Who We Are

Gene Kowalczewski

Chief Executive Officer

Gene Kowalczewski, Chief Executive Officer for STA, has over 30 years of experience in the student transportation industry with a dedicated focus on innovation and operational safety. Mr. Kowalczewski joined Laidlaw Transit Inc. in 1991 as a Financial Controller and served in multiple capacities at Laidlaw, including Director of Operations, Director of Business Development, Vice President of Operations and Senior Vice President of Operations. After Laidlaw was acquired by First Student, Mr. Kowalczewski was appointed Senior Vice President of East Coast Operations. Mr. Kowalczewski joined Student Transportation of America in 2009, and in 2018 was named Chief Operating Officer of North American Operations. On July 1, 2024, Mr. Kowalczewski stepped into the role of STA's Chief Executive Officer. He has been awarded recognition by the New York School Bus Contractors Association and National Association for Pupil Transportation. Mr. Kowalczewski presently serves on the Board of Directors for the National School Transportation Association and previously served on the Board of Directors for the New York School Bus Contractors Association, The Aurora Waldorf School, and Academy of Aurora. Mr. Kowalczewski is actively involved in the community and coached High School Basketball and Volleyball for over 10 years. 

Patrick J. Walker

Chief Financial Officer

Patrick J. Walker, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of STA, has over 35 years of financial management experience with the most recent 20 years devoted to the Company. Mr. Walker began his career as an accountant with the Philadelphia CPA firm of Tait, Weller and Baker, followed by the New York firm of McGladrey & Pullen. Between 1989 and 1992, Mr. Walker was employed with the global food products conglomerate TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc., as Manager of Accounting and Financial Reporting. In 1992, Mr. Walker joined Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the largest regional operator of theme parks in the United States, as Corporate Controller, before being promoted to Vice President of Finance in 1998. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Walker served as Chief Financial Officer of two portfolio companies of Indigo Capital, a private equity firm. Prior to his appointment at the Company, Mr. Walker was a consultant to the Chief Financial Officer of H.J. Heinz Company. Mr. Walker became Chief Financial Officer of the Company in November 2002, and has developed strong relations with lenders and the capital markets through the Company’s IPO on the TSX in December 2004, dual listing on the NASDAQ in September 2011 and go-private sale in April 2018. Mr. Walker is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Institute of Management Accountants. 

Thomas J. Yessman

Executive Vice President of Shared Services

Thomas Yessman joined Student Transportation of America in 2012 and oversees the Shared Services Team that is responsible for Procurement, IT Infrastructure, IT System Development, and Integrations & Data Analytics. Mr. Yessman was a Managing Director at Harborstone Financial Group, Inc. where he worked on mergers and acquisitions in the transportation and aviation industries among others. He served as a Director at NHB Advisors, Inc. where he worked on numerous bankruptcy cases representing both Debtors and Creditor Committees in Chapter 11 proceedings. Mr. Yessman also worked on numerous turnarounds at NHB in the large format printing industry, chemical distribution industry, and the heavy equipment construction distribution industry, among others. Mr. Yessman is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Kirk Wilkie

Executive Vice President, Western Business Group

Kirk Wilkie has more than 30 years of experience in the student transportation industry. During his career, he has held senior-level positions in both Finance and Operations. Mr. Wilkie served as Chief Financial Officer for Durham Transportation and its parent company, National Express Corporation. In these roles, he led business financing initiatives as well as annual business planning and budgeting processes for both organizations. Mr. Wilkie also served as President of both the MV Transportation East Region Operations and MV Student Transportation. Most recently with STA, Mr. Wilkie has operating responsibility for the Company’s Western Business Group. These regions encompass operations in 13 states across the western half of the U.S. He leads the growth effort for both regions while working to provide safe, reliable transportation to each of STA’s customers.

