OVERLAND PARK, Kan. All Aboard America! of Mesa, Ariz., has been named International Motor Coach Group Operator of the Year for 2006.

John Croswell, outgoing IMG chairman, presented the award to Jack D. Wigley, president of All Aboard America!, at the annual IMG Strategic Alliance Meeting aboard the Carnival Victory cruise ship.

All Aboard America! was honored for its industry leadership, excellent customer service, comprehensive driver training program, and sound business practices.

"All Board America! exemplifies true professionalism in providing transportation solutions to its customer base whether it is motorcoach transportation, tour planning or line-run service," said IMG President Steve Klika.

"The ownership and staff have a taken a leadership role in IMG and have placed high standards on service and operations. We are honored to have them as members of our organization and are thrilled to name them Operator of the Year," Klika added.

Established 70 years ago, the company initially provided transportation for potash miners in southeast New Mexico. The second generation of owners and managers expanded the company into West Texas and Arizona, but it continued to focus on providing service to industrial plants and facilities.

In 1979, Jack D. Wigley joined the company full time after graduating from the University of New Mexico. As he assumed a leadership role, he opened charter operations in Midland/Odessa and El Paso, Texas. In 1989, the company purchased Marshall Motorcoach in Arizona.

In 1991, the company expanded existing services to include prepackaged tours with the acquisition of a tour operation. It also began offering casino service and created line runs to resort properties.

Five years ago, All Aboard America! partnered with the state of New Mexico to provide park-and-ride shuttles between Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Las Vegas. Today, eight communities are serviced by 24 coaches.

In recent years, Wigley has taken a leadership role, along with IMG, in forming the Global Passenger Network, a new alliance designed to create business opportunities.

All Aboard America! has locations in Mesa, Santa Fe, Odessa/Midland and El Paso. It also services Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Los Angeles. Its fleet consists of more than 80 small- and midsize buses and motorcoaches.