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2025 Fleet Hall of Fame: Call for Nominations

Join us in honoring the fleet professionals whose leadership, innovation, and legacy continue to shape the future of the industry.

Chris Brown
Chris BrownAssociate Publisher
Read Chris's Posts
May 28, 2025
Collage of award winners.

Like last year's inductees - Matt Betz, Theresa Belding, and Bill Gibson - 2025 recipients will be announced at the 2025 AFLA conference Sept. 14-17 in Marco Island, Florida.

Photo: Automotive Fleet

3 min to read


Note: Deadline has been extended to Wednesday, June 25 at 12 am Pacific Standard Time. 

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Do you know a fleet professional who has left a lasting legacy on our industry?

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Nominations are now open for the 2025 Fleet Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors in the commercial and corporate fleet world. This prestigious recognition is presented by Automotive Fleet and sponsored exclusively by the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA).

Since its launch in 2008, the Hall of Fame celebrates individuals who have dedicated 10+ years to the industry and made an indelible mark on commercial fleet management.

“Being recognized by my peers means more to me than anything else,” said 2024 inductee Theresa Belding in her heartfelt speech at the AFLA Conference in San Antonio.

Note changes to the Hall of Fame induction process: In addition to online balloting, nominees will now be assessed by a rotating judging committee every year. The 2025 judges will be announced soon. 

Fill out our brief questionnaire to submit your nominees. The deadline to nominate is 11:59 p.m. PST Monday, June 18, 2025.

A Legacy of Leadership & Innovation

Hall of Fame honorees represent the best of the best in fleet. They are pioneers, mentors, and changemakers whose influence continues to shape the industry. The most recent winners include:

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  • Matt Betz, known for championing fleet telematics and safety solutions long before they became standard, and who helped push fleet tech into the modern era.

  • Bill Gibson, with 38 years of leadership at General Motors Fleet.

  • Theresa Belding, who is celebrated for building fleet excellence across mergers, acquisitions, and multiple pharmaceutical companies — all while staying deeply connected to the industry.

  • Sherry Calkins, a fierce advocate for connected vehicle technologies, has helped advance the industry’s digital transformation through roles at Geotab, Verizon Connect, and more.

  • John Ruppert, who led fleet sales for Ford Motor Company, was instrumental in bridging OEM strategy with real-world fleet needs and relationships.

  • Ed Peper, formerly head of GM Fleet, is celebrated for his unwavering commitment to fleet customers and his role in shaping GM's modern fleet strategy.

These leaders — and dozens of others — have not only optimized the operations of the companies they served but also helped steer the entire profession forward.

How to Nominate

If someone you know has:

  • Over 10 years of fleet industry experience

  • Made a significant impact on fleet operations, strategy, safety, or innovation

  • Shaped the careers of others through mentorship and leadership

Then they deserve consideration for this honor.

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Inductees will be announced at the 2025 AFLA conference, which will be held Sept. 14-17, 2025, at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida. 

The Fleet Hall of Fame Award name, logo, brand, and all associated branding materials are legally owned and operated by Bobit Business Media Inc. (BBM), and BBM's wholly owned Automotive Fleet brand. Permission for any commercial use must be obtained in writing by Bobit Business Media Inc. For further information, please refer to BBM's Terms of Use which can be found at: http://www.bobit.com/terms-of-use

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

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