Gregg Stinson

Executive Vice President, Eastern Business Group

Gregg Stinson is an accomplished executive who continues to produce excellent service and financial results for Student Transportation of America. He has over 30 years of experience in the School Transportation Industry. Since joining STA in 2011, Mr. Stinson has led substantial market share expansion through competitive growth and acquisition. In conjunction with this growth, he has made certain that new facilities and employees become an integral part of STA’s northeast family of operating companies. Prior to joining STA, Mr. Stinson was one of the founders of “Ocean State Transit”, a start-up school transportation company in Rhode Island. Ocean State grew to annualized revenues of over $7.5 million and operated over 150 vehicles across five terminal locations before becoming an affiliate of STA. Earlier in his career, Mr. Stinson was the Regional Director of Fleet & Facility Operations for Laidlaw Transit Inc., overseeing 17,000 vehicles in over 140 maintenance locations across the Eastern United States. Mr. Stinson received the National School Transportation Association’s prestigious Golden Merit Award in 2024, recognizing his impressive contributions to service, safety, and the community. He received his Business Degree from the University of Buffalo, and currently resides in Rhode Island with his family. 

Tim Lindsay

Executive Vice President, Canadian Business Group

Tim Lindsay, the Executive Vice President of the Canadian Business Group, has had a 30+ year career in executive leadership roles in a variety of industries, including transportation, mining, construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing. Known for his strong drive for continuous improvement, he has successfully identified and implemented improvements to optimize businesses and reduce costs for organizations across North America. He brings a multi-perspective approach to leading operations focusing on safety, people, process improvement, and customer service. Mr. Lindsay’s work history began in the Canadian Armed Forces as an infantryman and concluded as a tradesperson within the Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers. Mr. Lindsay has been a qualified safety officer/auditor for 24 years and holds a certificate in Business Administration and Management from the University of Calgary. He is also a dedicated community leader and volunteer for numerous not-for-profit boards such as Careers Next Generation and previously for the McKenzie Lake Community Association, the Trico Centre for Family Wellness, and the Heavy Equipment Technician Advisory Board at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

Ron J. Rick Jr.

Senior Vice President of Operations, New Jersey

Ronald J. Rick, Jr., is a highly experienced and dedicated professional currently serving as Senior Vice President of Operations New Jersey Region at Student Transportation of America. With a remarkable career spanning over 48 years in the transportation industry, Mr. Rick has consistently demonstrated his expertise and commitment to ensuring efficient and safe operations. Throughout his career, Mr. Rick has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and implementing best practices within the transportation field. His wealth of experience has greatly contributed to the success and growth of the New Jersey Region’s operations. Mr. Rick's leadership, strategic vision and profound understanding of the industry have made him an invaluable asset to STA. His passion for ensuring the highest standards of service and safety has earned him many awards, respect, and admiration within the transportation community. Overall, Mr. Rick's dedication and wealth of experience make him a respected figure in the transportation industry and his contributions have left a lasting impact on the operations of STA in the New Jersey Region.

Paul J. Fichner

Senior Vice President of Pennsylvania & Maryland Operations

Paul J. Fichner, the Senior Vice President of the Company’s Pennsylvania-Maryland Region has over 35 years of transportation and logistics experience, which includes over 28 years dedicated to safe, reliable student transportation. Over the span of his school bus career, Mr. Fichner has held senior level positions in both Operations and Business Development. At Laidlaw Transit Inc./First Student, he was the Mid-Atlantic Region Vice President of Operations before assuming the role of Vice President, Business Development for the Eastern U.S. He held the position of Vice President, Acquisitions for Petermann Bus as well as Vice President Operations, Northeast Region, for Durham School Services. Prior to entering the student transportation industry in 1994, Mr. Fichner worked for Airborne Express and held leadership positions in both Operations and Sales/Customer Support. Mr. Fichner earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Rutgers University, and a Master of Business Administration from LaSalle University. 

Mark Jordan

Senior Vice President of Operations, Upper Midwest/Northwest

Mark Jordan has over 25 years of school bus transportation management history and was a second-generation owner of a family-owned school bus company. Mr. Jordan played an integral role in the growth of his family business until its sale in 2009. He continued to grow the northern New Jersey school bus market as Director of Operations for STA and achieved growth from 200 buses to over 650 in less than 6 years through quality and customer service driven dedication. As former President of the New Jersey School Contractor's Association for nearly 13 years, Mr. Jordan brings a wealth of operational experience to the school bus market in the Upper Midwest and Northwest areas. During his tenure as President of the New Jersey School Contractor's Association, the association was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from NSTA. Mr. Jordan is a graduate of Boston College with degrees in History and Psychology, and currently resides in Southeastern Wisconsin, but enjoys time on his farm in Guthrie Center, Iowa, with his wife and three children.

