School Bus Fleet has a new top editor, but she’s not new to School Bus Fleet.

Before I give you the details on that, let me say a few words about Tom McMahon. If you haven’t already read his editorial in the November issue, here’s a spoiler: After 16 years with SBF, Tom has left us to take on a new career opportunity.

While we’re excited for Tom as he embarks on a new professional pursuit, we’ll certainly miss him here at SBF — and I’m sure many of you readers will as well. Tom started on the magazine as an assistant editor in 2002 and moved up the ranks fairly quickly, becoming the top editor in 2007.

Over those 16 years, Tom learned the nuances of the school bus industry and earned the respect of many pupil transportation leaders. He chronicled school bus operators’ successes and challenges, he wrote insightful (and often poignantly personal) editorials, he spoke at state and national conferences, and he even appeared on Good Morning America. He has been a tireless champion of the yellow bus and an effective ambassador of the School Bus Fleet brand.

Nicole Schlosser has been working with Tom on SBF for more than five years, most recently as managing editor, so she is well prepared to take the editorial reins — or steering wheel, more fittingly.

The good news is that we have a natural successor already on staff. Nicole Schlosser has been working with Tom on SBF for more than five years, most recently as managing editor, so she is well-prepared to take the editorial reins — or steering wheel, more fittingly — of School Bus Fleet. And so, I’m delighted to announce that we’ve promoted Nicole to executive editor.

Before coming aboard SBF in 2013, Nicole worked as an editor and writer for SBF’s sister publication here at Bobit Business Media, Metro Magazine. In that role, she covered the transit and motorcoach industries for more than six years, so she has broad experience and extensive knowledge of the bus world.

Feel free to join me in congratulating Nicole. You can reach her at nicole.schlosser@bobit.com, or look for her at the NAPT and NASDPTS conferences in Kansas City, Missouri.

With Nicole’s promotion to executive editor, we’ve brought aboard a new team member. Sadiah Thompson is now assistant editor of SBF. While you haven’t met her yet, you might have already seen her name in the magazine. She recently wrote an excellent article for SBF about how school bus drivers in Iowa are being trained to identify and report signs of human trafficking.

It’s an exciting time here at SBF. Our new editorial team is sure to bring fresh ideas and energy to the venerable School Bus Fleet brand. They will see to it that we remain your top source for school transportation information — in print, online, and in person.

Meanwhile, be sure to keep an eye out this December for our Fact Book, which is filled with industry statistics and contacts, as well as our 2019 calendar.