KelleyAmerit Fleet Services, a strategic partnership of Kelley Fleet Services and Amerit Consulting, has been contracted by AT&T for vehicle repair and maintenance services. Under the contract, KelleyAmerit will maintain and repair AT&T's 76,000 vehicles
at a network of about 250 service facilities in the U.S.

KelleyAmerit expects to hire as many as 800 managers, mechanics, repair technicians, and other personnel in connection with the contract.

"We were seeking an innovative and comprehensive approach to our fleet repair and maintenance needs," said Jerome Webber, AT&T's vice president for fleet operations.

"We believe that a sole-source, singularly focused fleet maintenance and repair solution makes great sense for large operators," said Don Kelley, founder of Kelley Fleet Services and president of KelleyAmerit.

AT&T said it chose KelleyAmerit because of the shared commitment between the two companies in the area of supplier diversity.

"Supplier Diversity has always been a cornerstone of our inclusive culture at AT&T," said Marianne Strobel, executive director of AT&T global supplier diversity. "We look for those values in our suppliers as well and are particularly pleased that KelleyAmerit's leadership team has a special focus on helping Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs)."

In May, AT&T launched Operation Hand Salute, a DVBE mentoring program designed to assist certified DVBE firms in improving their businesses and winning more corporate contracts.

Amerit Consulting Founder and CEO Gary Herbold, was a decorated medical corpsman in the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps and is actively involved in outreach to veteran entrepreneurs.