Norman Barrientos presented at the Government Fleet Expo & Conference in Long Beach earlier this year, delivering one of the event’s top performing seminars, “Making the Business Case for a New Garage.”

Ross Jackson, 2026 Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year, reflected on his time at the conference with Norman and the important role thoughtful facility design plays in successful fleet operations.

Jackson emphasized that a maintenance facility plays a much larger role in an organization’s success than simply housing its fleet. As he shared:

“A maintenance facility is far more than a building. It is one of the most important toolboxes in our arsenal for maintaining strong fleet KPIs, improving technician productivity, and ensuring the vehicles our communities depend on are ready to perform every day.”

He also highlighted Norman’s ability to combine years of research and real-world experience into practical guidance that helps organizations design facilities around their operational mission. By pairing thoughtful design with meaningful data, Norman’s work helps fleet leaders justify facility investments through measurable operational and financial returns.

As fleets become more complex and technologies continue to evolve, Jackson pointed to the importance of creating facilities that support today’s operations while remaining adaptable for what comes next.