UW-Madison professor J. Michael Collins explains what impact Social Security changes will have for recipients.

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PLAINVIEW, N.Y.- WE Transport today announced the retirement of Bart Marksohn, Chairman Emeritus, who has been an integral leader of this family-owned company for over 50 years. Marksohn’s last day will be April 1, 2025.

“Bart’s contributions to WE Transport have been invaluable to the development and success of this business for decades,” said Judith Crawford, CEO of Beacon Mobility. “Throughout Bart’s lifetime career in transportation, he has channeled his passion for transportation to introduce new technologies, provide reliable transportation to schools and communities, and expand the company’s footprint from a Long Island based carrier to serve Connecticut and New York City. We extend our deepest gratitude to Bart and wish him the very best in retirement.”

“My parents founded WE Transport in the late 1950’s with one vehicle and the vision of providing safe and reliable transportation services to Long Island families with special needs children, and it has been a privilege to spend my career supporting our family founded business to reach new heights and serve a growing number of students and communities,” said Bart Marksohn, Chairman Emeritus of WE Transport. “It is the dedicated employees and strong community we have built over the years that makes this company special, and I have no doubt that our wonderful culture will continue to make a positive impact.”

Bart Marksohn, son of WE Transport’s founding partners Walter and Edie Marksohn, started helping with the growing family business at an early age. Instead of spending his weekend on sporting fields, Bart could be found in the maintenance shop working on vehicles. He started out changing brakes and tires and making vehicle repairs and worked his way up to be head mechanic. As the business grew, Bart transitioned into a different leadership role to oversee fleet management, banking, insurance, safety, contracts, bidding, customer liaison, and real estate.

Along with his brother, Jerry, they pursued cutting edge technologies to incorporate into the business, and in the early nineties WE Transport became the first school bus company to utilize GPS tracking technology. Bart oversaw significant expansions for WE Transport, including the introduction of motor coaches and growing the school transportation vehicle fleet by thirty percent in just one year in 2003 In 2010, WE Transport landed a contract with Bridgeport Public Schools in Connecticut to further diversify the business.

Bart Marksohn continued, “Bridgeport was a challenge which was handled by our family of employees with real excitement. We had to hire over 300 employees and be up and running in 60 days and we pulled it off. This positive experience encouraged us to expand into new markets in New York City and Westchester, where we hired over 350 employees and 100 employees respectively to successfully expand operations and create a positive customer experience.”

Marksohn has received both state and national recognitions for his contributions to the industry. As the President and Chief Financial Officer of WE Transport, he was recognized as the 2018 New York School Bus Contractor of the Year at the New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA) 64th Annual Convention alongside his colleague, Carmen Tomeo, Chief Executive Officer of WE Transport. In 2024, Marksohn was inducted into the National Student Transportation Association (NSTA) Hall of Fame in recognition of his “long-standing team efforts on behalf of the student transportation industry.”

About WE Transport: WE Transport, Inc. is a group of companies referred to as “The WE Transport Family of Companies.” There are five operational companies within the group, operated by the same management team and function as a single entity. WE Transport strives to serve our customers safely, efficiently and cost-effectively. From hiring and safety, operations maintenance, customer service to IT, each step of the way, working as a team, each department is dedicated to going above and beyond industry standards.

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ELKHART, Ind. – Forest River, Inc. today announced that co-CEO David Wright will be retiring in April. Wright had led the Bus & Van division with dedication and leadership for 22 years, building it into the country’s leading manufacturer of buses and vans for both the private and public sectors, before assuming the role of co-CEO with Doug Gaeddert.

Wright’s decision to retire is deeply personal, following the recent passing of his longtime friend, mentor, and Forest River founder, Pete Liegl. Having executed the near-term transitional strategy, he determined the timing is right to step away from the day-to-day responsibilities.

“It has been the greatest honor of my career to be part of this incredible company and to
work alongside the most talented and selfless team in the industry,” said Wright. “Forest
River’s leadership remains exceptionally strong, with a deep bench of individuals who are
more than qualified to continue driving our success. The foundation we’ve built ensures that Forest River’s legacy will only grow stronger.”

Wright’s departure marks the next evolution for Forest River’s senior management team since the passing of Pete Liegl in November 2024. Updates include the following:

– Co-CEO Doug Gaeddert, who previously led the Recreational Vehicle division for
25+ years, assumes the role of sole CEO.

– Darrel Ritchie, who started with Forest River in 2002, continues in his role as Chief
Financial Officer.

– Douglas A. Wright, previously the General Manager, Bus & Van, moves to the role of
Group General Manager, reporting to Doug Gaeddert. Doug brings experience,
operational expertise and a tremendous familiarity with all aspects of the organization.

“I’m sad to see my good friend and uniquely gifted colleague David Wright retire, but I
certainly understand and respect his decision,” said Doug Gaeddert. “Working alongside Pete together like we did for all those years, and accomplishing so much in that time has been an incredible experience. I’m grateful for what David built, including the strong management team that he leaves in place.”

Forest River extends its deepest gratitude to David for his years of dedicated service and
contributions to the company’s success. While he will be greatly missed on a daily basis, his impact on Forest River’s culture and operations will endure for years to come.

About Forest River, Inc.
Founded in 1996 by Pete Liegl, Forest River, Inc. has evolved into North America’s largest
manufacturer of recreational vehicles, cargo trailers, pontoon boats, and commercial vehicles including buses, vans, and trucks. Its portfolio includes market share leaders in every category, and it is the country’s leading manufacturer of buses and vans for both the private and public sectors. Based in Elkhart, Indiana, Forest River employs 14,000+ employees in 100+ facilities in more than a half dozen states. With a commitment to excellence and a focus on customer satisfaction, Forest River is proud to be a Berkshire Hathaway company.

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