. Combs had previously been Auction Remarketing Manager for Bank One Credit Company. Combs’ start in the industry came in 1991 as the Fleet/Lease Manager and Arbitration Manager for ADESA Memphis. From 1993 to 1995, Combs worked as Fleet/Lease Manager and Sales Manager of Dealers Auto Auction of Dallas, TX.
In 1995, he was hired as Remarketing Manager for Sunstar Acceptance Corporation in Atlanta, GA. Before joining ADESA, Combs opened a greenfield auction for ABC Auto Auction and served as their General Manager. Combs has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.
www.adesa.com
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GM's Troy Clarke Comes to North America |
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Troy Clarke has been appointed president of GM North America and GM Group Vice President, effective July 1. Clarke, president of GM Asia Pacific since 2004, will work closely with CEO Rick Wagoner in implementing the GMNA turnaround plan, and will oversee day-to-day operations of GM's largest sales region.
www.gm.com
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Douglas Grimm Goes to Visteon |
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Visteon Corporation has appointed Douglas Grimm VP and General Manager, Ford North America Customer Business Group. He had most recently been VP of Commercial Operations for Metaldyne Corp. Grimm is now responsible for overseeing Visteon's business and customer relationship with Ford in North America, including program management.
Prior to Metaldyne, Grimm was Vice President of Global Strategic Sourcing at Dana Corp. in Toledo, Ohio from 1994 - 2001. He began his career in 1984 with Chrysler Corp. where he spent 10 years in management positions of increasing responsibility within the company's procurement and supply office. Grimm holds an MBA in Business Administration from the University of Detroit and a bachelor's degree in economics from Hiram College in Ohio.
www.visteon.com
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Audi Names Scott Keogh as New CMO |
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Scott Keogh recently joined Audi of America in the new job of Chief Marketing Officer, heading up all marketing strategy as the company strives to elevate the Audi brand in the United States. Keogh's previous job was General Manager of Marketing Communications for Mercedes-Benz USA. There he helped launch the Smart brand in North America, a project that has been on-again, off-again for more than five years. Prior to leading Smart USA, Keogh was responsible for corporate communications for MBUSA.
www.audiusa.com
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David Reuter Named to Senior PR Position at Bentley |
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Bentley Motors, Inc recently announced the appointment of David P Reuter as General Manager of Public Relations. He joins Bentley following a distinguished career in public relations at the Ford Motor Company, where he held a number of roles within the North American market, as well as assignments in Japan and Europe. Reuter will replace John Crawford, who has announced his retirement from Bentley Motors, effective on December 1, 2006.
Commenting on the appointment, the CEO of Bentley Motors, Inc., Andrew Stuart, said: "We are delighted to welcome David to Bentley. He has a great background in frontline public relations, and in addition his international experience allows him to bring a global vision to this role. I am certain his experience will complement the results which have been achieved under John Crawford's stewardship over the past seven years."
www.bentley-usa.com
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Don Beyer Takes Helm Early at AIADA |
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Don Beyer was recently thrust into the chairmanship of the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA), as current Chairman Don Hicks stepped down on June 1. Serving as chairman-elect, Beyer, 55, was scheduled to be at the helm in 2007. A multifranchise dealer in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, Beyer is a Democrat, relatively rare among dealers. An AIADA statement said Beyer will serve an abbreviated term until February 2007.
www.aiadalists.org
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Corvette Tops 'Sexy Cars' by ROAD & TRAVEL: |
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“One for the Road’ seeks each week to find, feature, and share a quote from a leading automotive executive that is really timely, insightful, and substantive.
"Sports cars are all about the sensations they inspire from how the supple leather feels on our skin to its aromatic splendor, from the youthful spirit felt driving one to the sun on our back and wind in our hair."
- Courtney Caldwell, Editor-in-Chief, ROAD & TRAVEL
Sourced From: PRNewswire, June 7, 2006
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