Q&A


Wyskiel Steers Blue Bird Toward its Second Century


A


mid a stunning financial turnaround over the past several years, Blue Bird thought it had found its leader to succeed Phil Horlock as both president and CEO.


Personal reasons forced Blue Bird to go in a different


direction last fall after Britton Smith unceremoniously resigned. But the company didn’t have to look far for the best candidate to step up and into the position. Wyskiel had spent the previous two decades leading Magna International, the last five years as global pres- ident of the manufacturer’s seating division. But he knows school buses intimately. He came to Magna over 15 years ago from Canadian Blue Bird Coach, where he was general manager of Type A and Type C school bus body and assembly production. “John’s deep and varied expertise in operational ex-


cellence and manufacturing leadership makes him an ideal fit for this role at this time,” Doug Grimm, chairman of Blue Bird, said when Wyskiel’s name was announced in January. “His proven track record will be invaluable as we expand our footprint and improve our operational processes to support our customers.” School Transportation News caught up with Wyskiel


shortly after he started on Feb. 17 to discuss the com- pany’s evolution as it prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2027, the same year the industry is poised to meet the latest federal emissions standards that were still under review by the new Trump administration EPA. Editor’s note—Wyskiel declined to comment on tariff


impacts, referring instead to a previous statement made by Horlock in January that Blue Bird would pass along any additional manufacturing costs to customers.


STN: How has Blue Bird changed since you were last


part of the company 20 years ago? Wyskiel: Of course, the company is publicly traded


today, and it has been successful financially. However, at its core, the DNA of this century-old American company has not changed. There is a strong sense of pride within Blue Bird reflecting a company culture that deeply cares about people. The talent within the company has continued to expand over the years in all functional areas. Operationally, you can see a much greater focus on metrics and key performance indicators, which has enabled Blue Bird to become very focused and to make


24 School Transportation News • MAY 2025


data-based decisions. From a product perspective, our rich history of innovations [are] on full display, particu- larly around alternative powertrain offerings. All of these developments have turned Blue Bird into a high-perfor- mance business and strengthened its iconic brand.


STN: How would you describe your leadership style?


What is your strategic vision for Blue Bird? Wyskiel: I am a pretty engaged operator, and I be-


lieve people work best in an environment which fosters empowerment and accountability. Plus, when there is an issue, there is no substitute for “go see.” Whether it’s on the shop floor, at a dealer or at a customer, there is no substitution. I have returned to Blue Bird after a 20-year hiatus only a few weeks ago [at interview time]. There- fore, it’s a little early to talk strategy in specifics just yet. But I think the theme will be to shift to a long-term view for our customers, dealers, team members and investors. This means investing in facilities, our products and ex- panding into adjacent markets where we can. This great company has been around for almost 100 years, and my objective is to set it up for success for decades to come.


STN: Blue Bird currently offers more fuel choices than


any other school bus manufacturer. Why is this import- ant especially in the current political environment? Wyskiel: Blue Bird offers the widest powertrain port-


folio in the markets—diesel, gasoline, propane and, of course, electric. We believe there is no one answer for customers. They want choice for their districts. A broad product portfolio allows them to tailor the value prop- osition to their specific needs. It could be total cost of operation, overall durability, ease of refueling, or the advantages of zero emissions. And if you look at the current political environment, it is just a benefit to have the widest offering as we cover every area in the market regardless of where legislation ends up. Blue Bird un- doubtedly has the broadest offering, our success in the marketplace validates our strategy. Moving forward, I do hope to see a more predictable


regulatory environment for our industry. Manufacturers need to plan years in advance and commit to product development and investment. So, directional stability is not simply helpful, it is essential. I think the move to zero emissions will continue to advance longer term, it just


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