Blue Bird Corporation has expanded its alternative fuels team to boost its leadership in electric- and propane-powered student transportation.

The company appointed Steve Whaley and Brad Beauchamp to the roles of alternative fuels managers.

Whaley joins Blue Bird after more than four years as director of autogas business development at the Propane Education and Research Council, a nonprofit that invests in the research and development of new propane-powered technologies. Prior to that, he ran his own clean-energy transportation consulting company, worked as a regional sales manager for Agility Fuel Solutions, and served as director of business development for Roush CleanTech.

He has a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a master’s degree in industrial education from Clemson University.

Beauchamp comes to Blue Bird from ZEVX, a leader in intelligent electric vehicle (EV) systems and infrastructure, where he served as director of product management. He also spent 28 years in a career at General Motors. Other roles include working at FCA and Roush CleanTech, as well as the U.S. Department of Energy.

He has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Central Michigan University and a master’s in business administration with a focus on global management from University of Phoenix.

“Blue Bird continues to expand its leadership in electric and propane-powered school buses by growing its alternative fuels team,” said Blue Bird President Britton Smith. “With Steve Whaley and Brad Beauchamp, we have attracted two accomplished business leaders and renowned experts in alternative fuels and supporting infrastructure projects. Their combined breadth and depths of industry knowledge and expertise is unprecedented. Blue Bird customers and dealer partners stand to benefit greatly from the expanded capabilities of our alternative fuels organization.”