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Interview with Keith Scolan, Manager, Global Fleet for Illinois Tool Works Inc. |
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Manager |
Global Fleet for Illinois Tool Works Inc. |
Contact Info:
kscolan@itw.com
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Keith Scolan is Manager, Global Fleet for Illinois Tool Works Inc., based in Glenview, IL. ITW has approximately 8,000 units worldwide with 3,600 in the U.S. Keith has been with ITW for the past five years and has more than 17 years of fleet experience. A graduate of DePaul University, he is married and has two daughters.
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To Our Readers: This week's In the Highbeams follows a slightly different format. We're bringing you an interview with ITW's Keith Scolan that will be featured in our first-ever Fleet Spot Q&A, in the next issue of Automotive Digest's Fleet Management Weekly e-newsletter. If you'd like to subscribe to that newsletter, or any of our other newsletters, please sign up at www.automotivedigest.com/Newsletters.asp.
Ted: What is the current focus of your fleet management operations in terms of objectives and challenges?
Scolan:
Total cost of ownership: Our number one concern is managing costs. From vehicle selection through maintenance to the ever-changing fuel variable, getting a handle on total cost of ownership is important to us.
Corporate citizenship: It's important to ITW to be a good "corporate citizen," and the environmental impact of our fleet is a focus for us. I'm watching very closely the development of hybrids, partial-zero-emission vehicles and alternative fuels, and am excited to see them applied to fleets.
Standardization: One effort underway is standardizing our fleet operations in an effort to leverage our global purchasing power. We are a decentralized fleet, which can be challenging with specific requirements across diversified business units, not to mention global concerns such as cultural, legal, and monetary issues.
Ted: What is your assessment of where things are going in the industry right now?
Scolan:
Availability of "strong" vehicles: Manufacturers are designing higher-quality vehicles that are safer and more fuel-efficient. Consumers expect more and the automakers are responding. Fleet management needs to do more to lead the way with "green" vehicles, however.
Current resale market challenges: One area of concern is resale: retail consumers have grown accustomed to high incentives, which has driven down the wholesale and retail resale markets considerably. That can be challenging for a fleet like ours.
Ted: What are you reading and monitoring that is giving you an edge?
Scolan:
For automotive industry trends: It's important to us to stay on top of trends in the automotive and fleet industries, so publications like Automotive Digest, Automotive Fleet, Fleet Financials and Automotive News keep us current.
For financial news: I also like to be up-to-date on financial and market issues, and turn to the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times for daily information.
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Tim Weaver, VP Marketing and New Product Development, Dealix Corporation |
56% of Leads Convert to Sales. Did they buy from your dealership?
A new study by R.L. Polk and The Cobalt Group found that 56% of 1.1 million Internet leads studied resulted in a sale. Dealix aggregates high quality leads from the top sites on the Web, including: Edmunds, AOL Autos, Motor Trend, Kelley Blue Book, Yahoo Autos, IntelliChoice, AutoTrader.com, MSN Autos, and hundreds more, to connect you with serious car buyers. Don’t lose these sales to a competitor! Find out how many buyers are in your target market instantly with the Dealix On-Demand Lead EstimatorSM. Select your franchises, set the size of your territory, and...
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WestStart-CALSTART's National Hybrid Truck Conference |
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When: Conference: Tuesday, November 14 - Thursday, November 16, 2006
HIGHLY VISUAL: Ride and Drive - Thursday, November 16, 2006 - San Diego Miramar College - More than a dozen advanced, heavy-duty hybrids
Where: Conference at Paradise Point Resort; Ride and Drive at Miramar College, 1404 Vacation Road, San Diego, CA (maps and directions available)
Registration:
Call Debby DuBose (626) 744-5653. On site contact and coordinator: Kristina Marzullo, (858) 583-4164. Go to http://www.weststart.org
Why attending this Hybrid Truck Users Forum is a must for truck fleet managers and the fleet market: See, touch, and learn about the latest in hybrid trucks. This HTUF is a national, multi-year, user-driven program to assist the commercialization of heavy-duty hybrid technologies. It is operated by WestStart-CALSTART and supported by the U.S. Army's National Automotive Center (NAC) and the Hewlett Foundation. HTUF works to find applications and generate demand for hybrid vehicles in the commercial market to help speed the development and reduce the cost of such vehicles. It is a user-driven process for commercialization and seeks to identify common needs and concerns of fleets throughout North America.
Representatives of truck users, the truck industry, and the military have formed a unique national partnership to cut fuel use in large trucks and buses by working together to use advanced, hybrid technology.
Who will be talking about what? Leaders among truck users will be talking about "How will America battle high fuel prices and imported oil?" This 2006 meeting will feature the latest field performance data on hybrid trucks now in fleet assessment, product announcements and technical updates, funding strategies and business case info for medium- and heavy-duty hybrids. Plus you will get to see largest collection of heavy-duty hybrid vehicles available to ride and drive on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006.
This year's keynote speaker will be Major General Roger Nadeau, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM). Major General Nadeau is intensely interested in how hybrids and other advanced technology can enter service faster. Technology and market experts from the nation's leading commercial truck makers and hybrid system suppliers will also speak and be available for comment, and show their vehicles.
