Author and speaker Scott Welle will be appearing at the 2025 STN EXPO East conference to help attendees raise their performance to the next level.

Working in the student transportation field brings unique challenges and can sometimes feel like a thankless job. Welle will inspire STN EXPO attendees to challenge the limiting beliefs that could be holding them back from reaching their highest performance potential. He will outline the power in pursuing the person you need to become versus only focusing on job roles. Attendees will receive strategies that high performing individuals use to handle pressure and thrive in unpredictable situations.

Welle will give an exclusive keynote during the Transportation Director’s Summit on Saturday, March 22 at Topgolf Charlotte Southwest. “ELEVATE: How Exceptional Leaders Inspire Peak Performance” will share how to implement successful leadership practices. His keynote session, “Outperform the Norm,” sponsored by Thomas Built Buses, is on Monday, March 24 at the Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord and will be open to all main conference attendees.

Welle’s background in motivating individuals from professional athletes and CEOs to any person looking to improve spans over 15 years. His master’s degree in sports psychology paired with his commitment to pushing physical limits through completing 30 marathons and five Ironman triathlons shows Welle’s dedication to not only teaching but modeling personal and professional excellence. Welle is the author of the “Outperform the Norm” book series, founder of the Outperform podcast, and has his own Youtube channel.

Save $200 on conference registration with Super Early Bird registration by Dec. 20. Stay tuned for updates on the conference agenda, exhibitor lists, hotel information and registration at stnexpo.com/east.

Related: STN EXPO East Opens Registration for March 2025
Related: WATCH: STN EXPO Indy 2024
Related: (STN Podcast E213) Onsite at STN EXPO Indy: Driver Shortage & School Bus Safety Convos

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Registration is now open for the 2025 STN EXPO East conference and trade show, which makes its debut appearance North Carolina’s Charlotte metro area.

Following last year’s announcement that STN EXPO East would be leaving its former host city of Indianapolis, STN has been building the new conference agenda to take advantage of its location next to the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord. STN EXPO East will continue to feature unique experiences, networking events, hands-on training and vendor interactions that attendees have seen at previous STN conferences while bringing a new aspect to the Green Bus Summit Ride and Drive as well as an expansion of Bus Technology Summit.

The Transportation Director’s Summit will be held on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22, where pre-registered attendees will be taken to the local Topgolf for an exclusive leadership training and networking experience. Keynote speaker and author Scott Welle will be presenting at the Transportation Director’s Summit as well as addressing all attendees on Monday, March 24 for his “OUTPERFORM THE NORM: Raise Your Game” presentation. Welle looks to bring a dynamic and high energy outlook that will encourage attendees in pursuing excellence and thriving through unpredictable challenges.

The Bus Technology Summit will be presented in coordination with the Green Bus Summit to provide attendees with information on the latest technology trends and offerings, as well as connecting with transportation professionals who are championing green leadership at their operations. The ride and drive and technology demonstration will be held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Attendees will further connect with vendors at the Trade Show Reception plus Networking Madness Reception on Monday night, March 24, a themed event in the spirit of the college basketball post-season tournaments, which will be a fun and lively evening on the trade show floor.

There will also be an opportunity to take a tour of the Thomas Built Buses C2 Plant in High Point, North Carolina, on Tuesday, March 25. Space is limited for these unique experiences, so make sure to secure your registration soon.

STN EXPO East will be held March 21-25, 2025, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa next to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Save $200 on registration by Dec. 20.

For conference agenda, exhibitor lists, hotel information and to register, visit stnexpo.com/east.

Related: STN EXPO East Moving to North Carolina in 2025
Related: TSD Conference Sessions to Push Attendees to Uncover Innovative Solutions
Related: WATCH: STN EXPO Indy 2024

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Transportation directors deal with a lot as leaders in our industry. Depending on the size and makeup of the school districts they operate, they encounter complex operational challenges, difficult decisions, managing teams, and stress, too. It’s all about people in our industry.

