Kirk Flach - Durham School Services, Warrenville, IL -- 2010 Golden Merit Recipient
Kirk is employed by Durham School Services as the Senior Vice President, Operations-North Area. In his ten years working for Durham School Services, he has taken on varying roles ranging from General Manager to Senior Vice President of Route Logistics. He currently oversees all operations for Stock Transportation and Durham School Services in the North area.
Kirk leads by example and is truly dedicated to the school transportation industry. He is fully committed to safety, operational excellence, and customer service. The school districts he serves are in agreement that Kirk provides top level service across the region. Kirk exemplifies what the school transportation industry strives for in providing safe student delivery to and from school each day
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Robert Hatchett - Durham School Services, Warrenville, IL -- 2010 Golden Merit Recipient
Robert serves as the Senior Vice President, Operations - West Area, for Durham School Services. In his five years with Durham School Services, he has overseen school transportation contracts of all sizes throughout the nation. Robert exhibits excellence in all areas of safety, driver training, business practice, and vehicle maintenance. Not to mention, he provides superior service to the schools and communities he serves. he is a proven leader and a valuable member of the pupil transportation industry.
Rober is a community minded individual who has made numerous contributions in both time and resources. He is an integral part of the Durham team and is an active participant on NSTA's committees and Board of Directors.
Barry Stock -- National Express Corporation/Durham School Services -- 2010 Hall of Fame Recipient
Barry has been a fixture in the school transportation industry since 1988 when he started Stock School Transport. His company subsequently merged with two other school transportation companies in 1992 to form Stock Transportation. Together, the Stock family grew the business to 2,200 buses before Stock Transportation joined National Express in 2002.
Barry’s passion for the industry goes well above and beyond his role as Executive Vice President, Business Development at National Express. He has been actively involved with NSTA and the American School Bus Council (ASBC), working tirelessly to promote school bus contracting. He served in many NSTA leadership roles over the past 10 years, most recently completing his term as President in 2009. He is a well-known and well-respected leader who has been instrumental in advancing the industry to where it is today.
In 1997, Barry was recognized by School Bus Fleet as Contractor of the Year with Stock Transportation. Barry’s guidance and leadership will certainly be missed as he retires from the industry this summer.
Stan Weber -- First Student Canada -- 2010 Hall of Fame Recipient
Stan’s career in the transportation industry began in the late 1960’s, while he has still in school and working for the family company, Cardinal Coach Lines Limited. Stan joined the management team in 1977 and along with his brother, assumed control of the company in 1983.
In 1983, the family business was operating 335 buses, primarily in the Calgary, Alberta area. In 1986, Stan initiated a diversification program that brought the company contracts in other regions of Canada and California. By 2005 when the company was acquired by First Bus Canada (a unit of First Group PLC), the company was operating approximately 2000 buses each day.
Today, Stan is responsible for the daily operation of 3000 buses in Western Canada as the Western Regional Vice President for First Student Canada. He continues to be a hands-on manager with a detailed approach to safe and reliable service.
Stan is actively involved in the community and industry groups. His leadership, enthusiasm, commitment, and contributions to the students and programs of Calgary serve as an outstanding example for the community.
Kellie Dean -- Dean Transportation, Lansing MI -- 2010 Distinguished Service Recipient
Kellie Dean is the President of Dean Transportation, headquartered in Lansing, MI. In the industry, Kellie is known for his dedication to special-needs transportation. At NSTA, Kellie is known for his strident efforts to promote contracting.
In 2007, Kellie was named chairman of NSTA’s newly created Business Development Committee, which was charged with identifying and implementing efforts that will help contractors grow their share of the school transportation industry. In addition to the hard work that continues to be put forth by the Business Development Committee, Kellie has fought tooth and nail to protect contracting in the state of Michigan.
Kellie exemplifies passion and enthusiasm for the entire school transportation industry. In 1995 he was the recipient of School Bus Fleet’s Contractor of the Year Award, which recognizes those contractors who have made significant contributions at both the state and national level.
Dwight Miller -- Riteway Bus Service, Inc., Richfield, WI -- 2010 Outstanding Driver Service Recipient
Dwight has been a school bus driver with Riteway Bus Service since 1999. He primarily works with special needs students, ranging in age from young children to 21 years of age. If you mention Dwight’s name to the parents of the children who ride his bus, you will hear overwhelming praise and heartwarming stories.
Dwight is more than a school bus driver. He loves and cares about the children and is a true friend and role model to them. Dwight has been known to stop at each child’s house before the school year starts to introduce himself to the parents and kids, letting the kids climb on the bus so they won’t be nervous on the first day of school. He goes above and beyond, taking the kids out into the community so they can practice “life skills” and making special arrangements to accommodate the kids whenever needed.
In April 2010, Dwight was recognized by the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS) for providing outstanding service to students with disabilities. Dwight was honored with a plaque and recognized at the WCASS end of the year General Membership Meeting.
Robin Leeds -- Leeds Consulting, Noank, CT -- 2010 Meritorious Service Recipient
Robin has been an independent industry consultant for NSTA since 2004. Prior to working for NSTA, she spent 22 years as the Executive Director of the Connecticut School Transportation Association.
Robin’s knowledge of the industry has been invaluable for her work on government relations, research, and various communications projects. Her specialties include regulatory and compliance issues and she also provides technical expertise to NSTA’s lobbying team. She serves as NSTA’s liaison to the federal regulatory agencies and as a media contact for the association.
Robin has been recognized by School Bus Fleet and School Transportation News, as well as the Governor of Connecticut, for her contributions to school transportation. She’s also a popular speaker and media resource, having appeared on CBS, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC, as well as hundreds of other radio, TV, and newspaper outlets.
Kickert School Bus Line, Inc., Lynwood, IL -- 2010 Go Yellow, Go Green Award Recipient
Kickert School Bus Lines, headquartered in Lynwood, IL is an industry leader in the area of clean air technology. Kickert is fully committed to “Going Green” through company-wide policies designed to improve the environment.
Kickert’s green efforts include 100% use of bio-diesel, the use of Propane powered buses, extensive use of related tailpipe emission reduction technologies, and thorough driver training. They were also the first company to introduce Hybrid diesel/electric powered school buses in the State of Illinois.
Kickert takes a hands-on approach to educating children and the community about environmental responsibility. They tour the community with their Clean Air Bus, which is a mobile, interactive museum with environmentally friendly exhibits, meant to raise the awareness about the benefits of hybrids and improving the environment.