Featured Speakers
Charles Kriete
CEO Talk: Future Technology Trends
As CEO of Zonar and GPS Trackit, Charles focuses on delivering innovative fleet, video, and field services solutions, while enhancing customer satisfaction, and driving strategic growth initiatives. With extensive experience in IoT, SaaS, and fleet telematics, he specializes in scaling high-growth organizations and leveraging technology to create value for customers and partners. Prior to the Zonar and GPS Trackit merger, Charles served as CEO of GPS Trackit, where he spearheaded transformative growth, expanded global operations, and strengthened the company’s position as a leader in fleet management solutions. Previously, he held CEO and other C-Suite roles at multiple private equity backed companies and large public companies as well, leading global sales, marketing, operations, and product strategies across diverse technology markets. Charles studied physics and math at Lake Forest College, prior to receiving an MBA from the University of East London and a CEO College Certificate from the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute. He has been recognized as a CRN Top 100 Channel Executive and a 40 Under 40 business leader.
Biography
Jon Petz
Significance...In simple moments
Transform team moments from boring to BOOM!
Organizations today want teams who are engaged, passionate, and purposeful in their work. They’re hungry for the how-to’s that can help everyone from the person answering the phone to the one in the corner office, understand their significance and treat every opportunity and relationship for the main event that it is rather than the dress rehearsal it is not. Yet, we often don’t realize that successful relationships are not a ‘thing’ we conquer; they are a series of significant moments – that matter. However, we must understand that significance is not something we can personally create, as significance is never achieved, it is gifted to you. Learn the foundational model of achieving significance in this inspiring, impactful and entertaining four part workshop.
What you will learn:
- How to identify, deliver, and appreciate the simple moments that are the foundational building blocks to achieving significance.
- Personal branding and impact.
- Focus versus perspective.
- Don’t dismiss simple solutions.
Biography
As the world’s only Amazement Artist™, Jon Petz empowers his audiences to experience the true sense of amazement and then takes them backstage to discover how they can create those “Moments of Amazement” in their culture, sales, service and relationships to create more value in who they are what they do.
Jon is a former sales executive and ,as a remarkable addition, a professional magician who has captivated audiences globally. This one-of-a-kind blend of expertise provides insightful, practical solutions to real-world professional challenges and opportunities through masterful storytelling, engagement, and entertainment with a WOW factor that is uniquely and unequivocally the Jon Petz Experience.
Far more than “JUST” a motivational speaker or conference emcee, he is the perfected trifecta of strategy, mindset and inspiration that that leaves each audience cheering . . . “Do It Again!”
Far more than “JUST” a motivational speaker or conference emcee, he is the perfected trifecta of strategy, mindset and inspiration that that leaves each audience cheering . . . “Do It Again!” In 2004, Jon realized he had more people to help and left his executive, corner office to form the Bore No More Idea Lab. As an opening keynote speaker and conference emcee, he has presented at over 1,600 events, to more than 1,000,000 audience members, in over 200 industries worldwide.
As a two-time best-selling author, Jon’s dedication to sparking amazement and adding unparalleled value has been lauded by major media outlets, including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, ABC News, and Success Magazine. His mission continues to inspire and transform, making individuals and teams even more valuable.
Jim Schiffler
How to Identify Emerging Leaders
Jim is the retired president of North Central Bus & Equipment (Blue Bird dealer in MN & SD) and Sunburst Transit (student transportation contractor). He is a champion of organizational culture, having created an atmosphere where individuals feel safe, respected, valued and know, “they are making a difference”. His new book, “Stepping Up: from valued employee to supervisor” is making a difference in the lives of aspiring leaders who are listening to their inner voice saying, “I’m not good enough” and are afraid to step up into a supervisory role. He will help you identify and qualify your next generation of leaders.
Biography
2025 Conference Speakers & Trainers
VP of Sales
Easy Way Safety Systems
Brad Beauchamp
Alternative Fuels Manager – West
Blue Bird
Craig Beaver
Administrator for Transportation
Beaverton School District in Oregon
Pete Baxter
Retired State Director, Office of Transportation
Indiana Department of Education</span
Derek Bryant
Manager, Medium/Heavy Vehicle Test Development
National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
Albert Burleigh
Vice President of North American Sales
Blue Bird
Tony Corpin
Publisher
School Transportation News
Jim Crowcroft
North American Dealer Sales & Service Manager
Thomas Built Buses
Denise Donaldson, CPST
Editor & Publisher
Safe Ride News
Chris Ellison
Transportation Director
Reynolds School District in Oregon
Alan Fidler
Fleet Manager
Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indiana
Richard Fischer
CEO
Trans-Consult
Teresa Fleming
Chief Operating Officer/Executive Director of Student Transportation Services
The School District of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania
Editor in Chief
School Transportation News
Paul Hasenmeier
Public Safety Director & Fire Chief
Hernando County Fire Rescue in Florida
Kala Henkensiefken
Special Education Transportation Manager
ISD31 Bemidji Area Schools in Minnesota
Francisco Lagunas
General Manager – North American Bus
Cummins
Jannet Malig
Long Beach (California) Clean Cities
Miriam Manary
Lead Research Engineer
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
Lawson Mollica
Long Beach (California) Clean Cities
David Murphy
Account Manager
HSM Transportation
Timothy Purvis
Principal Consultant
Pupil Transportation Information, LLC
Harley Pinson
Director of Fleet Maintenance
Paulding County School District in Georgia
Darren Reaume
Director of Training
Q’Straint / Sure-Lok
Alexandra Robinson
President
A. Robinson Consulting
Ariel Rodriguez
Fleet Manager
Humble ISD in Texas
Albert Samora
Executive Director of Transportation
Denver Public Schools in Colorado
Director of Transportation
San Marcos Consolidated ISD in Texas
Kayne Smith
Director of Transportation
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in Texas
Kerry Somerville
CEO
Transportation Planning Solutions
Katie Stok
Segment Marketing Director
IC Bus
Michele Troute
President
Ralph W. Troute Consulting
Ralph Troute
Chief Engineer
Ralph W. Troute Consulting
Maritza Valentin
Contract/National Account Manager
AMF-Bruns America
Rosalyn Vann-Jackson
Executive Director of Enrollment & Student Services
Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma
Charlie Vits, CPST
Market Development Manager/Regulatory Affairs Manager
IMMI/SafeGaurd
Ronna Weber
Executive Director
National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services
Stephen Whaley
Alternative Fuels Manager – East
Blue Bird
Bobby Williams
Assistant Director, Fleet Services
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in Texas
Diane Wilson
School Bus Safety Training Specialist
ESC Region 6 in Texas