Windstar Lines is celebrating a milestone year, with two of its employees achieving top honors in their fields, a testament to the company’s family-oriented culture and dedication to excellence.
Driver Andy Grecian and master technician Juan Velasquez won earlier this year at the UMA Motorcoach EXPO, a rare instance of winners from the company in the same year.
“I’m really humbled and honored to represent my team,” Velasquez said. “They’re so good to us, they really care, and I’m just proud to bring this home and show the industry that we take pride in what we do.”
Grecian won first place in 2024 UMA International Driver Competition. It was Windstar’s first time entering a driver in the competition. Velasquez claimed first place in the 2024 UMA Maintenance Competition.
“It was a great achievement for both of them,” said Todd Hackfort, Windstar’s director of operations. “While we knew they were talented, we were really humbled when it happened. It highlights what our culture stands for – excellence and humility.”
Passengers are ‘like family’
For Grecian, who has been driving for Windstar for six years, this award underscores his passion for his work and commitment to his passengers. He’s built relationships with his regular passengers, many of whom are part of sports teams.
“I drive a lot of sports teams, so I see the same people all the time,” Grecian said. “It’s really rewarding, especially when teams request me as their driver. I drive for the University of Iowa’s swim and dive, soccer, track, and women’s basketball teams, as well as the University of Northern Iowa’s soccer team. They’re like family.”
After Grecian walked away with the top trophy, Hackfort compared him to one of his star passengers.
“After the competition, we joked with Andy, saying he’s our Caitlin Clark — just like she’s the player of the year, he’s our driver of the year,” Hackfort said.
Hackfort said Windstar’s owners foster a close-knit environment where each employee feels valued. The company’s culture promotes the idea that no job is beneath anyone, creating a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.
“The team feels like family, and they treat everyone well. It’s part of what makes it fun to work at Windstar. The company may have grown to over 500 employees, but the family feel is still there because of the dedication of the three brothers who own and run it,” Hackfort said of owners and founders Mike and Cathy Greteman and their sons, Jeff, who is President, and Scott and Pat, who are vice presidents. “They don’t ask us to do anything they wouldn’t do themselves, and that’s contagious.”
Grecian and Valesquez said Windstar’s culture has been instrumental in helping them excel..
“At Windstar, the owners genuinely listen to their employees. If I ever have a question or concern, I know I can reach out, and they’ll respond right away,” Grecian said. “They don’t expect us to do anything they wouldn’t do themselves. If I’m picking up a bus for the basketball team, I might see one of the owners, Pat, in the wash bay, washing it himself because it didn’t get cleaned in time. They’re not afraid to get their hands dirty.”
Windstar operates a fleet of over 200 motorcoaches, primarily Van Hool brand, with a philosophy of being streamlined and efficient.
First Windstar driver in competition
Grecian was selected to be the first company driver to compete in the competition because of his safety record. He has a Samsara safety score of 100 and has driven 50,000 miles – more than double the number of miles the company’s other drivers with perfect safety scores have driven.
“The course was no joke. It was tight, challenging, and they threw a few curveballs our way,” said Grecian, adding he was also driving an unfamiliar MCI coach during the competition, held Feb. 6.
For Grecian, the win was gratifying, but the relationships he’s developed through his work are equally important to him.
“I’m lucky to have great people to drive for, and knowing they appreciate what I do means a lot. Windstar really understands that,” Grecian said.
On the maintenance side, Velasquez’s journey to winning the 2024 UMA Maintenance Competition has been one of resilience and determination. This was his third attempt at the title. He didn’t place the first time, took second place the next time, and finally won this year.
The camaraderie he experienced at the competition, where he saw familiar faces, helped him handle the stress.
“The competition environment is nerve-wracking,” Velasquez said. “You’re shoulder-to-shoulder with champions, but even there, we find ways to support and laugh with each other.”
‘I had to make it work’
Velasquez didn’t grow up with a background in mechanics but discovered his passion for it later in life.
“I didn’t pick up a wrench until I was about 19, working at O’Reilly’s, and then I realized I liked to tinker with things,” he said. “My family was starting, and I knew I had to make it work, so I went into the diesel program. It was one of the best decisions I made. It just happened to be where I found my fit.”
Velasquez believes that hard work and a positive attitude are more important than natural talent.
“It doesn’t matter if you were ‘born to do it’ or not. If you put in the effort, have a great attitude, and really try, you’ll succeed in anything you pursue,” he said.
Velasquez started in the industry at an entry-level position at Lux Bus in San Jose, California, before becoming lead. Moving to Lincoln, Nebraska, to join Windstar meant leaving his home state, but he saw the move as beneficial for his family.
“The Midwest is a lot calmer than California and more affordable, which was important for us,” Velasquez said.
At Windstar, he has risen to become the regional maintenance supervisor, overseeing operations across 13 terminals. His leadership style emphasizes teamwork and hands-on collaboration.
“It’s a culture we’ve built where we roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty together. We don’t just bark orders,” Velasquez said. “We’re primarily a Van Hool-exclusive company, and the support staff at ABC is great. They’re on the phone with us and help work through any issues.”
One of his biggest challenges is finding skilled workers. While the labor market in the Midwest is smaller than in California, he’s built a team that reflects his commitment to excellence.
“As a manager, you have to protect your culture,” Velasquez said. “If someone doesn’t fit, even if it adds more work, we’d rather keep a strong team than risk dragging everyone down.”
Hackfort said the culture at Windstar encourages humility, hard work and continuous learning.
“We don’t claim to know it all, but we’re hardworking and always willing to learn. It’s part of who we are,” Hackfort said. “We don’t see ourselves as better than anyone else, we just aim to outwork the next person.” We are incredibly proud of the entire team at Windstar who buy into that way of thinking.”
Photos by Jill Kelly of Terrapin Blue.
