Glenwood Springs, CO - The Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP), the premier organization for asset management professionals of off-road fleets, will present its annual Asset Management Symposium Nov. 1-2 in Nashville, TN. AEMP members and other qualified industry professionals will share their expertise on current fleet-asset issues and management tactics, all based on the symposium's theme "Making Yellow Safe, Green and Profitable." Additional details, including the conference schedule and cost and registration info can be found at www.aemp.org.
This year's event marks the 5th anniversary of the symposium and will feature keynote speaker Pat Quinn, president of the American Trucking Association, and co-founder of U.S. Xpress. The symposium's sessions will focus on AEMP's executive tract, providing insight to fleet owners, managers and other executive-level members.
Opening day events will begin with a welcome from AEMP's President and CSO Stan Orr, CAE, and continue on with seminars. A diverse range of topics will be featured, highlighting areas from financial and telematics information to hazardous material safety.
Philip C. LaGatta, director of construction and forestry sales for John Deere Financial in the U.S. and Canada, along with Neil Ariano, sales manager for John Deere Corporate Accounts, will speak on "Financial Options for the Equipment Industry." This session will help attendees understand decisions affecting the financial impact of equipment purchases. Attendees can expect to learn about the role of IRS and FASB, as well as common types of depreciation. Lagatta and Ariano will also explore the tax considerations when acquiring new equipment, and will help attendees learn how to weigh which acquisition method - cash, loan, lease or rent - is the best option for their fleet.
Financial planning and cost savings will also be addressed in a session titled "Where's The Money?" presented by Peter Causer, vice president of national accounts and David Nus, customer solutions director for global mining, quarry and aggregates, both of Volvo Construction Company. Their seminar will outline practical cost reduction strategies by analyzing examples of how small steps like operator training and utilization can affect the bottom line.
Additionally, updates on AEMP's Green Fleet Initiatives, Telematics Standard and AEMP University will be presented. According to Orr, "There has been some exciting progress for our initiatives already this year. We've achieved some significant milestones, from the official launch of AEMP University to certifying our very first Green Fleet company. We're really looking forward to sharing what's on the horizon at the symposium."
Following the first day's seminars, AEMP will host an evening reception and dinner, at which time Quinn will deliver the keynote address. Quinn has spent his entire career in the transportation industry, beginning by focusing on transportation law at a firm where he was a partner. He then moved into the equipment and manufacturing side, serving in various roles before founding U.S. Xpress with Max L. Fuller in 1985. Under the direction of Quinn and Fuller, U.S. Xpress grew to annual revenues of $1 billion and is now the third largest privately owned truckload carrier in the nation. Their approach has always been to be early adopters of technology to grow their company and enhance their level of service to their customers. Quinn will share some of his experiences and lessons learned in his keynote address.
Quinn will contribute again to the second day of the symposium with a seminar offering practical tips on integrating telematics in fleet operations. He will touch on the challenges faced by the trucking industry when it first implemented its own telematics system and will speak to how his and other companies were able to overcome these obstacles to successfully implement the standard. Additionally, he will offer specific tips for implementing a telematics standard in order to maximize efficiency and make better fleet management decisions. The Symposium's second day will also feature seminar topics on leveraging partner agreements and repair/replace decisions
Guy Gordon, CEM, director of asset management for Insituform Technologies Inc. and current AEMP president-elect will present on "Life Cycle Analysis - Applications for Upper-level Management" within the construction and fleet management industry. Gordon has more than 25 years of experience in equipment management. In his current position, he is responsible for all asset management activity including equipment, transportation and fabrication operations.
In addition to seminars, discussions, and peer-to-peer networking, attendees will also have the opportunity to take advantage of AEMP's Professional Development Institute (PDI). Through the PDI, participants will be able to attend classes relevant to AEMP's professional certifications: Certified Equipment Manager (CEM), Equipment Manager Specialist (EMS) or Certified Equipment Support Professional (CESP). Classes begin at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 1 and last throughout the day, wrapping at 5:20 p.m. The PDI will resume on Nov. 2, again at 8:30 a.m. and finish with the final competency class ending at 5:45 p.m. Each class will cover one of the 17 core competencies identified by AEMP as necessary for a successful career in equipment management. Though strongly encouraged, attending the PDI is not a prerequisite to take the exam.
Those wishing to take a certification exam must submit the appropriate application, and purchase and study the Career Equipment Fleet Manager Manual. Application deadline for this year's event is Oct. 14, and reduced-cost, early bird registration ends Sept. 1. Exams will be administered on Nov. 3 from 8:00 a.m. to noon.
In addition to the symposium and PDI, AEMP committee meetings will be held on Nov. 2 from 1:35-6:00 p.m., while both committee and board meetings are scheduled on Nov. 3, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. These meeting are open to all symposium attendees; those interested in becoming active committee or board members are encouraged to attend.
Registration for the 2011 Fall Asset Management Symposium is now open. Contact Vice-President of Education, Jim Phillips, at 970-384-0510, ext. 202 or email [email protected], or visit aemp.org for more information or register online. Those looking for more information on AEMP's PDI and certification opportunities, or wishing to apply for the certification program may also contact Phillips.
