FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Bud Fears, the Midwest regional sales manager for securement supplier Q’Straint/Sure-Lok, has retired after 10 years with the company.

During his tenure, Fears assisted school districts, transit properties, and paratransit operators across the U.S. with their transportation safety equipment needs, according to a news release from Q’Straint. One of his specialties was conducting wheelchair securement training programs — both onsite and at industry conferences — at the local, state, and national levels, according to the supplier.

“Bud is truly one of the best people I have had the pleasure to work alongside of at Q’Straint,” said Mike Grom, the company’s director of sales for the mobility, school bus, and paratransit segments. “He has done so much for our industry and will definitely be missed by everyone that he has touched along the way.”

Fears began his career in pupil transportation safety 35 years ago, selling roof hatches for transit and school buses. He gained additional transportation safety experience while conducting sales for a school bus stop arm supplier.

At Q’Straint, Fears represented both the school bus and paratransit segments, and played a key role in expanding the company’s wheelchair securement market throughout the Midwest region. He also acquired significant knowledge of Q’Straint’s QRT series — the company’s occupant restraint product line.

“Bud always represented the company with the utmost professionalism and integrity,” said Jim Reaume, the director of national transit sales for Q’Straint/Sure-Lok. “He was also determined to find new ways to help his customers ensure that their students were safe and secure every time they traveled on a school bus.”

As far as his plans for the future, Fears told Q’Straint that he intends to support his community by assisting veterans.