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Bus manufacturer New Flyer of America recognizes staffers Lindy Norris and Benjamin Wood for being named to Mass Transit Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 list for 2020.
Norris, director of marketing and public affairs, and Wood, plant manager of New Flyer’s world-class Anniston, Ala., facility, were recognized for outstanding innovation, demonstrated leadership, and a commitment to making an impact in transit.
Lindy Norris
“New Flyer is proud to now have six leaders recognized on this prestigious list. Ben and Lindy exemplify our team’s passion to drive innovation in and advancement of North American public transit,” said New Flyer President Chris Stoddart. "With each steering critical elements of New Flyer’s business, Ben and Lindy are making a difference—driving innovation, celebrating diversity, and creating a culture of collaboration within our business, the transportation industry, and across their communities.”
Benjamin Wood
Joining New Flyer in 2017 as director of marketing communications, Norris led media relations and marketing for New Flyer, transforming its brand through the 2017 American Public Transportation Association’s EXPO conference, followed by the launch of New Flyer’s Vehicle Innovation Center (VIC). In her current role, Norris now advocates for technology advancement, workforce development, and investment in sustainable infrastructure for the transportation industry in addition to leading New Flyer’s North American brand strategy.
"It's an honor to be named to Mass Transit’s Top 40 Under 40 and to join other esteemed leaders responsible for defining the new mobility era," said Norris. “With our industry advancing more rapidly than ever before, the opportunity to solve novel challenges alongside social, environmental, and regulatory change is an absolute privilege.”
The company says Wood is an exceptional manufacturing leader who has dedicated the past decade of his career to developing New Flyer’s people, processes, and partnerships. Today, he leads more than 700 people as plant manager of Anniston facility. Pairing his operational expertise with steady and compassionate guidance, he has inspired the Anniston team to achieve the rank of New Flyer’s best performing manufacturing facility over the past year. Together, Wood and the Anniston team have successfully launched advanced zero-emission bus manufacturing processes, enhanced product quality, reduced work-in-process by 85 percent, increased employee retention, and embedded 5S and Lean Manufacturing techniques throughout the plant.
“I am honored to be named to Mass Transit’s Top 40 Under 40 list," said Wood. “Together, our Anniston team works hard to build the industry’s best mobility solutions through innovating buses, technology, and infrastructure, promoting sustainability, and delivering the highest quality products to communities across North America. I am so proud to be part of changing our industry for the better."
Visit newflyer.com for more information.
[8.21.2020]
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The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) announced Sue Spear as its new chair of the Canadian Advisory Board. Spear, a certified travel expert, has been a GBTA member for more than 10 years and a Canadian Advisory Board member for two years. She will serve a two-year term.
GTBA Canadian Advisory Board Chair Sue Spear
Spear serves as manager of corporate travel and fleet for Cengage Learning, an education, and technology company serving higher education, K-12, professional, library, and workforce training markets worldwide. In this role, she oversees a global travel management program encompassing nearly $30 million in annual travel spend; manages all airline, rental car, hotel and card vendor negotiations, and the fleet vehicle program for the company; and oversees the company’s online booking tool. Spear joined Cengage in 2000.
“Sue Spear’s deep experience working across all travel verticals at Cengage will continue to bring tremendous value to our association,” said GBTA Regional Vice President for Canada Nancy Tudorache. “Her impressive industry knowledge, collaborative spirit, and deep understanding of our association make her an outstanding fit as we evolve into the future.”
As chair of the GBTA Canadian Advisory Board, Spear will work with the Canadian Advisory Board volunteers to research for and make recommendations on current issues and initiatives that impact members of GBTA Canada.
“It is an honor to be selected as chair of the Canadian Advisory Board for GBTA,” said Spear. “I have spent many years with this association, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the growth, volunteer engagement, and importance of its advocacy and education work. I look forward to playing an even bigger role in sharing those efforts with our membership.”
As the board begins its next term with a new chair, Tudorache expressed great appreciation for outgoing Chair Sharlene Ketwaroo-Nanoo, who served two consecutive terms in the leadership role. During her terms, Ketwaroo-Nanoo was instrumental in growing the organization’s volunteer base to more than 70 volunteers from across Canada and in developing mentorship programs for travel and hospitality students.
Visit gbta.org/membership-and-communities/chapters-and-regions/canada for more information about GBTA Canada.
[08.21.20]
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It was a full agenda for the United Motorcoach Association’s (UMA’s) weekly Town Hall on August 13. The association holds these member meetings via Zoom each Thursday at 2PM ET.
There wasn’t much to report on the legislative front as both the House and Senate broke for another recess and left the Hill without coming to an agreement on the stimulus/COVID relief package. The fate of an additional round of PPP funding, both the House’s and Senate’s CERTS Act (H.R.7642 and S.4150, respectively), and the RESTART Act (H.R.4321) are still up in the air, although there is strong support for RESTART and more cosponsors are being added to both CERTS. UMA COO Ken Presley once again encouraged members to reach out to their elected officials to support the legislation, although he advised against contacting those who have already signed on to show their support. A full list of bill cosponsors can be found here: H.R.7642 and S.4150.
Presley once again applauded the efforts of members, industry friends, and supporters as more than 83,000 letters had been sent to Congress since the beginning of the pandemic requesting aid for the industry.
Sales Coach Jim Pancero was the guest speaker for this week’s Town Hall. His presentation was dedicated to helping operators find better ways to reach customers and to rethink how they sell as the sales paradigm has once again shifted—an occurrence he notes happens at least once a decade. He recommends stabilizing your company for at least the next 12 months—it’s going to be a slow road back—and identifying the ways that you can remain proactive instead of reactive (or worse, waiting for it to pass over and return to “normal”) in attracting customers. Now is not the time to sit idly by and let sales come to you. The full presentation can be seen here.
Earlier in the week, the association also held the third installment of its Virtual Summit, this time an eight-week checkup focusing on restart. Joe Calhoon, a featured speaker from the first Summit, led a panel of operators from all across the country to share ideas they have implemented and lessons (and tips!) they have learned along the way. The ideas ranged from keeping their best employees engaged as the shutdown lingers to understanding air exchange rates in buses (customers are asking…or will be!) to digital marketing to the best ways to contact legislators and get a response.
Calhoon also shared his advice for staying the course, as pandemic fatigue can sap even the most optimistic operators. He advised the more than 90 participants to keep it simple and to think like they are starting from scratch. Now is the time to really examine the core values of your company. A key takeaway: Think outside the box in everything because travel expectations have changed dramatically in the past six months.
The final leg of the Virtual Summit is scheduled for September 9. The next Town Hall will be held on August 20.
Visit uma.org for more information.
[08.18.20]