Christopher Harwood Named Senior VP Of Operations For Student Transportation Ontario Region
The move is part of the company’s strategic management realignment to prepare for continued growth in the $15 billion school transportation industry. STA currently operates more than 5,000 school vehicles transporting students in 10 states and Ontario, Canada.
Harwood will lead the development of STA’s Canadian subsidiary, Student Transportation of Canada. He also will be responsible for the smooth transition and integration of recently acquired Canadex Resources Limited (TSX: CDX), owner of Parkview Transit, one of the largest independent school bus operators in Ontario.
“A seasoned industry veteran, Chris has been instrumental in STA’s development and success for nearly 10 years,” said STA Chairman and CEO Denis Gallagher. “We are pleased that he has agreed to take on even more responsibility as we continue to grow our business through acquisitions, bids and school district conversions in 2008.”
Harwood, who has served as corporate vice president of finance and administration for STA since 1999, began his transportation career 19 years ago at Laidlaw Passenger Services in Burlington, Ontario, and its subsidiary, American Medical Response in Atlanta, Georgia. At Laidlaw, Harwood rose to director of acquisitions introducing strategic planning to the organization, managing operating and capital budgeting processes and executing more than 50 school, transit and motor coach acquisitions, with combined revenues exceeding $500 million.
A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Harwood holds an Honors Business Administration degree and is a Chartered Accountant.
About Student Transportation
Founded in 1997, Student Transportation is the fourth-largest provider of school bus transportation services in North America, conducting operations through local operating subsidiaries. Student Transportation has become a leading school bus transportation company by aggregating operations through the consolidation of existing providers and conversion of in-house operations and currently operates more than 5,000 school vehicles in North America. For more information, please visit www.ridesta.com.