Denis Gallagher Jr.

Senior Vice President of Operations, Southeast Region & Texas

Denis Gallagher, Jr. is the Senior Vice President covering Student Transportation of America's Southeast United States and Texas markets. Growing up around school buses, Mr. Gallagher brings experience beyond the professional career with STA that commenced in 2009. Beginning with the Company in Accounting for field operations, he grew to assume a Regional Director of Financial Operations role covering the Southeast U.S., Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, and the Company’s Managed Services Group, before transitioning to a Vice President of Operations role in 2016. Prior to working formally in the student transportation industry, Mr. Gallagher worked in Financial Planning and Analysis for Marriott Vacation Club International. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a dual concentration in Finance and Marketing from Boston College, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida.

Christopher J. Harwood

President, STC Operations

Christopher J. Harwood, President of Student Transportation of America's Canadian operating subsidiary, has 33 years of experience in the passenger transportation industry. From 1989 to 1997, Mr. Harwood was employed by Laidlaw Passenger Services and its subsidiary, American Medical Response. He held various positions at Laidlaw, including Acquisition Analyst, Manager of Financial Planning Analysis and Director of Acquisitions. Mr. Harwood joined Student Transportation of America as Vice President of Acquisitions and was named Corporate Vice President of Finance in 1999. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ontario, received an Honors Business Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario, and is past president of both the Ontario School Bus Association and its successor, School Bus Ontario.

Les Cross

President, PWT School Bus Operations

Les Cross is a seasoned leader in the pupil transportation industry, bringing over 40 years of expertise to the field. His career began in 1983 with executive roles at Cardinal Coach Lines and Weber Bus Sales before joining Laidlaw Passenger Services, North America’s largest provider of pupil transportation. During his tenure at Laidlaw, Mr. Cross served as Vice President of Western Canada, where he spent over a decade in Calgary, Alberta, guiding operations and fostering growth. Most recently, Mr. Cross held the position of Regional Vice President at Student Transportation of Canada, further solidifying his reputation as a visionary in the industry. His leadership extends beyond his executive roles, having served as President of the Ontario School Bus Association, Director of Alberta’s School Bus Contractor’s Association, and Director of the Motor Carrier Passenger Council of Canada. Known for his practical approach to leadership, Mr. Cross is recognized for his commitment to passenger safety, customer service, and operational efficiency. He values collaboration over formality, working closely with teams to achieve the best outcomes. A strong advocate for professional development, Mr. Cross is dedicated to nurturing his management team, enabling them to grow and succeed within the organization. His track record of business growth speaks to his effectiveness as a leader in the pupil transportation sector.

Shelly Hall

Senior Vice President, Health & Safety

Shelly Hall has over 30 years of experience in Health and Safety. She spent the first 13 years of her career in the insurance industry providing safety consulting services to large industries including UPS and Darden Restaurants. Ms. Hall’s main areas of focus were OSHA compliance, safety training, accident, and injury mitigation, and managing behavior-based safety programs for fleets, general industry, and restaurants. She then put her transportation safety consulting skills to work for a large public transportation provider, Veolia Transportation, later known as Transdev Services Inc. Ms. Hall was a Regional Director for 5 years and was promoted to Vice President of Safety and Training where she served as an Executive for 7 years. She began her career at STA in 2017.  In her current role, Ms. Hall is responsible for the safety and health of all employees at STA.  She initiated a new safety policy and procedure manual, led the creation of our COVID response plan, and formalized the company’s audit process. During her time at STA, Ms. Hall and her safety team have modernized how  safety and compliance are managed at all levels of the organization. She has led the integration of major safety and compliance systems, automating the hiring and compliance processes. Her focus on accident and injury tracking, trending and KPI management has helped STA reduce their accident and injury frequency rates companywide.

