The Pennsylvania School Bus Association (PSBA) announced the hiring of Joe Mandrusiak as the association's new executive director on July 18. And just a week earlier, it named the winners of its recent PSBA Bus Stops Here Awards.

New Executive Director

Mandrusiak was a political consultant and campaign advisor for nearly a decade, gaining broad experience in public policy, direct outreach, development, and the legislative process. Through this experience, he has been able to build strong relationships with local, state, and federal leaders and agencies. Mandrusiak has also served on several community based boards in an effort to directly improve the communities in which he served.

“On behalf of the PSBA members and officers, I would like to give Joe a warm welcome,” PSBA President Shawn McGlinchey said. “We are excited to have Joe in the driver’s seat, steering our day-to-day operations and advancing our mission. The team at PSBA is a dedicated group of volunteers that work to advance our goals of safety, education and advocacy for the school bus industry. I am confident that the skills and knowledge Joe acquired during his professional career will make him an excellent leader for our team.”

“It is a true honor to have been selected to build upon the great foundation that the PSBA has laid out for its members,” Mandrusiak added. “The PSBA’s focus on ensuring high-quality and safe student transportation is of the greatest importance for the communities in which this industry serves, and I look forward to advancing their mission.”

Mandrusiak attended Drexel University on a division 1 wrestling scholarship, where he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a minor in economics. He resides in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife Rachel, their son, James, and their two dogs, Bella and Warren.

Ed Allandar and Larry Althouse Receive the PSBA Bus Stops Here Award

At PSBA 's Annual Convention and Trade Show in Champion, Pennsylvania, held June 26 to June 28, 2022, the organization honored two winners of its PSBA Bus Stops Here Award. The Bus Stops Here Award is presented to a person the PSBA executive committee feels has made a significant contribution to the association. This person upholds the ideals of the Pennsylvania School Bus Association and has worked to fulfill the safety, education, and advocacy missions of the association. Upon nomination, the executive committee affirms that the nominee is respected and held as a role model within their peers, school administration, and members of the community, and has upheld the core values of the association and meaningfully contributed to its mission.

Ed Allandar, VP after sales support - parts – service for Rohrer, was presented with the 2022 PSBA Bus Stops Here Award.

“Ed has dedicated his entire working life to the Pennsylvania school bus industry," David Schrantz, Rohrer, PSBA's second vice president, said. "His expertise has been widely recognized among various organizations throughout the state and he has represented the PA school bus industry on numerous occasions at the Federal level. Ed formally retired at the end of 2021. Ed's dedication and contribution to the industry deserve to be recognized and this award is a perfect way to do so.”

In an unprecedented turn of events, during the PSBA Annual Banquet on June, 27, 2022, it was announced that a second Bus Stops Here Award was being presented. The deserving nominee was selected in 2020 to receive the award, but with the cancellation of the 2020 Annual Convention, it was never awarded.

Larry Althouse, president of Althouse Transportation, received the 2020 PSBA Bus Stops Here Award.

Denille Girardat-Myers, Girardat LP, PSBA's immediate past president, said: “When we think of a person who upholds the safety, education and advocacy mission of PSBA, we always think of Larry. Larry has been a PSBA member for a long time and has always represented our association in a positive, professional and caring manner. In fact, his strength of character and compassion for others is very genuine; such a nice disposition in today’s 'all about me' world. We know that Larry is extremely involved in his immediate community and will do what it takes to ensure that his business is working toward providing safe transportation to all. Larry is also a well-respected member of PSBA. One can always pick up the phone and reach out to Larry for advice, conversation and knowledge. Larry is readily available to help at the Safety Competition; supports PSBA events; assists in Harrisburg if needed; continues to be very active with quarterly meetings and the annual convention. Larry is a member that is concerned about the small contractor and will challenge how a decision could impact their business. In closing, we would like to thank the executive committee for considering Larry Althouse for the award. Having spent many years on committees and going up through the chain of command of PSBA, he is an all-around candidate and a deserving person for this award.”

Walter Garing, WJNJG, PSBA board member, added: "Larry is a true gentleman in every sense of the word. When I first became a board member, he welcomed me with open arms, never once treating me as a stranger or newbie. He told me if I ever needed anything to just ask him and he would help. This impressed me very much as a true gentleman and a dying breed in today’s society. Larry does a lot behind the scenes to keep PSBA a viable and respected organization and never seeks public or even board recognition for anything he does to promote PSBA and the ideals which PSBA’s represents. Through personal strife, Larry has never once lost sight of his commitment to PSBA and the school bus industry. I feel Larry is more than deserving of this recognition. I hope the entire PSBA board feels as I do. I will nominate Larry for this much deserved the Bus Stops Here Award.”

The Pennsylvania School Bus Association was founded in 1980 and consists of over 300 school bus contractors and industry partners.