Awards, Recognition and Certifications

Awards

100 Best Fleets Award
For 2021, the 100 Best Fleets Organization and National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) recognized the City of Tulsa Equipment Management Division as the No. 1 rated public sector fleet in North America. Read more...

The Green Fleet Award
EMD is annually recognized by the National Association of Fleet Administrators as a top-50 green fleet. Read more...  

Green Garage Award
For 2020, the City of Tulsa Equipment Management Division was recognized by the National Association of Fleet Administrators as the winner of the Green Garage Contest. The Green Garage Contest brings together the most progressive and environmentally committed fleets to share best practices for eco-friendly fleet maintenance garages. Read more…

Leading Fleets Award
For 2018, the City of Tulsa Equipment Division was recognized by Government Fleet and the American Public Works Association as the No. 1 fleet in North America. Read more...

CLEANFleet Certification
Attained CLEANFleet Certification (CFC) in 2016 through the Coalition for Green Fleet Management. The CFC is a national program to certify both private and public fleet operations as energy efficient and environmentally responsible. Read more…

Fleet Masters Operation Award
Recognized as a Fleet Masters Operation in 2016 by the Government Fleet Management Alliance (GFMA). The GFMA created the Fleet Masters Operation Award to recognize fleet operations that are considered to be exceptional in their industry. This is the highest level of achievement that a fleet can reach within the program.  Read more… 

Certified Fleet Management Operation
During 2015, EMD became a Certified Fleet Management Operation (CFMO) with the Government Management Alliance (EMD recertified as a CFMO in 2018). The CFMO process has helped EMD improve its effectiveness, competitiveness and efficiency. At the core of the certification are eight foundation categories: 1) staffing and productivity; 2) company and employee goals, mission statement and business plan; 3) parts inventory management; 4) replacement policy and financial program; 5) fleet utilization management; 6) fleet policy and procedures documentation; 7) preventive maintenance program; and, 8) customer service and level of support. Read more...

Certifications

Certified Public Fleet Professional
EMD Managers are Certified Public Fleet Professionals (CPFP) with the American Public Works Association. This certification is given for "demonstrating a high level of competence for fleet management by successfully completing an examination, documenting education and work experience, and fulfilling prescribed standards of conduct and performance."

Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
Many of our technicians possess at least one ASE certification. The National institute for Automotive Service Excellence was founded in 1972 as an independent, non-profit organization with a single mission: to improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive professionals.

Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT)
Technicians at the Fire Garage possess EVT certifications. The EVT certification provides technicians the opportunity to be recognized for the education, training, and experience they have in the service and repair of emergency vehicles.

Oklahoma Alternative Fuel Equipment Technician
Fifteen percent of EMD technicians possess an Oklahoma Alternative Fuel Equipment Technician Certification and are certified by the Oklahoma Department of Labor to install, modify, repair or renovate equipment used in the conversion of any fossil fuel engine to an engine fueled by an alternative fuel.

Oklahoma Alternative Fuel Compressor Technician
Fuel Section personnel possess Oklahoma Alternative Fuel Compressor Technician Certifications and are certified by the Oklahoma Department of Labor to repair alternative fueling compression equipment.

Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Program
Several EMD employees have completed the requirements to become Six Sigma Green Belts. Six Sigma Green Belts are employees who spend some of their time on process improvement teams. They analyze and solve quality problems, and are involved with Six Sigma, lean or other quality improvement projects. EMD’s Green Belts are currently working to improve PM compliance, fleet system data integrity, and work order notes.    

Leadership University (Leadership U) – EMD Maintenance Manager Mike Wallace completed the City of Tulsa’s Leadership U program. The purpose of this program is to develop long-term public sector leadership skills and potential management successors. This program provides mentoring, coaching, and professional development training necessary to prepare future leaders for higher level positions with broader responsibilities. 

Supervisor University (Supervisor U) – three EMD supervisors completed the City of Tulsa’s Supervisor U program (John Reel, Kevin Jones, and Jesse Robbins). This is a six month program designed to help supervisors develop their skills as supervisors and arm them with the tools to become an effective leader. Knowledge and skills gained in Super U include:  transitioning from a front line employee to supervisor, basics of budget development/control, how to coach employees, and managing relationships with employees and managers.

Certified Automotive Fleet Manager
EMD Managers are Certified Automotive Fleet Managers (CAFM) with the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). This certification is divided up into eight disciplines, covering the essential core competencies of fleet management.

Recognition

Tulsa Blue Employee Recognition Program
The City of Tulsa recognizes exceptional employees with the Tulsa Blue award. Tulsa Blue designates those who go above and beyond their regular duties and exemplify the characteristics of exceptional public service to the citizens of Tulsa and fellow City employees.

EMD Mechanical Shop Supervisor Jeff Ostler was recognized as a Tulsa Blue recipient in 2016. At the time, Jeff possessed the most Ford training certifications of any EMD technician. Jeff promotes team building and continually implements process efficiencies and customer service improvements. 

EMD employee Gary Burr was recognized as a Tulsa Blue recipient in 2015. Gary Burr is a valued EMD Shop Supervisor II who has faithfully served the City for the past 33 years. He developed and facilitated the Learning with A Wrench program, which launched in August of 2014 as a result of the Mayor's efforts to offer students another path to prosperity. Gary took on 11 high school students and made sure they were engaged in the program and learned how a vehicle repair-shop operates, all while running the fleet repair garage. He is highly valued for his ability to change many of these students' lives by helping them with their future career and education decisions.

Technician of the Month
Monthly, EMD Maintenance Supervisors nominate a technician from each shop to be considered for "Technician of the Month". The supervisors deliberate and select the winner from the nominee pool. Nominees are judged based on customer feedback, work performance, adherence to safety rules, attitude and commitment, teamwork, completion of training objectives, and their willingness to learn and take on new responsibilities. A monthly EMD luncheon is rotated between maintenance shops, and all nominees are recognized at the luncheon with the winner receiving a medallion and a 54” long engraved WWE style belt (traveling trophy). The department director along with EMD managers and supervisors are on-hand to congratulate the winner.

Technician of the Year
EMD customers and employees are surveyed at the end of the year and asked to vote for the "Technician of the Year." The survey contains the name of each employee honored as Technician of the Month during the period January through December. The Technician of the Year winner gets to keep the 54” long engraved WWE style belt. Each Technician of the Month winner signs the belt that is given to the Technician of the Year winner.