Event Review

By Seth Skydel

The EUFMC educational program included a presentation by Eric Kapitulik, founder of The Program, a provider of leadership development and team building services.

A record of 173 fleet representatives from electric utilities, contractors, co-ops and municipal operations, including 50 new members and eight new companies were on hand for the industry’ s premiere event. Joining the fleet professionals were more than 360 attendees from over 90 companies that offer equipment, products and services for utility fleet operations.

In 2024, the EUFMC Drive-Thru Demonstration featured 44 manufacturers of mobile, mechanized, and automotive tools and equipment for the industry. The equipment show, which took place at a new location next to the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, was the site of more than 60 displays.

The EUFMC keynote address was delivered by Mathias Carlbaum, president and chief executive officer of Navistar, Inc. Discussing“ opportunities and challenges” for utility fleets, among other topics Carlbaum covered the transition to electric vehicles and the value of technology from global manufacturers.

Examples of how leadership and teamwork lead to success were brought to EUFMC by two speakers.

CARB and EPA Updates for Truck Engine Standards was discussed by a panel of truck and equipment experts.

Shane Kimbrough, vice president of strategic operations at Quanta Services and a former NASA astronaut, brought a unique perspective to EUFMC in a presentation that reflected his role at Quanta and his U. S. Army and NASA experience. Included were how to lead, invest in and empower people to achieve positive results, ways to build a highly functional organizational culture, the importance of training and education, and the need for every person in an organization to ensure that everyone goes home safely.

At Quanta Services, Kimbrough is currently leading several corporate initiatives, including the Quanta Elite Foreman and CEO Innovation Awards programs. He is also heading up efforts to recruit veterans and integrate robotic technology into operations.

A graduate of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New

York, Kimbrough attended the U. S. Army Aviation School, served in Operation Desert Storm, and commanded an Apache helicopter company. Selected by NASA in 2004, he has made two spaceflights to the International Space Station( ISS) and served as commander of the NASA / SpaceX Crew-2 Dragon spacecraft. He is the fourth person to fly on three different spacecraft and is fifth on the list for total time in space for all U. S. astronauts

Addressing breakdowns in fleet safety processes and procedures, and driving safety improvements through accountability and effective approaches to leadership, was the focus of a presentation at EUFMC by Eric Kapitulik, founder of The Program, a provider of leadership development and team building services.

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Kapitulik served in the U. S. Marine Corps for eight years as an Infantry

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