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SBFX Keynote Announced: Ann Vote to Share Tips on Leadership and Team Culture

Find out who will be providing this year's keynote at SBFX in Scottsdale this September and what else to expect. District and contractor bus operators are invited to apply and attend at no cost!

June 30, 2026
Promotional graphic for School Bus Fleet ConneX (SBFX) 2026 announcing keynote speaker Ann Vote. The image features a headshot of Vote, a leadership and workplace culture coach, alongside event branding and text noting her appearance at SBFX 2026. A background photo shows attendees networking outdoors at a resort-style venue.

Leadership coach Ann Vote will deliver the opening keynote at the 2026 School Bus Fleet Exchange, sharing practical strategies for building stronger teams through communication and intentional leadership.

Credit:

Ann Vote/School Bus Fleet

3 min to read


School Bus Fleet is excited to announce our 2026 SBFX keynote speaker and full agenda!

Leadership coach Ann Vote will headline the upcoming School Bus Fleet Exchange (SBFX), taking place Sept. 21-23, 2026. The event will also feature educational content on transporting passengers with special needs, a panel discussing trends and topics in the industry, the annual SBF awards ceremony, and of course, lots of networking over great food with great company, and curated meetings just for you.

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Keynote Announcement

Vote will present during the opening dinner keynote the evening of Monday, Sept. 22.

Ignite Your IMPACT: Lead with Clarity, Alignment, and Appreciation

Leading a successful transportation team takes more than keeping routes on schedule; it requires building a culture where people feel valued, supported, and connected to a shared purpose.

In this energizing keynote, Ann Vote will inspire leaders to ignite their IMPACT through clear communication, intentional leadership, and meaningful appreciation that strengthens morale and trust across their teams. Through relatable stories, practical strategies, and interactive moments, attendees will leave motivated to create a culture where both people and performance thrive.

About Ann Vote

Ann Vote is a leadership speaker, trainer, and workplace culture coach who helps organizations create environments where people feel valued, trusted, and motivated to perform at their best. Through her engaging presentations and practical IMPACT method, Vote equips leaders with strategies to strengthen communication, build trust, and foster cultures that drive both employee engagement and organizational success. Her energizing and relatable approach leaves audiences inspired to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and influence. Learn more about her at annvote.com.

Other SBFX Highlights

We also will feature a session on "Wheelchair Etiquette & Mobility Independence," presented by AMF Bruns' Brianna Pauwee, as well as live polling and an interactive panel discussion to drill down into your biggest pain points and how to solve them.

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SBFX will also celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of industry leaders at our awards ceremony, where we'll announce the winners of our 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Award with AngelTrax, Special-Needs Driver of the Year with AMF Bruns, and hear from the 2026 Administrator of the Year and Contractor of the Year, and recognize the Trailblazers and Photo of the Year winners.

Plus, throughout the event, attendees will be able to enjoy great food, so many snacks, complimentary drinks, and all with great company. They'll network with their peers and be able to spend meaningful time making connections with suppliers.

Interested in SBFX?

SBFX convenes September 21-23, 2026, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The event allows pupil transportation professionals to meet and network with like-minded peers to build relationships, learn, and grow together. 

School bus operators (district employees and contractors) who qualify can attend for FREE. Apply here!

Interested in sponsoring the event? Just a couple of supplier host spots are left; learn more and download the prospectus here.

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Seats are still open, but are filling up fast. We can't wait to see you there!

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