Navistar's Shane Terblanche Announced as Keynote Speaker for NAFA's 2011 I&E

PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- If this decade develops into the era of the electric vehicle, credit should go to innovators like Shane Terblanche who are helping to lead the way. Terblanche is the Vice President and General Manager for Navistar Electric Vehicles, one of the companies that became the face of President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and which holds the distinction of shipping the first electric vehicle produced as a result of that legislation. NAFA Fleet Management Association is proud to announce that Terblanche will provide a Keynote Address at the Association's 2011 Institute & Expo in Charlotte, NC, on Sunday, April 10.

Terblanche has served as General Manager, Electric Vehicles at Navistar, since 2009. With extensive background directing strategy, product and market planning, and new business initiatives, Terblanche led Navistar's efforts to bring the first electric-born delivery vehicle to market in North America. Terblanche, a native of South Africa who holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Technikon Witwatersrand (now the University of Johannesburg), joined Navistar in 2002 and has served in a variety of strategic marketing and product development functions prior to serving in his current position.

In August 2009, President Obama personally visited Navistar's manufacturing facility in Wakarusa, IN to announce a $39.2 million grant funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop and deploy electric trucks. Less than 10 months later, Terblanche was congratulated by Vice President Joe Biden for shipping the first electric vehicle produced as a result of the grants.

Terblanche joins Don Esmond, Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations for Toyota, as Keynote Speakers for the 2011 I&E. Esmond's Keynote Address is scheduled for Monday, April 11.

NAFA's annual Institute & Expo, which takes place April 9-12 at the Charlotte Convention Center, brings more than 2,000 fleet industry professionals together for four days of education, trade show experience, and networking. It is recognized as the event of the year for the fleet management industry as every industry segment from corporate to government, university, and public service will have fleet managers in attendance.

For more information on NAFA's 2011 I&E, please visit http://www.nafainstitute.org.

About NAFA's 2011 Institute & Expo

The 2011 I&E features over 60 hours of fleet training, education, and workshops including several brand-new sessions designed specifically for veteran corporate fleet managers. Popular events such as the Public Safety Roadeo and the Green Zone will return along with an Expo Floor consisting of more than 200 companies showcasing their products and services. In addition, several of the fleet industry's most important awards, including NAFA's Sustainability Award and the prestigious Larry Goill Quality Fleet Management Idea Award, will be presented during the conference. Official media sponsors of the 2011 I&E include FLEETSolutions, FleetFOCUS, Naylor, International Fleet World, Automotive Digest, Canadian Automotive Fleet, CamAuto, Fleet Digest, Fleets & Fuels, Fleet Maintenance, Light & Medium Truck, and Fleet Owner. For more information, visit http://www.nafainstitute.org.  

About NAFA Fleet Management Association

NAFA is the world's premier non-profit association for professionals who manage fleets of sedans, public safety vehicles, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for organizations across the globe. NAFA is the association for the diverse vehicle fleet management profession regardless of organizational type, geographic location or fleet composition. For more information, visit http://www.nafa.org.

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SOURCE NAFA Fleet Management Association