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ABC Companies President and Chief Commercial Officer Roman Cornell
Faribault, Minn.—ABC Companies CEO Dane Cornell announced that Charles “Chuck” Carns will be joining the ABC Team as CFO effective March 1st, 2019. Carns joins ABC following 23 years as the CE of Mears Transportation Group and Hello Destination Management.
“Chuck’s success has been the result of managing multiple acquisitions and business start‐ups, in addition to his day to day responsibilities as CEO of Mears transportation. Chuck brings additional knowledge that will align with our growth and further improve customer service,” stated Dane.
Carns commented on his recent appointment, stating, “I am grateful to the Mears organization and the many talented people I have worked with and for over the years. Now I am looking forward to the next chapter of my career and being able to bring my experience to an organization with the level of customer service that ABC provides.”
This appointment coincides with Roman Cornell being named President and Chief Commercial Officer of ABC Companies.
ABC Companies CFO Chuck Carns
“As we continue to grow and expand into new markets, we are building an experience base across several key positions within our organization. These changes to our senior leadership ensure ABC has the breadth of experience and proven results to lead our success into the future,” stated Roman.
“Ongoing succession planning across ABC Companies ensures continuity of service to customers and our employees,” added Dane.
Other members of the Cornell family continue to hold key roles within the organization as well. Vice President ‐ Strategic Accounts Ashley Cornell continues to be responsible for several key customers in the West and Northwest, including rapidly growing employee shuttle programs. Also, Ryhan Cornell is an account manager in the Southeast Region, overseeing several key accounts and ensuring quality customer service.
“These leadership changes, along with the active role of several Cornell family members, ensures that our growth will never be at the expense of the core values instilled in us by my father, Clarence ‘Clancy’ Cornell. Making our customers successful, makes ABC successful, and I look forward to what our senior management team will bring to the future,” concluded Dane.
Visit abc‐companies.com for more information.
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L to R: Arrow Stage Lines COO Luke Busskohl, MCI Vice President of New Coach Sales Patricia Ziska, and Arrow Stage Lines Director of Corporate Operations and Marketing Specialist Alex Busskohl
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is pleased to announce that charter coach operator Arrow Stage Lines was recognized for its green operating practices by being given the 2019 United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Environmental Leadership Award. Sponsored by MCI, the honor was presented to Arrow during the UMA Expo on January 8, 2019, at the Broward County Convention Center .
The peer-judged award recognized Norfolk, Neb.-based Arrow for a sustainability philosophy that begins with a strict maintenance schedule for its fleet of 236 motorcoaches, supported by an idle-free education program that rewards drivers. Its fleet of mostly newer model coaches with advance engine technology also advances fuel saving and lower emission goals.
Arrow’s green practices extend throughout its business. It became the first motorcoach operator to adopt a digital signature for all customer agreements on its path to a paperless office. At the same time, Arrow’s software designers are developing an app to make all administrative functions digital and accessible on mobile phones and laptop computers.
“IT is creating coding to have our booking, accounting, and electronic logging device (ELD) systems work through our own app,” said Arrow COO Luke Busskohl. Busskohl and his brother Alex, director of corporate operations and marketing specialist, represent Arrow’s fourth generation of family leadership.
Arrow has built an exclusive clientele, including tour companies and NFL, NBA, NCAA, and Major League Baseball franchises. The company also operates a luxury entertainment coach division that leases to top entertainment companies, including concert tours by Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Jason Derulo, Luke Bryan, and more.
In all of its operating regions, Arrow maintenance teams use environmentally safe oil change (ESOC) machines and coolant recovery machines to safely drain and dispose of those fluids. They also gather scrap medal including copper and aluminum, which regularly are separated and recycled.
To make all this work, training is critical. For the past three years, Arrow has partnered with the University of Vermont (UVM) Certification for Sustainable Transportation Program to help all drivers and technicians earn e-Rating driving certificates. Additionally, Arrow’s drivers are required to take a new course every quarter through the MCI Academy Learning Management System (LMS) that offers more than 450 courses online and available 24/7.
