STA appoints regional division heads

WALL, N.J. — Student Transportation of America Ltd. (STA) has reorganized its senior management team, with Chairman and CEO Denis Gallagher naming three industry veterans to spearhead operations in three newly created regional divisions.

Michael Kennedy of Concord, Mass., has been promoted to regional chief operating officer for the new Atlantic Region, which consists of the company’s current operations in New England, as well as in New York and New Jersey.

Peter Pearson of Carnegie, Pa., has been promoted to regional chief operating officer for the new Central Region, consisting of STA’s current operations in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Minnesota.

STA’s continued expansion in Ontario, Canada, will be led by Christopher Harwood, who has been promoted to senior vice president of operations for Student Transportation of Canada, STA’s wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary.

Harwood will be responsible for the transition and integration of Canadex Resources Ltd., owner of Parkview Transit, one of the largest independent school bus operators in Ontario. STA completed its 31st acquisition when it added Canadex earlier this month.

In California, Raymond Delegarde will continue to serve as vice president of West Coast operations.

Two former Laidlaw executives also joined the STA management team. Patrick Holmes of Vacaville, Calif., has been hired to jump-start new growth in the northwestern U.S. John DiMaiolo of Middletown, N.J., has been appointed vice president and chief accounting officer in the company’s management headquarters, where he will oversee overall accounting and finance structure.

Dina Cooper of Pine Hill, N.J., has been named corporate recruiting director, a new position created to support local and regional human resource teams and develop company-wide employee recruiting and retention strategies.