“Student success, teamwork, culture, communication are all words I think about every day when I come to work,” said Jennifer Vobis, executive director of transportation at Clark County School District in Nevada. “You must be able to think on your feet and wear multiple hats as a transportation director. School transportation is an interdependent system that impacts the entire district. Decisions we make in transportation will directly affect other departments in the district.”

The Transportation Director Summit at STN EXPO in Reno last month was the site of insightful conversations and interactions. Over 170 transportation directors and vendor partner representatives discussed various topics impacting operations, including safety and security, green energy, driver performance, and talent recruitment and retention.

I led the day-one group discussion by sharing the results of a survey of 112 transportation directors and industry leaders that was required for their participation.

“What current challenges are you trying to solve with technology and services?” The top five answers: Improve driver safety and performance; driver retention; operational efficiency; better parent communications; and student behavior (bullying and assault).

Then, I asked the 24 tables of industry stakeholders to address and unpack this: “Share your biggest challenge for the next school year.”

“One of my biggest challenges is around staffing. Our operation in Philadelphia is a mixed district fleet and contracted services fleet,” shared Teresa Fleming, deputy chief operations officer at The School District of Philadelphia. “There is always a possibility that our school bus contractors might over allocate their driver capacity. This can impact the services we offer to our students. Our in-house operations have been successful to help mitigate our driver shortages with robust onboarding, retention, paid training programs and full-time employment opportunities.”

On day two of the TD Summit, executive leadership and keynote speaker Christine Cashen shared with the audience the most effective ways to communicate with their teams. As our Client Services and Digital Media Coordinator Claudia Newton reported on site, Cashen acknowledged that every person has different upbringings, experiences and styles of handling conflict. Using her formula of “Situation + Response = Outcome,” she advised focusing on the response because that’s where the power is. “Say what you mean, mean what you say, and don’t be mean when you say it,” she quipped.

She revealed there are four major types of people: Laid-back, people-pleasing “Who people;” flexible, creative “Why people;” focused, no-nonsense “What people;” and detail-oriented, conscientious “How people.” You need all types of people for a team, Cashen said.

A positive workplace culture is crucial for a good trickle-down effect so that transportation staff and school bus drivers are ready to be the first school representative many students see each day. “You want to avoid mood poisoning,” Cashen said, referring to employees with negative attitudes. “Some hard conversations need to be had.”

For effective, non-emotional communication with a team member about a recurring problem or attitude, she advised stating how you feel and why. Use “I” language, closing with an appreciation and request for the other party, and including a consequence, if necessary.

If the conversation becomes argumentative, telling the person, “You might be right,” gets them to view your side favorably or at least placates them enough to avoid a negative confrontation. Likewise, saying “I see things differently” is a more collaborative phrase than “I disagree.”

“Conflict doesn’t always have to be negative,” Cashen summed up. “It can also be a positive [and] bring everyone together, and make them feel heard.”

After each TD Summit concludes, I always get feedback from attendees. “The Transportation Director Summit always provides valuable interaction with peers regardless of the size of the district I am speaking with,” shared Vobis. “I love brainstorming at the interactive tables about our challenges. My goal is to gain knowledge, develop innovative ideas and solutions that I can implement. I always walk away with great ways to improve the Clark County transportation department.”

Our transportation directors are working hard for everyone to be successful. Let’s be sure to give them grace and a pat on the back for the inspiration they provide every day. Bravo!

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the August 2024 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: Gallery: Unique Classes, TD Summit on Day 2 of STN EXPO Reno
Related: STN EXPO Reno Keynote Speaker Uncovers How to Flip the Script and Stay Inspired
Related: Communication ‘Magic Words,’ Teamwork Tips Shared at Transportation Director Summit
Related: STN EXPO Reno Keynote Speaker Brings Message of Positivity

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Last month, an STN EXPO Reno panel consisting of school bus OEMs and the industry’s largest engine manufacturer discussed the emissions path that is set before the industry. Most notably, what will the impact be of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gases Phase 3 rule that goes into effect with model-year 2027?

