NAFA Fleet Management Association announced seven new fleet industry awards designed to recognize the best and brightest in the field. Winners will be announced during NAFA's First Annual Fleet Excellence Awards Night on April 23
at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

The gala event will officially kick off NAFA's 2013 Institute and Expo.

"Fleet managers have an extremely demanding and complex job," explained NAFA's Executive Director, Phillip E. Russo. "We believe they deserve an awards night to recognize all that they do within the business community. This awards night will be like their Academy Awards - an upscale gala event and reception fitting of the industry."

Award entries will be reviewed by an industry panel made up of fleet managers, fleet management company professionals, and members of the fleet media. Submissions for all seven awards are open to fleet managers throughout the United States and Canada, and will be accepted until Feb. 15 at http://www.nafa.org/awards.

The Fleet Excellence Awards open to the public include:

Outstanding Achievements in Fleet Management - This award recognizes one public service/government fleet manager and one corporate fleet manager who has had outstanding achievements or accomplishments during the past year that either set high examples or provided ground-breaking ideas for the industry.

Excellence in Sustainability Accomplishments - This award recognizes one public service/government fleet manager and one corporate fleet manager who has made significant strides in implementing sustainable/green efforts for his/her employer's fleet operations.

Excellence in Fleet Safety - This award recognizes one public service/government fleet manager and one corporate fleet manager who has made significant strides in implementing safety efforts for his/her employer's fleet operations. The award may also be presented to an organization or entity that has made significant contributions in this field.

Excellence in Fleet Leadership - This award recognizes one fleet manager's boss who has provided outstanding leadership and direction to the fleet manager or has otherwise contributed to the fleet's success.

NAFA's 2013 Institute and Expo takes place April 23-26 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.