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MillennialSt rs
Meet up-and-coming student transportation professionals under the age of 40 who are taking the industry by storm with their passion & leadership
t’s no surprise that the school bus industry is an aging one. For years, phrases like “succession planning” and “new crop” have been bandied about by veteran professionals who have decried an apparent lack of “new blood” to take
the reins when they retire. Truth be told, things are seldom as bad as they seem. Every generation seems to think that the one that comes after it is full of the over-privileged, lazy and unappreciative. Tey lack work ethic, so the older set claims, and life experience. Yet they think they know everything. Plus, their music is too loud, their clothing too weird, and
what’s up with the slang? We could be just as easily talking about the 1950s, 1960s or…2016. While every generation has its quirks, today’s millennials, or those born roughly between 1977 and 2001 are breathing new life into the school bus industry with fresh perspectives on technology, research, training, business development and more. Meet the following student transportation profession- als, generally under the age of 40, who are poised to take the to new heights over the next several decades.
Josh Rice, 33 Director of Transportation New Caney Independent School District New Caney, Texas
Josh Rice is widely considered a leader throughout the great state
of Texas, and increasingly the rest of the nation is as well. He’s made a name for himself and New Caney ISD as for innovation and forward thinking. “He runs a great operation, his staff love and respect him and he is also respected in our industry,” said his nominator. “He loves to learn!”
Tat he does. In addition to overseeing 150 employees and a fleet of 200 school buses, he implemented student tracking and computerized routing. New Caney even became the first school district in the nation to implement an onboard tablet to integrate the technology for drivers on all school buses along with GPS and a four-channel camera system. Rice is an instructor for the Texas School Bus Driver Trainer
Academy and is an instructor for the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation professional certification program. He obtained a master’s degree in HR from Abilene Christian University and is also a registered nurse, a licensed pilot and a recent graduate from the local police academy. “Most people are not even aware he has accomplished all these goals. He does not do it to brag or for accolades...he just does it!” his nominator added. “He is also a wonderful husband and father and just fun to be around! He appreciates what it means to be a true leader and has a servant’s heart.”
50 School Transportation News • OCTOBER 2016
Brittany Weaver, 27 Inside Sales & Training Specialist Besi Inc. Hamilton, Ohio
Tose who know Brittany Weaver know her family is syn- onymous with the safe securement and seating of school bus passengers. Her grandfather is Bill Moore, the late founder of Besi and father of company President Sue Weaver, Brittany’s mom. But this isn’t your typical millennial tale of spoiled kid being handed the keys to the corner office. And no, her family didn’t nominate her, either. Brittany has learned the business from the ground up. She
still regularly works in the factory while taking a lead role in learning every aspect of what it takes for the business to run smoothly. Tis includes production to material cutting, ship- ping and customer service and working the booth at industry trade shows. A fellow employee, who just happens to also be Mom, confirmed that Brittany has been working through dif- ferent departments to give her a better understanding on how every part of what the company does impacts the end result. “I am very proud of her accomplishments thus far and I am confident she will be a great leader within the industry we are so passionate to serve,” Sue Weaver said.
CELEBRATING25YEARS
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