WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Frank M. Henry, chairman emeritus of the Martz Group, one of the nation’s oldest motorcoach companies, and a founding member of the Trailways system, will be presented the 2017 Wilkes University President’s Medal in June.
Henry, who was president of Martz Group for more than 30 years, ending in 1996, is being honored for his “extraordinary commitment and service to Wilkes University.”
Martz is a 110-year-old motorcoach operator, based in Wilkes-Barre, of which Henry was the third-generation family member to head. Wilkes University has fewer than 2,500 undergraduates, studying professional and liberal arts programs in six different schools.
The award will be presented June 3 at the university’s premier annual event, the Founders Gala.
CANTON, Mass. — Derek Hydon is the new chairman of the board of Tourism Cares, the philanthropic community of the travel industry.
“I am humbled to lead our talented board of directors,” Hydon said. “Tourism Cares has such an important role to play uniting us all to protect the heart of travel.”
Hydon served as the vice chair of Tourism Cares from 2013 to 2016 and has been actively involved with the organization since 2003. He is the president of MaCher, a certified B Corporation, based in Los Angeles.
Other newly elected officers of Tourism Cares are:
- Vice Chairs: Greg Takehara, senior vice president of business development and industry relations at Trip Mate, and Carolyn Cauceglia, vice president of strategic sales and account management at Amadeus
- Secretary: Martha Troncoza, vice president of air operations for Viking Cruises
- Treasurer: Jessica Patel,
Tourism Cares thanks outgoing Chairman Brad Finkle for his leadership and continued support of the organization. Finkle is the president of Trip Mate and has served on the board for nine years, remaining as immediate past chairman.
SAINTE-CLAIRE, Quebec — Jean Dupont has been appointed director of pre-owned coach sales at Prevost.
Dupont has worked in the bus industry for over 25 years, most notably as the third-generation owner and general manager of one of the oldest service centers for motorcoaches and motorcoach operators in the province of Quebec, autobus Dupont, founded in 1936.
In 1997, Dupont founded a company called Dupont Industries, known also as Dupontrolley. The company built trolley replica buses that were primarily sold to American municipalities (63 trolleys in 13 different states) and also completed major refurbishment of transit buses for municipalities across Canada.
His vast experience and strong focus on sales and business development across North America will be an asset as Prevost seeks to further develop its pre-owned business division. In his new role, Dupont will lead a team of dedicated regional sales managers with a keen understanding of the specific needs of their customers.
DES PLAINES, Ill. — Patrick Laffan has joined Motor Coach Industries as vice president new coach sales for the Northeast region of the U.S.
Laffan is succeeding Darril King, who will retire from MCI on May 1 after a 52-year career in the industry.
Laffan will continue to build MCI’s strong presence in New York State and New England, representing the best-selling MCI J4500 and D-Series along with Daimler-built Setra models.
He will also work in tandem with MCI’s Technical Solutions Manager, providing MCI training opportunities and service expertise to private sector operators in the region.
