This is the third of three profiles of millennials infusing new energy into the motorcoach industry.
Buses are part of Chanel Spriggs’ DNA.
Her great-grandfather Mordi was one of the first African-American school bus subcontractors in Maryland’s Anne Arundel County. Her grandfather Allen continued the business with his own fleet. Her dad, Carroll, decided to take the family business in a new direction after retiring from a career in civil engineering. He shifted into motorcoach buses.
Located in southern Maryland, Spriggs Coaches Inc. has been providing professional transportation services since 1956. The Sunderland-based company’s service area stretches from Maryland to the Washington, D.C., and Virginia areas.
Spriggs brings her own twist to the 62-year-old bus business as a millennial woman. For now, it’s from Indianapolis where she lives. She brings a background in marketing, sales, a talent for networking and an understanding of the importance of technology to the business.
She, along with her niece, Catelynn, is in the process of updating the website and recently launched Facebook and Instagram accounts.
One of her ideas is for the company to do traffic updates in the morning. Another is to launch a bus tracker so passengers can see exactly where they are.
“There are so many things that go into place in regards to technology,” said Spriggs, 36. “I’m part of a generation that has been exposed to many forms of technology but for someone my dad’s age or even older, technology is very intimidating. We’re taking baby steps.”
Her family has dealt with the industry-wide driver shortage by intentionally keeping the business small with a fleet of five coaches.
“The downside of having a small business is sometimes you have more business coming in and you don’t have enough buses so you have to subcontract it out,” Spriggs said.
The company does a mix of charter and contract work, including providing transportation for recreational programs and school events.
Spriggs’ drive and discipline come from her athletic background. She was a basketball standout and team captain at American University in Washington, D.C., where she earned her bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in public communications and marketing.
She was recruited to IUPUI in Indianapolis to coach at the college level. She has since transitioned into a corporate sales career, which gives her the flexibility to assist with the family business.
During her years as a player and a coach, she spent a lot of time on buses. She understands how millennials like to travel. She remembers colleges didn’t mind paying extra for buses equipped with all the bells and whistles because the students expected them to help remain diligent with school work.
Eventually, she felt a calling to return to the family business. She has been involved with the business for about 18 months, and her role continues to evolve.
“We come from a very Christian-centered family and the Bible talks about leaving a legacy for your family. I really felt like my great-grandfather started this legacy,” Spriggs said.
