NASHVILLE — The International Motorcoach Group named Brown Coach as the 2017 Operator of the Year at its annual Strategic Alliance Meeting in Nashville. IMG also welcomed a new member to its board of directors.
Stephen Brown, vice president of Amsterdam, N.Y.-based Brown Coach, accepted the Operator of the Year award on behalf of his brother, Robert, their families and the entire team at Brown Coach.
Each year, IMG recognizes one of its own for the honor, based on operational excellence, safety performance, best practices, community and motor coach industry involvement, and engagement within IMG.
A panel made up of the past three winners — Autocar Excellence, Starr and Southern Coaches — chose the winner.
“Over 17 years ago, we were invited to become a shareholder company of IMG,” Brown said in accepting the award. “Our involvement in the IMG organization has helped Brown Coach achieve many milestones, raise the bar in service excellence, and grow to where we are today. I am truly honored to receive this award.”
Brown Coach began in 1980 with nine motorcoaches proudly bearing the family name. Since then it has grown into a diversified company that provides charter, commuter and tour services with a fleet of 36 motorcoaches and more than 225 school buses.
Brown Coach has been active in many areas of IMG, including the development of the IMG Driver Training program, one of the first such training programs in the industry.
“This is a wonderful choice as IMG’s Operator of the Year,” said IMG President Bronwyn Wilson. “Brown Coach is committed to safety, training and customer service excellence, a true testament to outstanding core values that mirror IMG’s.”
During the awards ceremony, IMG unveiled the Operator of the Year motorcoach. It was designed and painted by Turbo Images and features Brown Coach’s logo along with a background collage depicting signature travel images of the company’s upstate New York location.
IMG also announced that David Annett of Annett Bus Lines in Sebring, Fla., has joined its board of directors.
The organization’s leadership team remains as follows:
- Chairman — Real Boissonneault of Autocar Excellence in Levi, Quebec
- Vice Chairman — Gary Krapf of Krapf’s Coaches in West Chester, Pa.
- Secretary/Treasurer — John Adams of Southern Coaches in Dothan, Ala.
- Past Chairman — Dennis Streif of Vandalia Bus Lines in Caseyville, Ill.
Other board members are:
- Dean Wright of Pacific Western Transportation in Mississauga, Ontario
- Sandi Weir of Polynesian Adventure Tours in Honolulu
- Mike Dickson of Southeastern Stages in Atlanta
- Greg Gallup of Royal Coach Tours in San Jose, Calif.
- Bill Winkler of Peoria Charter in Peoria, Ill.
IMG is a North American network of motorcoach operators with 57 member companies operating more than 7,000 vehicles that provide transportation to more than 21 million charter and tour customers.
Its member companies vary in size, region and diversity of business models with a range of offerings, including bus charters, escorted tours, limousines and school buses.
IMG is an invitation-only organization.
