NYAPT TALKS

In Episode #37, I'm joined by Jamie Reinke, Transportation Director at Freeport Public Schools on Long Island. Jamie is the local expert on the McKinney-Vento Act and gives us as quick overview of the requirements, and responsibilities for meeting the demand for providing services. This is a must listen!

Ep 36 with Matt Pernat, Transportation Director at the Cooperstown CSD, covers many topics including Driver Shortage, EV Bus, NYS DOT and more. Listen in for a great conversation! 

In episode 35, I'm joined by Antonio Civitella, President and CEO at Transfinder, and NYAPT Executive Director Dave Christopher. Tony shares a little about the background of his company, the leadership necessary to grow the company and ensure success in ther market place, and their offerings - past, present and future!

Ep 34 is the final release from the Summer 2025 Conference series. I'm joined in this episode by Maurita Colemen-Simpson from the Half Hollow Hills School District in Dix Hills NY. Maurita is relatively new to the industry, and she's a shining star for sure!! 

I'm joined in episode 33 by Arron Morrow. Aaron is the Sales Manager for Matthews Buses. Matthews is a huge supporter of NYAPT, and Aaron shares a little about whats new at Matthews Buses and their partnerships with NYAPT!

In Ep 32 I'm joined by Ed Biel from the Chittenango CSD. Ed is a first time NYAPT Summer Conference attendee and a Driver Trainer. Ed shares how he landed in pupil transportation, how he progressed to where he is and his aspirations to be a Director of Transportation. 

Join me as I catch up with Brian Trask from the Unatego CSD. Brian is very active in his chapter as well as the state association. He shares what's new in his district as his duties shift a little there, and we chat about his role in NYAPT, where he serves as Chair of the Technology Committee and Treasurer for our state assosication

Ep. 30 includes NYAPT President Marc Medina and NYAPT Executive Director Dave Christopher. Our conversation includes continued driver shortage issues, NYAPT Legislative priorities for the upcoming year, reflections on the July NYAPT Summer Conference, and we wrap up with back to school messages. 

I'm joined by Pat Elwell from the Naples CSD on Ep 29 from the NYAPT Summer Conference. Pat and I discuss my driving for him the end the school year to help out due to driver shortage, some technology he's deployed at his district, and a little about his electric bus experiences. 

In Ep 28 I'm joined by Bob Corey and Jason Markel to hear about their unique roles at the Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES. 

In Ep 27 I'm joined by John Spatch and Kristen Secru from the far southwestern area NY state. Thery over see 5 school districts between the two of them! Great conversation with two dynamic leaders setting the course for things to come in rural NYS Pupil Transportation!

In Ep 26 I'm joined by Dan Proctor at the summer conference in Saratoga Springs. Dan is a "School Bus Driver Trainer" for the Genesee Valley BOCES, but he does way more than train school bus drivers. Dan shares an overview of the services he provides to a wide range of school districts in rural western NY! 

I'm joined by Dave Richardson at the NYAPT Summer Conference in Saratoga Springs. Dave Richardson is the Executive Director for Student Operations at the Greece CSD. Dave and I discuss the benefits of attending the NYAPT conference, CDL 3rd party testing and the NYAPT Communications Committee taking oversight of the NYAPT Talks Podcast.

Enjoy Ep #24 with Chris Nichols! Chris and I discuss his path from a Mechanic to the Assistant Director of Transportation, and the NY Head Mechanics Association. The Head Mechanics Association hosts a training day each year in Syracuse and Chris shares a little about that event. We also chat about fuel storage and Zero Emissions buses. 

In episode 23, I visit Matt Schultz at the Hilton CSD transportation department in Hilton NY. Matt is the Director of Transportation at the Hilton CSD and was an early adopter of Stop-Arm Cameras in the Rochester NY area. Matt and I recorded an episode last year to hear about getting the program up and running in the Hilton School District. Now, one year later, I circle back to review the program...

For episode 22, I travel to Greece NY to chat with Dave Richardson. Dave is the Director of Transportation for Greece CSD and took steps to address driver shortage through service changes. I followed the process in Greece as they developed transportation policy changes as a result of recommendations from a consulting firm. The changes were implemented for the 24-25 school year, and Dave shares the...

In Ep 21 we talk with Pat Elwell, Transportation Supervisor and Head Mechanic with the Naples CSD. Pat has recently deployed a couple of EV buses in his distrcit, and he shares that story. But Pat also shares his interesting story of how he ended up in the school district. Listen along and I'm sure you'll find it's time well spent!

In this episode Dave shares information about the Winter Workshop, Summer Conference, NYS Budget, the NYAPT Legislative Committee, the upcoming Operation Safe Stop, and NAPT policy statements. We cover a lot of ground in under an hour - hope you enjoy  and stay safe out there!

In this episode we are joined by John Havrilla, Director of Alternative Fuels for Wendel Associates, which supports NYAPT as an Industry Member! John is a tremendous source of knowledge on alternative fuels in transportation. John offers us his perspectives and advice on navigating the transistion to zero emissions. We discuss indoor charging concerns, Inductive Charging, Hydrogen and CNG fuels an...

In this episode I'm joined by Marc Medina, our new NYAPT President, and Executive Director Dave Christopher. We hear about Marc's goals as he kicks off his presidency. We also discuss the new NYAPT App for a member communication forum, re-cap EV bus listening sessions recently held, and recommendations from the NTSB Report HIR-22-06 on a Tennessee bus crash from back in October of 2020. We wrap it...

In this episode I'm joined by Executive Director of NYAPT, Dave Christopher. Dave shares an overview of the Annual Summer Conference and Trade Show!

In part 4 of Ep 16 I'm joined by two guests. My first conversation is with Terry Gilberti from Bus Patrol to discuss Stop-Arm Cameras, and my second conversation is with Ron Mackey from the Greenwood Lake UFSD. 

In part 3 of Ep. 16 I'm joined by Bob Corey from the Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES. Bob and I chat about the CDL training that his team is offering to component districts. 

In Part 2 of Ep. 16, I'm joined by Kim Trask from Unatego CSD, spouse of Transportation Director Brian Trask. Also on this episode is D'Allah Laffoon from the Waterloo CSD to talk about the Transportation Top Teams Award received by his department and his journey to Transportation Supervisor.

In part 1 of Ep 16 I'm joined by Frank Klein of Suffolk Transportation. Frank and I talk about driver training, 3rd Party CDL Testing and Stop -Arm Cameras.