Check out the recipients from the first two Trailblazers Awards:
Announcing the 2025 Trailblazers: Inspirational Leaders & Change Makers
Meet 12 inspiring up-and-coming leaders in student transportation from this year’s crop of SBF award winners.
March 24, 2025
Twelve outstanding professionals under 40 years of age are honored for their leadership and dedication to bringing positive change to the industry.
Photo: SBF/Canva
3 min to read
From district directors and dispatchers to clerks and mechanics, alternative transportation providers, association leaders, contractor executives, manufacturers, and school bus dealers, our 2025 Trailblazers span the industry and the continent.
For the third annual Trailblazers Awards, SBF selected 12 individuals under 40 who stood out for their leadership and commitment to student safety, teamwork, industry involvement, technology adoption, innovation, and impact.
They all share a deep passion for pupil transportation and a desire for all students to have reliable access to an education. These young leaders have each overcome challenges of their own and found creative solutions to push forward. Each also discussed how they hope the field becomes more celebrated and that school bus drivers and administrators are respected for their contributions.
With amazing people like these 12 among us, we have no doubt the future of the school transportation industry is bright. Get to know each of their stories at the links below.
Jessica Aquino
Jessica Aquino
- Age: 38
- Role: FirstAlt Services Sr. Director
- Employer: First Student
- Location: Houston, TX
Randall Crawford
Randall Crawford
- Age: 36
- Role: Director of Transportation
- District: Clay County District Schools
- Location: Green Cove Springs, FL
Megan Fratzke
Megan Fratzke
- Age: 39
- Role: Dispatcher
- District: Bemidji Area Schools, ISD 31
- Location: Bemidji, MN
Brooke Garcia
Brooke Garcia
- Age: 34
- Role: CEO
- Employer: 4Seasons Transportation
- Location: Calgary, AB
Dylan Gutierrez
Dylan Gutierrez
- Age: 28
- Role: Assistant Mechanic
- District: Mohave Valley Elementary School District 16
- Location: Mohave Valley, AZ
Michael Henley
Photo: Daquavius Coleman
Michael Henley
- Age: 31
- Role: Coordinator of Transportation
- District: Douglas County School System
- Location: Douglasville, GA
David Johnson
David Johnson
- Age: 39
- Role: Executive Director
- Employer: Iowa Pupil Transportation Association
- Location: Van Meter, IA
Morgan Judge
Morgan Judge
- Age: 35
- Role: Sr. Director of Regulation, Compliance, and Policy
- Employer: EverDriven Technologies, LLC
- Location: Greater Denver Metro, CO
Whitney Kopanko
Whitney Kopanko
- Age: 32
- Role: Director of Marketing & School Bus Sales / EV Program Manager
- Employer: Sonny Merryman
- Location: Evington, VA
Ira Kuenzli
Ira Kuenzli
- Age: 33
- Role: Associate Director, Contracted Services Strategy
- Employer: IC Bus
- Location: Lisle, IL
Latisha McIntyre Johnson
Photo: Take a Shot Photography, Tina Bloodworth
Latisha McIntyre Johnson
- Age: 36
- Role: Cost Clerk
- District: New Hanover County Schools
- Location: Wilmington, NC
Read McIntyre Johnson’sstory here.
Nikki Patterson
Nikki Patterson
- Age: 39
- Role: Safety and Training Supervisor
- District: Pearland ISD
- Location: Pearland, TX
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