Understandably, the company representatives on stage from Blue Bird, Cummins, GreenPower, IC Bus, and Thomas Built Buses all refrained from predicting the future. Too much remains to be seen in a presidential election year. Adding to that uncertainty, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the so-called Chevron deference, which allowed Congress to rely on federal agencies like the EPA to interpret any vagueness of laws. For example, the Clean Air Act, which EPA bases its emissions regulations on.

Two days before the panel, former President Donald Trump survived an assassin’s bullet at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. Three days after the panel and the day after EXPO concluded, Trump formally accepted his presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention. Three days after that, President Joe Biden announced he was ending his run for a second term and was throwing his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

Most prominent Democrats have since followed suit. The drama is reminiscent of the summer of 1968, after President Lyndon B. Johnson in March of that year announced he wouldn’t run for re-election. Biden made his announcement 106 days before Nov. 5 and after primary voters already selected him as the party nominee.

Democrat hopeful Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles in June 1968. College campuses nationwide were protesting the Vietnam War. The Democratic National Convention was in turmoil, though there doesn’t appear there will be nearly the same antagonism, vitriol and violence in Chicago this time around—hopefully.

What does this all mean for student transportation, you ask?

With Harris appearing to be headed for a showdown with Trump this fall, the near future of electric school buses (ESBs) would seem to be at stake. In accepting the GOP nomination, Trump said he would end the electric mandate his first day in office. There is no mandate, but EPA’s GHG Phase 3 rule certainly incentivizes electric vehicles while disincentivizing if not regulating internal combustion engines out of existence as the intent.

Trump wants to “Drill, baby, drill” the U.S. out of a dependence on foreign oil and he is anti-regulation. Diesel advocates point out that emissions have improved by over 90 percent since 2010, and Phase 3 will drive further reductions.

Meanwhile, the five-year, $5 billion Clean School Bus Program alone has awarded over 98 percent of funds for ESBs, with the remainder for propane school buses. Since hitting a high of over 3,200 units manufactured in 2019, propane output has fallen while electric school bus production has risen. With Cummins no longer pursuing a propane engine leaving Blue Bird with its ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas system as the sole industry provider of this option could propane eventually follow the path of its natural gas cousin, CNG, which has seen its annual production dwindle to under 200 units annually?

California, where Harris calls home, does not fund the purchase of propane school buses via state grants because propane is not a zero-emissions fuel, though the propane industry claims it beats electric in GHG emissions. Propane remains eligible under the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard with school districts required to report quantities used each year, but California wants all internal combustion engines to go away. Nine states adopted the state’s Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus Regulation that covers school bus emissions.

Yet U.S. natural gas deposits are among the richest in the world. Trump supports fracking, which is crucial for natural gas extraction. Harris was once a staunch opponent of fracking. Biden, on the other hand, backed away from a campaign promise to ban the practice on federal land, and Harris got in lockstep. Would she be emboldened by a November victory to end the practice?

One thing you can bet on, electric school bus proponents would be ecstatic with a Harris presidential victory. She introduced the Clean School Bus Act in the Senate while preparing to run against Biden and others for the 2020 Democrat presidential nomination. HB2906 was a drop in the bucket precursor to the Clean School Bus Program. If she does get the Democrat nomination and goes on to defeat Trump this fall, could the industry see more federal electric bus funding after all? And what might that do for already extremely high ESB prices? Too many questions and no answers… yet.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the August 2024 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: Low-income Areas Need Electric School Buses the Most, WRI Analysis Indicates
Related: Updated: Rising Insurance? Additional Balancing Act Needed Amid Electric School Bus Push
Related: School Districts Replace Diesel Buses with Propane, Electric
Related: Training School Bus Technicians for an Electric Fleet

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