How does a b2b trade publication stay on top of everything in its niche and maintain relevancy in rapidly changing times? 

We do our best as editors and publishers to deliver the news, articles, videos, and more to keep you, our readers, in the know. But, we don’t always catch everything. That’s where a trusted team of experts steps in to fill in the gaps.

For decades, School Bus Fleet has had an editorial advisory board tasked with keeping us on track. But, we want them to be more than names on a page. We want them to be recognized and celebrated for what they each bring to the industry, to their communities, and to their own teams. We want them to be people you can trust to help us help you. 

For 2025, we’re proud to introduce a diverse group of nine industry leaders who bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and passion to the table. 

So, please, allow us to introduce you to SBF’s recently refreshed editorial advisory board. 

Members of the SBF Editorial Advisory Board

• Max Christensen, Sr. Safety Advocate, First Light Safety Products, Des Moines, Iowa

• Michael Dallessandro, Recruiter, Student Transportation of America, Grand Island, New York

• Tim Flood, EVP, The Trans Group, Spring Valley, New York

• Derek Graham, Pupil Transportation Consultant, Cary, North Carolina

• Greg Jackson, Dir. of Business Development, School Bus Logistics, Denver, Colorado

• Dan Kobussen, VP and Owner, Kobussen Buses, Kaukauna, Wisconsin

• Teri Mapengo, Director of Transportation, Prosper (Texas) Independent School District

• Teena Mitchell, Special Needs Transportation Coord., Greenville (S.C.) County Schools

• Alex Spann, State Director for Student Transportation, Tennessee Department of Education

Each individual listed here has been hand-picked by our staff based on a range of factors. 

The board’s makeup will always consist of between five and 10 leaders across North America, representing diverse experiences and geographies. Each member is an active participant in the K-12 school transportation industry, with at least 10 years of experience.

Each individual will regularly contribute to and advise SBF staff, participate in content throughout our magazine and website, and keep an ear to the ground to ensure that we stay current.

Get to Know the Board Members

Now, meet the individuals who will be guiding our mission this year and discover the faces and voices behind the stories, insights, and innovations that make School Bus Fleet your trusted resource. You’ll be hearing from these folks much more often in the future!

Max Christensen, Senior Safety Advocate, First Light Safety Products

Max Christensen joined the First Light Safety Products team as senior safety advocate in May 2024, bringing his extensive experience and dedication to student transportation across North America. The Christensen family’s passion for school buses began before Max was even born, with his father, Dale, working as a part-time school bus driver in Iowa. In 1986, Christensen helped a stuck pickup truck, leading to a recommendation from the pickup driver for the transportation director position at Anita Community School District. Initially hesitant, he took the job to supplement his farming income. Despite thinking it would be part-time, the “yellow” got into his blood while he took on multiple roles in Fort Dodge, before becoming the transportation director at Perry Community School District in 1998. In 2003, Christensen became state director for student transportation at the Iowa Department of Education. His journey continued in 2012 when he became president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation (NASDPTS), where he served for two years as president and an additional eight years on the NASDPTS executive team. 

Michael P. Dallessandro,WNY Recruitment Specialist, STA/Ridge Road Express

Mike Dallessandro retired in 2020 after a 30-year career as a public school transportation director with a significant focus on operations, labor, relations, driver training, and school bus accident prevention. He has been a volunteer firefighter with the Grand Island Fire Co. for over 42 years. He has been a contributor to SBF and is currently working for Student Transportation of America in western New York state as a recruiter.

Tim Flood, Executive Vice President, The Trans Group

Tim Flood serves as executive vice president of The Trans Group, one of New York State’s largest school transportation providers. Flood began his career at The Trans Group more than 35 years ago as a part-time school bus driver. Now, he oversees the safe transport of hundreds of thousands of passengers annually in lower New York State and Long Island. He is the recipient of the National School Transportation Association’s (NSTA) Hall of Fame and Golden Merit, Distinguished Service award. He also received School Bus Fleet’s Contractor of the Year Award and has served on both the NSTA andthe New York School Bus Contractor’s Association’s Board of Directors, including as president of both organizations.

