ALEXANDRIA, Va. David F. Hobson became executive director of the National School Transportation Association on Feb. 1.

His appointment was announced by Donald Fowler, president of the association of private school bus contractors.

Hobson fills a position that has essentially been vacant for six years, during which the United Motorcoach Association has provided administrative oversight for the NSTA.

The staff of NSTA shares office space with that of UMA in Alexandria and that arrangement will continue at least for the time being.

Hobson has spent more than 25 years in association management, most recently as president and CEO of the Uniform and Textile Service Association of Arlington, Va., for 15 years.

He left that position roughly a year ago when the UTSA was combined with the Textile Rental Services Association of Alexandria. As often happens when trade associations are joined, the former executive directors of both groups are replaced by a new executive to lead the successor organization.

Prior to joining UTSA, Hobson served as executive director, president or CEO for several associations, including the National Franchisee Association (an association of Burger King franchisees), the Association for Governmental Leasing and Finance, and the International District Heating and Cooling Association.

He also was a partner in the worlds largest association management firm, SmithBucklin of Chicago. And he worked earlier for the American Society of Association Executives and the National Automobile Dealers Association.

"We were fortunate to interview several very good candidates. By the end of the process, we concluded that Mr. Hobson was the best fit for the position and for NSTA," said Fowler, who operates Fowler Bus Co. in Richmond, Mo.

Contact Hobson by email at dhobson@yellowbuses.org.

NSTA has represented private school bus contractors for more than 45 years. Its partnership with UMA for the past half-dozen years resulted in closer cooperation on public policy issues, a more powerful voice in Washington for private bus operators, and a larger market for potential service providers to the members of both organizations.