CALGARY, Alberta — Longtime transportation safety specialist Gary Catapano has been named the new chief strategy and safety advisor for Magtec Products Inc.

In this newly created role, Catapano will help promote SafeSpeed — Magtec's vehicle management system that limits a vehicle’s maximum speed to posted speed limits and allows customers to remotely disable moving vehicles safely in emergencies, according to a news release from the company.

“Gary’s unique and long-standing perspective on safety and safer travel will be an enormous benefit to our company and all of our stakeholders, especially passengers,” said Bob Morisset, president and CEO of Magtec. “We know Gary’s unrelenting pursuit of safety, excellence, and saving lives will go such a long way toward helping our customers reach their goals of reducing risks and helping drivers and passengers get home safely each day.”

During Catapano’s 25-year career in transportation safety, he has held senior executive safety positions at large passenger transportation companies, including his most recent post as First Student’s senior vice president of safety, a position he held for 14 years.

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At First Student, Catapano led safety decisions that impacted more than 55,000 school buses transporting students across North America every day, according to Magtec. He also served as the senior safety advisor and chair of FirstGroup America’s safety council, which provided safety guidance and review of First Transit as well as First Student, Greyhound, and First Vehicle Services.

Catapano said he joined Magtec because he believes in the higher purpose of SafeSpeed.

“Speeding is one of the major causes of serious crashes and fatalities on our highways. In all of my years of work as a highway safety professional, I searched for a product like this,” Catapano said. “It is truly the holy grail of safety technology for preventing speeding, and it helps companies to operate safely and demonstrate care for the lives of their employees, passengers, and everyone else on the road.”

Catapano also brings to Magtec a passion for sharing his safety expertise beyond the corporate world. He previously served as chair of the National Safety Council’s transportation safety division and on its board of safety delegates. He also served as chair of the National School Transportation Association’s safety and security committee for five consecutive terms.

In addition, Catapano has worked with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Agency, Transportation Security Agency, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, helping to guide decision-making for transportation safety policy.