Finally, all Arrow Stage coaches are set with a maximum speed of 68 miles per hour and run on verified low-rolling resistance tires with pressure monitors to deliver even greater fuel savings and emissions reductions. Arrow is also considering adding a solar-powered auxiliary power unit (APU) to each coach’s HVAC system to heat and cool interiors without running the engine.
“We use an ‘ownership thinking’ rewards program that offers incentives to employees if they meet certain goals,” said Busskohl. “In 2018, our goal was to reduce idle time. With our investment in driver and staff education along with an initiative to limit idling in our yards and lots during pre-trip inspections, we showed a 25 percent decrease in idling for the year.”
Alex Busskohl adds, “We’re very honored to receive this award because we realize that green practices are not only good for the environment, but for the bottom line. Everything counts in our opinion. Our clients and passengers appreciate the reliability of our coaches and we consider green practices an important part of our marketing plan.”
MCI Vice President of New Coach Sales Patricia Ziska says Arrow Stages’ unified program of green practices in driving, mechanical upkeep, recycling programs, and office operations is helping set new standards in the motorcoach industry.
“We’re proud to present this award to Arrow Stage Lines because they’re innovators in their business and green policies drive everything they do with the full participation of employees and staff. They set a very high standard.”
Visit arrowstagelines.com or mcicoach.com for more information.
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Deem CEO John Rizzo
St. Louis—Enterprise Holdings today announced its intent to acquire San Francisco-based Deem, a managed-travel technology platform that includes Deem Work Fource and Deem Ground Work. This suite of online booking and travel technology products is geared for business travelers, travel managers, travel-management companies, and suppliers.
More than 50,000 corporate customers and the world’s largest travel-management companies already use Deem’s travel and ground transportation software. Upon final acquisition, this transaction would provide Deem with an infusion of capital and resources to help further expand its product roadmap and increase the pace of product development and enhancements.
"Deem’s combination of intellectual property and tech talent represents a significant opportunity for Enterprise Holdings to further enhance and expand our portfolio of services," said Enterprise Holdings Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Greg Stubblefield.
Enterprise Holdings, which owns the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands, is the world’s largest car rental company, serves more than 95 percent of the worldwide car rental market, and has been a minority investor in Deem since 2016.
Enterprise Holdings Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Greg Stubblefield
Enterprise and Deem have been working together to bring travel and ground transportation solutions to customers. Since 2011, Deem has provided the technology behind Enterprise Holdings’ EHIDirect travel booking platform for small and medium-sized corporations. Most recently, Enterprise and Deem partnered together to offer National Car and Driver in China through the National Car Rental brand.
Through Work Fource, Deem provides access to innovative travel technology that makes the corporate travel booking and travel experience more efficient for travelers, corporations and their travel agency partners. Additionally, Deem’s Ground Work platform provides a suite of online tools for booking pre-reserved ground transport for corporations and travel management companies.
The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019 after satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Deem will continue to operate autonomously from its Silicon Valley headquarters and offer its suite of business travel technology including air and hotel as well as ground transportation options across major rental car, black car, ride-hailing and rail service providers. John Rizzo will remain in his role as CEO, as will the rest of the Deem executive team.
“We know the industry wants travel management solutions that transform the traveler experience, while lowering corporations’ costs,” said Rizzo. "We will continue that mission to provide travelers with a streamlined platform that predicts what they want and need, and that works tirelessly for them in the background.”
Deem Chairman Krish Panu and managing partner of Deem investor, PointGuard Ventures, added, “It has been a privilege to have co-invested with Enterprise Holdings in Deem. With Enterprise’s capital and scale, Deem can expand its team and resources to drive its pace of innovation at a much faster rate.”
Enterprise Holdings is owned by the Taylor family of St. Louis and, as a privately held business, will not disclose financial terms of the Deem acquisition. However, Enterprise Holdings’ acquisition and corporate venture-capital strategy continues to focus on technologies and business models that not only can accelerate industry-leading transportation solutions, but also customer satisfaction in a rapidly changing marketplace.
Visit workfource.deem.com for more information.
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