The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) recently honored four First Student employees for excellence in service, safety and leadership during its annual meeting and convention in Minneapolis.
First Student Region Safety Manager Laura Greene-Halley, Area General Manager Tom McEnany, Region Maintenance Manager Mike Nolte and Senior Regional Safety Manager Kevin Orzechowski received Golden Merit Awards from the NSTA. The award recognizes individuals for their valuable contributions to the school bus industry.
“This is tremendous recognition for Laura, Tom, Mike and Kevin,” said First Student President Dennis Maple. “They have dedicated their careers to improving the school transportation industry. We are proud they received recognition for their hard work and for giving so much back to the communities they serve.”
As Region Safety Manager, Greene-Halley supports the safety of all operational, facility and workshop activities at more than 70 First Student locations throughout the Northeast. She has more than 30 years of experience in the student transportation industry. Greene-Halley is a member of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Greene-Halley is one of only 11 individuals to become an NYSED Master Instructor. Nolte has worked in the student transportation industry for more than 45 years. As Southwest Region Maintenance Manager, he oversees the maintenance of thousands of school buses. Nolte has received important industry certifications from major transportation leaders such as International Truck and Engine Corporation and Thomas Built Buses. Nolte is also a member of several professional organizations, including Global Fleet Associates.
As Senior Region Safety Manager, Orzechowski has been instrumental in helping to develop an industry-leading safety training program, including incorporating a mentoring component. He has worked for more than two decades in the student transportation industry. Orzechowski has been actively involved in the NSTA for nearly 30 years. He now leads the NSTA International Skills Competition Judging Committee.
McEnany has more than 30 years of service to the school bus industry. As Area General Manager, he is responsible for the overall operations of seven First Student locations that service more than 50 school districts from Long Island to Westchester County, New York. McEnany has been a member of the New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA) and New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) for Nassau and Suffolk Counties. All of these First Student employees were recognized during the NSTA annual meeting and convention in Minneapolis on July 21.