Featured Speakers

Charles Kriete

Charles Kriete

CEO Talk: Unlocking the magic of modern transportation tech

Sunday, July 13

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
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.  
Jon Petz

Jon Petz

Significance...In simple moments

Monday, July 14

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
Meet Jon

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

Jim Schiffler

How to Identify Emerging Leaders

Tuesday, July 15

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
Jim was born into the school bus industry.  His father Alphonse was asked to purchase a school bus when the Albany (MN) schools consolidated in the 1950’s before Jim was born.  He drove his first route on his high school graduation day in 1977.   He is the retired past president of North Central Bus & Eq, St Cloud MN, a Blue Bird dealer, St Cloud Industrial Products, Monumental Sales and Parts Midwest.   During his career he launched a student transportation company, Sunburst Transit in Minneapolis MN.  There he had the opportunity to: bid contracts, train drivers, drive and shovel snow until 2:00 AM so the buses were ready of route a 6:00AM.  

2025 Conference Speakers & Trainers

As of 6/21/25. Subject to change.

Kathy Anneken, CPST
VP of Sales
Easy Way Safety Systems in Minnesota

Anthony Ashley
Senior Director Fleet Operations 
Atlanta Public School in Georgia 

Pete Baxter
Retired State Director, Office of Transportation
Indiana Department of Education

Brad Beauchamp
Alternative Fuels Manager – West
Blue Bird in Georgia

Craig Beaver
Administrator for Transportation
Beaverton School District in Oregon

Matthew Belasco
Director of Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation
Pittsburg Unified School District in California

Derek Bryant
Manager, Medium/Heavy Vehicle Test Development
National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence in Virginia

Miles Cole
CEO
CI Solutions

Tony Corpin
President & Publisher
School Transportation News

Jim Crowcroft
North American Dealer Sales & Service Manager
Thomas Built Buses in North Carolina

Denise Donaldson, CPST
Editor & Publisher
Safe Ride News in Washington

Quanika Dukes-Spruill
Executive Director, Transportation Services
Newark Board of Education in New Jersey

Taylor Ekbatani
Senior Editor
School Transportation 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 in Colorado

Teresa Fleming
Chief Operating Officer/Executive Director of Student Transportation Services
The School District of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania

Frank Girardot
Leading innovative PR, marketing, and government relations
RIDE in California

Ryan Gray
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

Billy Huish
Director of Transportation
Farmington Municipal Schools in New Mexico

Francisco Lagunas
General Manager – North American Bus
Cummins in Indiana

Jannet Malig
Co-Director
Long Beach Clean Cities in California

Miriam Manary
Lead Research Engineer
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Pamela McDonald
Director of Transportation (Retired}
Consultant

Lawson Mollica
Consultant
Long Beach Clean Cities in California

Harley Pinson
Director of Fleet Maintenance
Paulding County School District in Georgia

Nicole Portee
Associate Superintendent of Operations
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina

Timothy Purvis
Principal Consultant
Pupil Transportation Information, LLC

Darren Reaume
Director of Training
Q’Straint / Sure-Lok

 

Alexandra Robinson
President
A. Robinson Consulting

Ariel Rodriguez
Fleet Manager
Humble ISD in Texas

David Roper
Automotive Instructor
Long Beach Clean Cities in California

Albert Samora
Executive Director of Transportation
Denver Public Schools in Colorado

Gaurav Sharda
Chief Technology Officer
Beacon Mobility in North Carolina

Anthony Shields
Director of Transportation
San Marcos Consolidated ISD in Texas

Kerry Somerville
CEO
Transportation Planning Solutions in Arizona

Robert Stafford
Research Associate
World Resources Institute in California

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 in Florida

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/SafeGuard

Ronna Weber
Executive Director
National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services in Virginia

Diane Wilson
School Bus Safety Training Specialist
ESC Region 6 in Texas