What fields are the 2026 Trailblazers involved in?

The 2026 Trailblazers are involved in various aspects of student transportation, from districts to contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers, showcasing a wide range of expertise and innovative approaches to leadership.

What can others learn from the 2026 Trailblazers?

Others can learn about overcoming challenges, implementing effective solutions, and the importance of innovation in advancing the field of student transportation.

What advice do the 2026 Trailblazers offer to aspiring leaders?

The 2026 Trailblazers advise aspiring leaders to embrace change, continually seek improvement, and remain committed to making impactful contributions in their field.

Announcing the 2026 Trailblazers: 18 Young Leaders Making a Mark

Meet 18 incredible up-and-coming leaders across the U.S. from all facets of student transportation, including how they advanced, what they learned, and advice for others.

Staff Writer・Editorial

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March 18, 2026

School Bus Fleet Trailblazers 2026 award winners collage featuring headshots of transportation leaders recognized for innovation and leadership in student transportation. — We rounded up a new class of outstanding transportation professionals under 40 who are driving positive change in the industry.
Credit:
School Bus Fleet

3 min to read

As always, when the School Bus Fleet team was reviewing the nominations for this year’s Trailblazers, we were up against a wonderful problem: So many amazing applicants that we agonized over who would make the cut this time.

In the end, we selected 18 individuals with powerful stories of leadership, overcoming odds, proven successes, and inspiring personal stories. Winners represent nearly every sector of the industry, from school districts to contractors, to alternative transportation, technology, and product suppliers. Each of these young leaders has a healthy list of accomplishments, and all before age 40.

Together, their stories show the power of mentorship, of falling into transportation for all the right reasons, and leading with heart.

These 18 never lose sight of the big picture — student safety — and the entire industry is better for the work they’ve done to improve and inspire innovation and the teams around us.

Here are their stories.

Anthony Shields

Credit:

Anthony Shields/School Bus Fleet

Age: 39
Role: Director of Transportation
Employer: San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District
Location: San Marcos, TX

Read Shields’ story here.

Charli Sanders

Credit:

Charli Sanders/School Bus Fleet

Age: 37
Role: Director, Parts & Warranty
Employer: Summit School Services
Location: Warrenville, IL

Read Sanders’ story here.

Chris Storer

Credit:

Chris Storer/School Bus Fleet

Age: 37
Role: Director of Transportation
Employer: Yarmouth School Department
Location: Yarmouth, ME

Read Storer’s story here.

Dillon LaHaye

Credit:

CST/School Bus Fleet

Age: 32
Role: Founder & Chief Operating Officer
Employer: CST (Collaborative Student Transportation)
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Read LaHaye’s story here.

Eric Kramlick

Credit:

Eric Kramlick/School Bus Fleet

Age: 30
Role: Operations Manager
Employer: TransPar Group
Location: Hawaii

Read Kramlick’s story here.

Isaac Linson

Credit:

Isaac Linson/School Bus Fleet

Age: 36
Role/title: CEO
Employer: BusesForSale.com
Location: Pedricktown, NJ

Read Linson’s story here.

Jonquez Moore

Credit:

Jonquez Moore/School Bus Fleet

Age: 32
Role: Director of Transportation
Employer: Little Elm Independent School District
Location: Little Elm, TX

Read Moore’s story here.

Joshua Baran

Credit:

Joshua Baran/School Bus Fleet

Age: 38
Role: Transportation Supervisor
Employer: Odyssey Charter School
Location: Wilmington, DE

Read Baran’s story here.

Joshua Roberts

Credit:

Joshua Roberts/School Bus Fleet

Age: 35
Role: Lead IT Application Engineer – Vehicle Electrification
Employer: First Student, Inc.
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Read Roberts’ story here.

Katia Dubas

Credit:

Katia Dubas/School Bus Fleet

Age: 38
Role: Sales Manager & Safety Advocate
Employer: IMMI
Location: Westfield, IN

Read Dubas’ story here.

Keith Corso

Credit:

BusRight/School Bus Fleet

Age: 26
Role: Co-Founder & CEO
Company: BusRight
Location: New York, NY

Read Corso’s story here.

Lexi Higgins

Credit:

TAT/School Bus Fleet

Age: 38
Role: Director of Industry Engagement
Employer: TAT (Truckers Against Trafficking)
Location: New York, NY

Read Higgins’ story here.

Mashayla Nelson

Mashayla Kleinman of Cactus Point Solutions recognized as a 2026 School Bus Fleet Trailblazers winner, shown standing inside a school bus with the Trailblazers award graphic. — Credit:
Mashayla Nelson/School Bus Fleet

Age: 31
Role: Executive Director of Operations
Employer: Cactus Point Solutions
Location: Peoria, AZ

Read Nelson's story here.

Megan Elsberry

Credit:

Megan Elsberry/School Bus Fleet

Age: 37
Role: Operations Coordinator - South
Employer: Cleveland ISD
Location: Cleveland, TX

Read Elsberry’s story here.

Montavia Heath

Credit:

Montavia Heath/School Bus Fleet

Age: 30
Role: Director of Transportation
Employer: Hoke County Schools
Location: Raeford, NC

Read Heath’s story here.

Quavion Swazer

Credit:

Quavion Swazer/School Bus Fleet

Age: 29
Role: Director of Transportation
Employer: Puyallup School District
Location: Puyallup, WA

Read Swazer’s story here.

Tyler Maybee

Credit:

Tyler Maybee/School Bus Fleet

Age: 36
Role: Director of Operations, Transportation Department
Employer: Denver Public Schools
Location: Denver, CO

Read Maybee’s story here.

Vanecia Weathers

Credit:

Vanecia Weathers/School Bus Fleet

Age: 33
Role: Dispatcher
Employer: Rockwall ISD
Location: Rockwall, TX

Read Weathers’ story here.

Know someone under 40 who deserves this honor? Nominate them as a 2027 Trailblazer here by Dec. 31, 2026!

Quick Answers

The 2026 Trailblazers are 18 young leaders from across the United States who are making significant contributions in the field of student transportation.

*Summarized by AI

Topics:Trailblazers awards Emerging Leaders Management

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