Leonard Bus Sales President and owner Mike Leonard announced on Wednesday that the company has launched LBS South — a new sister company in Florida — and is adding jobs to its New York operation.    

“We are proud to be growing in New York and expanding into Florida at the same time,” Leonard said. “Our ability to do so is a reflection of our solid reputation as a top distributor of school and commercial buses, delivering high-quality buses and unmatched customer support.”

LBS South LLC recently acquired the statewide distribution rights for IC Bus school and commercial buses for Florida. Officials said LBS South and its 19 employees will operate as a separate company, and will bring the Leonard family’s commitment to customer service and support to the Florida school and commercial bus market.  

“IC Bus is pleased that Leonard Bus Sales is expanding operations in Florida,” said John McKinney, president of Navistar global bus. “As the recipient of the ‘IC Bus Eastern Region Dealer of the Year’ award in 2011, I am confident that LBS South will continue to excel in providing cost-effective transportation solutions to the market, matched by their unparalleled customer support.”

The LBS South team has expanded since its launch this summer, with the company bringing on Dick Epp to serve as sales manager and Tami Proctor as a member of the sales team. The two have decades of experience in the bus industry, and officials said they will put their expertise to work supporting LBS South customers across the state.  

In New York, the Leonard Bus team added former Oneida City Schools Assistant Superintendent for Finance Greg Race to the customer support team, and brought in Joe Wolfe as the products sales manager for Trans Tech Bus’ entire line of Type A school buses, including the all-electric eTrans. Race brings an in-depth knowledge of school financing to assist schools with fleet management needs, while Wolfe has over 25 years of experience in the bus business, with a specialty in Type A school buses.

“We are lucky to be partnered with the Leonard family in the distribution and support of our school and commercial buses,” incoming Trans Tech President John Phraner said. “If you want to be a market leader, then you need to be teamed with one, and that is why Trans Tech partnered with Leonard Bus Sales and LBS South.”

In New York, growth in recent years has meant new facilities in Saratoga Springs, Rome and Bergen, and expansion at the headquarters in Deposit. Each one of these facilities is home to between 15 and 30 full- and part-time employees.