CHICAGO The year-long effort to create a Midwest Motorcoach Association took a giant step forward this month when the groups ad hoc steering committee announced the hiring of a professional association executive to guide the nascent organization.

Cherie Houser, a vice president of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, is taking on the additional responsibility of managing the new regional group.

In Wisconsin, the state motorcoach association is part of and managed by the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association. In addition, Houser is executive director of the Wisconsin Towing Association and the International Milk Haulers Association, which also are units of the state motor carriers group.

"Cherie Houser was asked to be the executive director based on her experience with the Wisconsin Motorcoach Association and her knowledge base of the bus and motorcoach industry," said Tom Bazow of Excursions Trailways in Fort Wayne, Ind., a member of the five-person committee that screened candidates and eventually picked Houser.

The idea of forming a regional association that would serve motorcoach operators in Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri was born just over a year ago as an outgrowth of the resurrection of the Illinois Motorcoach Association, which was relaunched in January 2010. (See Feb. 1, 2010, Bus & Motorcoach News.)

In June of last year, operators from neighboring states attended a meeting of the Illinois association and asked about being able to join the fledging state group. The inquiries led to discussions regarding creating a regional organization and the decision to try to put together an association that would address regional issues and foster broader business opportunities. (See July 15, 2010, Bus & Motorcoach News.) One of Housers primary responsibilities in her new position will be to recruit members from the target states -- Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Illinois.

Other goals for the organization include:

Promoting cooperation among operators and associates within the region

Educating members on issues that impact the industry

Advocating legislation that positively impacts the industry within the region

Using available resources to promote safety among operators

Promoting public awareness of the bus and motorcoach industry

The first general membership meeting of the new association likely will be late this fall, with November being targeted, probably in Chicago.

Initially, Houser will work with members of the ad hoc committee to get the organization off the ground, relying on meetings conducted by conference call.

Those helping organize the association have included Don Ferrone of American Sightseeing Chicago; Dennis Streif of Vandalia Bus Lines in Caseyville, Ill.; Brenda Borwege of ABC Companies; Gary Hodgson of Prevost Car; Marie Williams of Spirit Tours in Chicago; Ken Presley of the United Motorcoach Association, and Bazow.

Carriers interested in the Midwest group can contact Houser by email at ctuhus@witruck.org, or Ferrone by phone at (312) 251-3100.