Who will be in the room: Looks like a very large contingent of HD Truck fleet users from major fleets from all of the country are coming to this conference with an agenda plus military and hybrid vehicle developers and manufacturers. Attending and participating are members of four active user Working Groups including the Hybrid Utility Truck Working Group (Gorge Survant, Florida Power & Light); Hybrid Parcel Delivery Truck Working Group (Jerry Swart, FedEx Ground; Robert Hall, UPS) Hybrid Refuse Truck Working Group (Matthew Stewart, City of Chicago) Hybrid Bus Working Group (Susan Romeo, WestStart).
Meeting Location / Lodging: Paradise Point Resort & Spa
1404 Vacation Road
San Diego, CA 92102-7905
(858) 274-4630
The Paradise Point Resort is a deluxe hotel located on a 44-acre peninsula on Mission Bay, surrounded by a mile of golden, sandy beaches; and it's just 7 miles from the San Diego International Airport.
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Arjay Miller - The Whiz Kid Who Became President of Ford |
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Miller, who would become president of Ford Motor Company, was the son of a Midwestern farmer, born in Shelby, NB. He got his name from the initials of his father’s name – Rawley John. Miller received a Master’s Degree from UCLA and a doctorate in economics from UC Berkeley. He married a fellow graduate student, Frances Fearing, and the pair recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. Miller was an assistant treasurer at Ford and, as a protégé of the legendary Ford finance chief, J. Edward Lundy, rose up the company ladder with appointments as Vice President and Controller, and Finance Vice President.
Miller's presidency at Ford (1963-68) was punctuated by the debut of the Mustang. He also felt strongly about auto safety legislation after narrowly escaping death in a fiery auto accident. In 1969, Miller left Ford to become Dean of the Stanford Business School, staying on as a Ford director, and becoming a member of 10 boards of Fortune 500 companies. Miller was honored this year, at the age of 90, by being inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Arjay Miller says [1998 interview]: "I am enthused by the technological revolution that lets consumers get on the Internet and order exactly the car they want…. That will take out hundreds of millions of dollars in costs in the way we market cars."
Miller sound byte: "There are four time bombs we are leaving our children: Population growth, the nuclear threat; international, national and personal debt; and the 'misery index' – inflation plus unemployment."
Contact: Arjay Miller can be reached through the Automotive Hall of Fame at 21400 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, Michigan, 48124, or (313) 240-4000 or at www.automotivehalloffame.org.
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Rick Behrend Moves Up at Modine |
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Rick Behrend has been named Regional Sales Director for the Americas Region for Modine Manufacturing Company. He was previously Director of the Engine Products Group. Behrend has been with Modine for 19 years as the General Sales Manager of Heavy Duty and Industrial Division, Program Manager, and Senior Account Representative for the Caterpillar account.
www.modine.com
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James Glasheen Jumps Over to Rent A Toll |
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Rent A Toll LTD has named James Glasheen as Vice President, Sales and National Accounts. Glasheen joined Rent A Toll from Travelport where he served as Director, Airline Supplier Services for its online travel brands, including Orbitz and CheapTickets.com. Glasheen's background includes a successful track record of over 25 years in the travel industry with extensive experience in sales management, supplier relations, marketing, and corporate travel.
www.rentatoll.com
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Jay Longbottom Heads Vehicle Systems for Haldex |
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Jay Longbottom has been appointed Head of Commercial Vehicle Systems Division for Haldex. He was previously EVP and Head of Hydraulic Systems Division. Longbottom joined Haldex in 2002 and has successfully led the Hydraulic Division's growth and operational excellence initiatives. He has more than 25 years experience in the. Commercial vehicle industry, beginning his career with the Truck Division of International Harvester Company.
www.haldex.com
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Matt McKenna Now VP of National Sales at AutoTrader.com |
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AutoTrader.com has promoted Matt McKenna to Vice President, National Account Sales. He had most recently been General Manager of National Accounts. In his new role, the company said McKenna will continue to oversee AutoTrader.com's national accounts sales and account management teams, but he will also focus on increasing the Web site's new-car-oriented content, in addition to strengthening current partnerships and developing new business opportunities with manufacturers.
www.autotrader.com
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Robert Poon Named CTO at CIMA |
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CIMA Systems has hired Robert Poon as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He was previously SVP of World Wide Data Center Operations at Oracle. With over twenty years of experience with companies like Oracle and IBM, Poon brings a wealth of expertise and experience in software development, hardware, and effective management to CIMA Systems. As CIMA Systems CTO, Poon will manage the software development and internal operations teams.
www.cimasystems.net
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Daley Willey Named as NADA's 2007 Chairman |
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The National Automobile Dealers Association has elected Dale Willey as its 2007 Chairman. Willey, a dealer since 1970, is President of Dale Willey Automotive in Lawrence, KS, and NADA's current Vice Chairman. He was a 1993 winner of Time magazine's Quality Dealer Award, sponsored annually by Time, Goodyear and NADA.
www.nada.org
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Detroit 3 Meeting with Bush Slated for Mid-November: |
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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 timely, insightful and substantive.
"What are we asking from our partners in government and industry? We are not asking for anybody to help us alone or help us uniquely. No bailouts. No handouts. But, having taken the steps to help ourselves, we think it's important that we all come together to address the external challenges that affect so many American businesses."
- Mark Fields, President, Ford Americas
Sourced From: Associated Press via Detroit Free Press, October 24, 2006; Detroit News, October 25, 2006
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