Derek Graham, Pupil Transportation Consultant

Derek Graham served 21 years as state director of pupil transportation with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Beginning his career with the Institute for Transportation Research and Education, he worked for 33 years with computer routing, software support and all aspects of the pupil transportation program in North Carolina including information systems, funding formulas, as well as vehicle specifications, purchasing, maintenance, inspection, and disposal. He was involved in numerous school bus safety initiatives. Graham is a former board member and president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). He currently provides consulting services to clients including Edulog, where he helps school districts succeed in technology implementation, and ToXcel, LLC, working on a number of NHTSA-related projects including lap-shoulder belt implementation and illegal passing.

Greg Jackson, School Bus Logistics, Director of Business Development

As a former executive transportation director, Jackson knows his way around the logistics, best practices and legislation of student transportation. With more than 20 years’ experience, he has the understanding and skills to guide districts to find efficiencies in their routing and operations while maintaining a safe environment for students. 

Dan Kobussen, Owner and Vice President, Kobussen Buses

The Kobussen Buses story began in 1938 when the Kaukauna Board of Education chose Elwood Kobussen to transport out-of-town students to and from the Kaukauna High School. The business grew over the years, changing names from Kaukauna Bus Service to Kobussen Buses, Ltd. in 1976. Dan, youngest son of Elwood’s eldest, joined the company in 1994. In 2012, the company received SBF’s Contractor of the Year award. Today, Kobussen has over 900 dedicated team members who operate and maintain a fleet of luxury motorcoaches, school buses, and special needs-equipped transit vehicles from 20 locations (28 school districts). Dan holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh and an executive MBA from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Teri Mapengo, Director of Transportation, Prosper ISD

Teri Mapengo is a highly experienced and dedicated professional in the field of transportation, currently serving as the director at Prosper (Texas) ISD. She has been a part of the transportation industry since 2013, starting her career as a school bus driver. Through her hard work and determination, she has progressed through various roles and now oversees a 215-bus system. With her certification as a TAPT Pupil Transportation Official and her current role as president of NTAPT, Mapengo is a respected leader in the industry. She is passionate about serving others and guiding them toward success, just as she was guided by others in her own career. Mapengo firmly believes in the importance and impact of transportation in the education system, stating that it is the backbone that makes a difference.

Teena Mitchell, Special Needs Coordinator, Greenville County Schools

Teena Mitchell, CDPT, CSNT, CPST, LLS, is the special needs coordinator for Greenville County (S.C.) Schools. She has over 20 years of experience in transporting students with disabilities and has served on the advisory board of School Bus Fleet and the boards of both the National (NAPT) and the South Carolina (SCAPT) Association of Pupil Transportation. She has also served on the National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) writing committees for 2020 and 2025.

Alex M. Spann, Student Transportation Manager, Tennessee Department of Education

Alex Spann, CDPT, is a seasoned transportation professional with nearly 15 years of experience in the school bus industry. As student transportation manager for the Tennessee Department of Education, Spann collaborates with agencies such as the Tennessee State Board of Education and the Tennessee Highway Patrol to ensure all public school and charter transportation departments comply with state and federal laws. His role includes training new transportation supervisors, delivering annual professional development for transportation directors, and conducting on-site monitoring of transportation operations across the state. He joined TDOE in May 2020 as transportation consultant and began his current role in the fall of 2023. Spann’s career began in Dickson County, Tenn., where he worked as a substitute school bus driver at just 21 years old. He later oversaw training and safety operations for a contracted school bus provider. In addition to his state leadership role, Spann serves on the advisory board for the Tennessee Association of Pupil Transportation, as the secretary and Region 2 director for the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) and is program chair for the Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference (SESPTC). He also represents Tennessee within the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS).

Plans for the Board & How YOU Can Get Involved

Each member will begin a two-year term, effective January 2025-December 2026, with the possibility to renew.

But, serving on the board isn’t the only way to contribute to SBF! We want all readers and representatives of the industry to feel free to reach out to our team anytime. We’re interested in building meaningful relationships with many more people who make up the vibrant and diverse world we all live and work in. 

Would you like to be considered for the next editorial board or want to get more involved in SBF behind the scenes? Reach out to our staff anytime, or email Executive Editor Amanda Huggett with questions or concerns.