ORLANDO, Fla. A Richmond, Va.-based motorcoach company won two of the top awards presented at the 2009 UMA Motorcoach Expo, which honors the industrys best-and-brightest operators and individuals.

For the motorcoach industry, the annual UMA Vision Awards Banquet has become the premier event for honoring coach industry stars, and the social highlight of Motorcoach Expo. It is a festive evening, and invariably contains a few surprises.

This year, the big surprise was a disabled six-year-old boy, representing the March of Dimes, who made a heart-tugging appeal for UMA members to support a funding raising program in September.

Seven major industry awards were presented during the evening at this years awards banquet. Here are the winners:

UMA Safety Leader of the Year: Dwight Lacey of James River Bus Lines in Richmond. The award honors an individual who has made a measurable impact on the safety culture at their company or within the industry.

Lacey, who spent 26 years in the U.S. Navy, is a jack of all trades at James River where he manages a small terminal, oversees drivers, handles light maintenance and drives a coach all the while fostering safety, strong customer service and good corporate relations with an important customer.

Lacey was presented the award by Matthew Daecher of Daecher Consulting Group, which sponsors the award and selects the winner.

BusRide Motorcoach Industry Achievement Award: Ronald Bast of Riteway Bus Service in Richfield, Wis.

The award, which honors companies that have overcome obstacles or built a record of success over many years, honored Riteway for its can-do spirit and growth during the past 50+ years.

The company operates a fleet of more than 30 motorcoaches, 500 school buses and 30 limousines and cars from eight locations. It has 700 employees.

Bast received the award from BusRide Editor David Hubbard.

Metro Magazine Motorcoach Operator of the Year: Dale Krapf of Krapf Coaches in West Chester, Pa.

Krapf was honored for his industry contributions and for being an exemplary bus operator. The Krapf operation includes 19 motorcoaches, more than 100 other commercial buses and upwards of 1,200 school buses. It has 1,500 employees.

In accepting the award from Metro Publisher Frank Di Giacomo, Krapf said he was blessed with having great employees and a family committed to the business. Seven family members are employed by the company, including three Krapf sons.

Green Highway Award sponsored by Motor Coach Industries: Bauers Intelligent Transportation of San Francisco.

Bauers is a limousine company that also operates coaches, shuttle buses, vans and hybrid vehicles. Among its various "green" initiatives is a carbon offset program.

The award was presented to Gary Bauer by Patricia Ziska, MCI vice president and chief customer officer.

UMA Vision Award/Small Operator (fewer than 15 coaches): Excursions Trailways of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Thomas Bazow and Patrick OBrian started Excursions Trailways in August 2000, meaning they were in business just over a year when 9/11 and its aftermath hit the industry.

Yet, through perseverance and good business practices they were able to grow the company from one coach to seven, and purchase another small motorcoach operation in the fall of 2007.

In accepting the award, Bazow said the companys success was based on customer service, customer service and customer service. He also noted that by attending UMA Motorcoach Expo, he had been able to "take away things that we apply to our business."

UMA Vision Award/Large Operator (15 or more coaches): James River Bus Lines.

UMA Treasurer Jeff Polzien, who chairs the association's Vision Awards Committee, said James River won the large-operator Vision award because of its record on safety, security, experience, passenger satisfaction, financial strength and integrity.

James River President Stephen Story said he accepted the award on behalf of company team members back in Virginia.

Story employs "servant leadership" management at James River, which emphasizes the leaders role as steward of the resources (human, financial and otherwise) provided by the company. It encourages leaders to foster employee growth, development and team building while staying focused on achieving results in line with the organizations values and integrity.

The UMA Maintenance Interchange Maintenance Competition was conducted for the third consecutive year at UMA Motorcoach Expo. Those individuals attending the interchange were invited to participate in a competition involving a written test and a timed diagnostic inspection. The competition was conducted at Escot Bus Lines.

This years grand champion was Wes Kanaga of Peoria Charter Coach Co. in Peoria, Ill. Kanagas winning score was one point from perfection.

He was awarded a plaque and a $500 gift certificate by Kevin Whitworth of Whitworth Bus in Dayton, Ohio, who coordinates the Maintenance Interchange and Maintenance Competition.

First runner up was Don Zimmerman of DZ Services in Rio Linda, Calif., and second runner up was Richard Wenzel of Rockford Charter Coach in Rockford, Ill.

This years UMA Motorcoach Expo Maintenance Interchange was the 11th annual interchange and its participants had combined motorcoach maintenance experience totaling 1,554 years. "Wow," said Whitworth.

UMA Motorcoach Expo 2010 will be in Las Vegas next February.