ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Tim Stout likes bringing people together. Being the center of attention is another matter.
“I prefer to not be the focal point standing up in front of crowds or audiences,” Stout said.
But when friends and colleagues gathered to honor his 15 years as president of the Greater Northeast Motorcoach Association, hearing what they had to say meant a lot.
At GNEMA’s 2026 Fall Association Meeting, Stout received a crystal Leadership Award and watched a tribute video filled with photos and messages from people he had worked alongside. The association also named the Tim Stout Leadership Award in his honor.
“I know I put a lot of energy into it, and I made a lot of friends,” Stout said. “But to hear them say the impact I’ve had on the industry and association, it meant a lot to me.”
Seeing colleagues he had not seen in a while gave him a clue that something special was planned.
“To me, it’s not just the association; it’s the relationships we built over the years,” he said.
Impact will continue
Stout is beginning his final year of board service as immediate past president. Michelle Petelicki, GNEMA chair and president of Panorama Tours in Wallington, New Jersey, said the award will carry his example forward.
“Tim’s legacy at GNEMA goes far beyond the 15 years he spent leading the association,” Petelicki said. “Leadership isn’t measured by a title or even by how long you hold one. It’s measured by the impact you have and what you leave behind.
“Tim brought people together, strengthened this association, and helped position GNEMA for the future. That is why putting his name on this award felt so right. Every person who receives the Tim Stout Leadership Award in the years ahead will be recognized against a standard of leadership that Tim helped establish.”
Pete Borowsky, president of Starr Bus Charter & Tours in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, and a GNEMA board member and treasurer, said Stout’s approach reached across the industry.
“Tim understood better than anyone that in the motorcoach industry, nobody succeeds alone,” Borowsky said. “During his time as president of GNEMA, he built relationships and showed operators, suppliers, and destinations that when we work together, we all make it work. This award keeps that lesson alive for the next generation of leaders.”
John Henry saw Stout’s approach firsthand at association events. Henry, a GNEMA board member, is vice president of business operations at Martz Bus in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and the fifth generation of his family to work in the business.
“One of the things I’ve always admired about Tim is his ability to cultivate a great culture within GNEMA, built on friendship, appreciation, and the belief in supporting those who support you,” Henry said.
“No matter how busy he was at an event, he always made it a point to walk the entire marketplace, visit every vendor, shake their hand, and personally thank them for supporting GNEMA, and he encouraged all of us on the board to do the same.
“It’s such a simple gesture, but Tim understood how important it is to show your face, express genuine appreciation, and build lasting relationships. That’s the kind of leadership that creates a culture people want to be part of, and it’s something I’ve carried with me and will continue to practice throughout my career.”
Heath Ochroch, president of Werner Bus Lines Inc. in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, said Stout brings business knowledge to those personal connections.
“Tim is as smart as he is outgoing. He can talk business numbers and ratios off the top of his head, accurate down to the penny, yet he also is able to engage everyone in a large ballroom, one-on-one, and make each of them feel special and included. He doesn’t just build relationships with people; he connects people that can help each other,” Ochroch said.
“When my business faced serious adversity, Tim invited me out to his office, had every one of his key employees give me pointers and insights on what they focus on to make their department successful. Tim spent an hour of his time teaching me about his pricing model, then he bought me lunch!”
Building the association
Tom JeBran, president of Trans-Bridge Lines, Inc., recalled when he and then-Safety Bus President Tom Dugan, who at the time was GNEMA president, discussed candidates to succeed Duggan as association leader.
“Tim’s name kept coming up. So we said, ‘Let’s ask him!’ After a little arm-twisting, he agreed to do it—for a term or two.
“Well, those terms turned into many years of dedicated service. Tim has given his time, energy, and experience to make the association stronger and better. On behalf of all of us, we thank him for his leadership, his dedication, and his years of service. We’re certainly glad he said yes, all those years ago.”
During Stout’s presidency, GNEMA grew from its beginnings as an Atlantic City and later New Jersey-based organization into a regional association serving the Northeast.
According to GNEMA, he helped guide membership growth and strengthen its work on behalf of operators at the regional and national levels. The association credited him with supporting industry efforts that helped secure federal COVID-19 relief funding for motorcoach businesses.
During his time as president, GNEMA also created a scholarship program to help members, employees and their families pay for college or trade school. The association expanded its Motorcoach Professional Award Program to honor employees in other jobs, along with drivers.
Stout helped establish the Toast to Tommy event honoring the memory of former President Tom Dugan.
He also pointed to bringing Patricia Cowley, GNEMA’s executive director, into the organization as a highlight.
“Bringing Pattie Cowley to serve as executive director for our board is definitely one of our best decisions as an association,” Stout said.
He encouraged operators to participate in regional and national associations so they have a say in decisions affecting their businesses.
“I think it’s important for any operator that belongs to a national organization to be involved in their regional association as well, because you can’t complain about any rules that come down or any legislation that passed if you’re not part of the voice,” he said.
“If you’re not part of the association, you’re not part of the voice.”
Stout helped establish a leadership rotation to encourage more board members to take on responsibilities.
“After 15 years, I just thought it was time for me to let other people on our board step up,” he said. “You just want to try and get other people engaged.”
Though his name is on the award, he wants to share the credit with the people who worked alongside him.
“It shouldn’t be my name,” he said. “It should be all the people that I worked with on the boards and the committees all these years. They’re just as important as my name is.”
Stout says he is excited to hear ideas from the association’s new leaders and will be ready to help when needed.
“Of course, I’ll always be there if they ever need anything,” he said.
Photos courtesy of GNEMA
