The Bus Stop

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn is joined by Tim DeFoor, Auditor General of Pennsylvania. Tim recaps his background and his appearance at the 2023 NSTA Annual Meeting and Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. The duo outlines the transformation of the Auditor General's Office, specifically the evolution of school audits. Tim highlights his recent initiative taking hi...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn is joined by Bill Loshbough, Execuwest Consultants, Safety Competition Chair. Bill and Curt discuss the upcoming 2024 International School Bus Driver Safety Competition, which will be held from June 29-30, 2024 at Hays CISD in Austin, TX.  Bill recounts the history and evolution of the Competition. The duo then discussed the benefit...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn is joined by John Benish, Jr, COO, Cook-Illinois Corporation and Jenna Higgins Rose, Bio Fuels Project Leader. John and Jenna join the podcast to discuss Biodiesel and its benefits. They discuss the difference between other alternative fuels such as propane and natural gas. John outlines how Biodiesel has become a valuable part of h...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - A special edition as Executive Director Curt Macysyn is joined by Kevin Bangston, President & CEO, of longtime NSTA Partner, Thomas Built Buses. Kevin outlines his background and years of experience in the industry. Kevin and Curt discuss the longstanding partnership between NSTA and Thomas Built Buses. The duo highlights the school bus industry leading the wa...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn is joined by Tony Civitella, President and CEO, Transfinder, an NSTA Vendor Partner. Tony highlights Tranfinder's Top Transportation Team Award. Tony outlines the importance of recognizing transportation teams for the important work they do. The duo discuss how to participate and how winners will be recognized. Lastly, Tony tal...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn is joined by Linda Neff, Executive Director - School Transportation, Keystone Insurers Group, an NSTA Royalty Partner. Linda provides an overview of the current insurance market. The duo delve into the difference between soft and hard markets.  Linda outlines the evolution of the insurance market over the past twenty year.  Lastly,...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn is joined by Frank Girardot, Senior Director of Communications at  BYD | RIDE. Curt and Frank highlight the recent NSTA visit to BYD | RIDE Headquarters in Pasadena, CA. The duo outline the trip and discuss the successful partnership between BYD | RIDE and the Union at their Lancaster, CA manufacturing facility. Frank discusses the...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn is joined by Alec Petrillo, Director of Advocacy and Membership Engagement. Curt and Alec highlight the upcoming 2024 NSTA Annual Meeting and Convention in Nashville, TN from July 21-24, 2024. The due discuss some of the evening events at the Conference such as the Welcome Reception at the Johnny Cash Museum and the President's...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn Josh Blackmun, President of Eagle Wireless, an NSTA Vendor Partner. The duo delve into the Eagle Wireless safety management system for Krapf School Bus. Josh outlines strategies to improve safety and reduce loss runs. Curt and Josh discuss how "gamifying" driver behavior to improve safety habits.   Become a subscriber and...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Martin Staples, CEO of Transportant, an NSTA Vendor Partner Member. Martin delves into his background and what led him to Transportant. Martin outlines the current supply chain situation and its roots from the Covid-19 pandemic and current bottle necks. Martin and Curt outline some best practices for supply chain manageme...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn wraps up the Celebration of Women's Month with Carina Noble, Senior Vice President of Communications and External Affairs, National Express, and Immediate Past President of NSTA. Carina highlights John Elliott, Sr. and the impact he had her career and her personally. Carina and Curt outline how the value of NSTA and the importa...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn continues the celebration of Women's History Month as he interviews Shelly Hall, SVP of Health and Safety, Student Transportation of America. Shelly outlines her background and journey into the yellow bus industry. She recounts winning the NSTA Golden Merit Award this past summer at the 2023 NSTA Annual Meeting and Convention i...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn continues the celebration of Women's History Month by interviewing Jenna Van Harpen, Executive Director, Blue Bird. Jenna outlines her background in the industry and what led her back to school transportation after a time in the transit industry. Jenna highlights a woman that impacted her early in her career in school tran...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn kicks off the celebration of Women's History Month as he interviews Katie Stok, Segment Marketing Director from IC Bus. Katie outlines her journey in the industry and what led her to IC Bus. Katie highlights the Women in Navistar group and the impact that it has had on the company through its educational offerings. She then off...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop -  NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Spencer Schiefelbein, Director, Channel Development at REI, a longtime NSTA Vendor Partner. Curt and Spencer delve into the impact of AI on the industry. The duo discuss the importance of having good data to work with when using AI. Spencer outlines the early impacts of AI in the industry and discusses how it could...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Executive Director is joined James Davis, Assistant Vice President - Passenger Transportation, National Interstate Insurance, an NSTA Vendor Partner. James provides insight on the current insurance landscape. The duo discuss strategies Contractor's can use to mitigate costs. James outlines some effective strategies Contractor's have employed to miti...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Executive Director is joined Doug Campbell, National OEM Account Manager, School Bus and Co-Chair of the Safety Competition Committee. Doug and Curt cover the exciting news regarding the return of the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition. The Competition will be held from June 29-30, 2024 at Hays CISD in Austin, TX. The duo give some early detai...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews  Dan Kobussen, Owner of Kobussen Buses, and NSTA President.  The duo recap the recent 2024 NSTA Midwinter Meeting, which took place at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour in Florida. The duo highlights the NSTA 60th Anniversary Luncheon and discuss the value of NSTA. Dan talks about the monthly NSTA Advocacy in Action Artic...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - TNSTA Executive Director is joined Dennis Roche, Co-Founder of Burbio a data tracking service. Dennis and Curt discuss trends in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER), and how schools across the nation are spending . The duo discuss how Burbio has pivoted from tracking Covid-19 policies to different data points. Lastly, Dennis and Curt dis...

A special episode as NSTA: The Bus Stop   is Live from the Marriott Sanibel Harbout Resort & Spa - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Tony Civitella, President and CEO of Transfinder, an NSTA Vendor Partner. Tony recaps the panel "Practice Makes Perfect: Successful Technology Deployment Happens Before Back-to-School". Tony and Curt discuss the importance of  what contractors...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Maritza Valentin, Contract/Account Manager, AMF Bruns, an NSTA Vendor Partner. The duo discuss the importance of training in Special Needs Transportation. Maritza emphasizes the importance of parental engagement in special needs transportation. The duo outline. Martiza will be participating in the upcoming session "...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop -  NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Sandi Steelhammer, NSTA Grants Administrator with RC Kelly Law Associates, NSTA Counsel . Sandi and Curt outline the most recent awards from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program. The duo outline the next steps Contractors should take if they were awarded funding. Sandi and Curt t...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Rik Roberts, Comedian and Keynote Speaker for the 2024 NSTA Midwinter Meeting. Rik outlines how he started in comedy. The duo discuss some of Rik's favorite memories throughout his time in the industry. Rik and Curt highlight some of their favorite comedians. Lastly, Rik provides a preview of his Keynote Session and...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - The second annual #AskCurt Special, NSTA Executive Director is joined by NSTA Director of Advocacy and Membership Engagement, Alec Petrillo, as he answers listener submitted questions. Topics range from the origins of the yellow school bus, to the Under the Hood Exemption, to this weekends College Football Playoff.  Become a subscriber and listen to a new episode...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Maggie Clancy, Executive Vice President Business Development – Fleet, and Walter Watson, Executive Vice President Partnerships and Operations,  with Zenobe, an NSTA Vendor Partner. Maggie and Walter discuss their backgrounds and what led them both to Zenobe. The trio highlight how Zenobe's experience throughout the w...