OAK CREEK, Wis. – Bob Zanotti has been named president of GO Riteway Transportation Group.
Zanotti will be the first non-family leader since Roland (Rollie) and Pearl Bast founded the company in 1957 with just four school buses serving the newly created Germantown School District.
The company is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2017 and today has more than 1,350 employees and 1,090 vehicles operating out of 18 Wisconsin locations.
It services 27 school districts, including the Elmbrook School District, a new contract. The commercial services division operates 38 airport shuttles, 31 motorcoaches, 30 executive sedans and 21 mini-coaches.
“Our family has recognized the need for professional management to help us continue to grow as we move into the next chapter of our company,” said Wendy Bast, a third-generation family co-owner of GO Riteway and vice chair of the board. “Fortunately, we have found someone who is not only a highly qualified manager, but a strong leader who closely aligns with the values of our family and how we want our company run.”
Zanotti credits his early management career experiences at Federal Express Corp. with his leadership approach.
“Focusing on treating employees with consideration and respect is the best way to deliver outstanding service to customers,” he said. “GO Riteway has a rich history of providing exceptional customer service and we all expect that to continue as we grow.”
FARIBAULT, Minn. — Eric Bantley has joined the sales team at CH Bus Sales as an account executive for the Northeast region.
Bantley is responsible for creating new and fostering current relationships in the motorcoach industry with a focus on Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and northern New York.
He will participate in regional associations by attending annual meetings, make customer courtesy visits, facilitate sales of new and pre-owned equipment, and work with CH’s customer base to ensure support and service.
Bantley previously served in a variety of leadership roles within sales strategy, key account sales management, international sourcing and product development. His first experience in the transportation industry was working five years with Minnesota-based operator Ready Bus Line.
“(Eric) brings a wealth of knowledge to our team by having extensive experience in sales, account management and product development,” said Duane Geiger, president and CEO of CH Bus Sales.
PORTLAND, Ore. – Daimler Trucks North America has appointed Jeff Allen and Stefan Kurschner to its operating committee.
Allen was named senior vice president of production, quality and specialty vehicles, while Kurschner will lead the company’s aftermarket business units as senior vice president.
Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates and is the parent of Detroit Diesel Corp.
Allen has more than 20 years experience at Daimler Trucks, most recently as vice president of operations at Detroit Diesel in Redford, Mich., leading all facets of the operation including management of Detroit’s powertrain headquarters in Michigan and its axle plant in Saltillo, Mexico.
In his new position he leads the Daimler Trucks manufacturing network, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation and Thomas Built Buses. He is now located in Fort Mill, S.C.
Kurschner has more than 25 years of Daimler global experience, including management positions in Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, the United States and Mexico. He has led Daimler Trucks Mexico since 2013.
In his new role, Kurschner will lead Daimler’s aftermarket functions including central service, parts sales and marketing, parts distribution, dealer operations and remanufacturing. He is located at the company’s headquarters in Portland.
WASHINGTON — Women in Travel and Tourism International named eight women as “Outstanding Woman in Travel Leadership” during the organization’s awards program in Washington, D.C.
The WITTI awards program is the first of its kind, and the women are the first group of honorees.
“It’s important to highlight the very significant contributions of women working in travel and tourism today,” said Laura Mandala, WITTI founder and CEO of Mandala Research. “These champions of travel and tourism are not only advancing their (organizations) and the industry, but are also mentoring and recruiting the next generation of travel professionals.”
Honored were Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California; Angela Brav, chief executive, Europe, for InterContinental Hotels Group; Kelly Craighead, principal at Vertimas Consulting and former first deputy assistant secretary for travel and tourism at the U.S. Department of Commerce; Julie Heizer, team lead, U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Travel and Tourism Office; Pam Inman, president of the National Tour Association; Anne Madison, chief strategy and communications officer at Brand USA; and Cathy Tull, senior vice president of marketing at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