Keith Galloway

Senior Vice President, Business Development/M&A

Keith Galloway is a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience in the school bus transportation industry. Mr. Galloway began his career with his family-owned company, Galloway School Lines, Inc., in 1983. The family sold Galloway School Lines to Laidlaw in 1992. He continued to develop his strength in leadership while at Laidlaw/First Student, holding several positions including Branch Manager, District Director of Operations, Area General Manager, and Director of Business Development through 2009. Mr. Galloway joined Durham School Services in 2010 as an Area General Manager, responsible for six Customer Service Center locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. During his time in operations, he has repeatedly been called on in the most difficult situations to troubleshoot failing operations. Mr. Galloway was promoted to Director of Business Development/Acquisitions for the Eastern United States for National Express in 2011 and continued in the role until June 2018. Mr. Galloway joined Student Transportation of America in 2018 as VP of Business Development/M&A and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Business Development/M&A in 2021. In addition to his school bus experience, Mr. Galloway is an honored veteran having served in the U.S. Army and in the U.S. Air Force National Guard for 22 years. He completed several oversees tours of duty including the Middle East during Operation Enduring Freedom. Mr. Galloway received the prestigious National School Transportation Association’s Golden Merit Award in 2012, recognizing his superior service to the school, community, and the pupil transportation industry and the NSTA Committee Member of Year for 2024. He is currently serving as a member of the Business Development Committee and the Membership Committee for the National School Transportation Association.

Rachel Lane

Vice President, Electrification & Sustainability

Rachel Lane, the Company’s Vice President of Electrification & Sustainability, previously worked as the Program Manager for PSEG Long Island’s Electric Vehicle program, where she supported New York’s nation leading GHG (greenhouse gas) reduction goals by increasing that state’s adoption of electric vehicles. Her experience in building out the necessary infrastructure and her comprehensive knowledge of utility and grid capabilities provides STA with the elevated level of expertise and support necessary to achieve our goal of zero emissions. Early in her career, Ms. Lane served in the U.S. Air Force as a chief engineer and flight commander before moving on to Northrop Grumman Corporation. There she served in roles with expanding responsibilities and recognition in the development of military intelligence systems. Ms. Lane earned her bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Lehigh University and a master’s degree in Business from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business. She complimented that education by securing a certificate in Energy Innovation & Emerging Technologies from Stanford University, as well as attending leadership programs at Fordham University. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the National School Transportation Association.

David Frenzia

Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Legal Affairs

In his role as Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Legal Affairs, David Frenzia is responsible for leading Human Resources, Benefits, and Payroll. Additionally, as one of two in-house attorneys, Mr. Frenzia is also responsible for providing day-to-day advice and guidance on a variety of legal issues, handling various legal matters, and selecting and managing outside counsel. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Missouri State University and received his Juris Doctor degree from Saint Louis University School of Law. Mr. Frenzia works closely with Operations, Safety, and Risk. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Dave now resides in New Jersey and is based in the Company’s corporate headquarters in Wall, New Jersey.  

Cynthia Paisley

Senior Vice President, Risk Management

Cynthia Paisley has been a leader in Risk Management for over 30 years with experience in all facets of the insurance industry. For the first 14 years of her career, she gained litigation and trial experience working with a law firm that practiced personal injury law. Ms. Paisley was the VP of Risk Management for DBI Services, where she had global oversight of risk, insurance, claims, and safety. She gained insight from the insurance carrier perspective when she worked with ProSight Specialty Insurance.  Ms. Paisley started with ProSight as the VP of Transportation Claims and was promoted to VP of Claim Strategic Leadership with oversight of all lines of business. She also provided claim and complex coverage consulting for various insurance agents and brokers across the U.S. Ms. Paisley has a master’s degree in metaphysical science with an undergrad in business administration, and is a Certified Insurance Counselor as well as a Certified Workers Compensation Professional. Ms. Paisley holds membership with several esteemed organizations including the National Safety Council, American Society of Safety Engineers, TIDA(Trucking Insurance Defense Association), NTHECO (National Truck and Heavy Equipment Claim Counsel), National School Transportation Association, and the US Law Network. She also served as a Board Member of ALFA (Transportation and Workers Compensation). Ms. Paisley spends time presenting and educating at industry conferences and has become known as a fearless advocate for transportation companies. Joining STA in 2020, she has a zeal for her work and enjoys being a force to implement positive change in the insurance industry by challenging the status quo and inspiring a shared vision.