News from the Women in Buses Council: October 2024
LAST CHANCE: Nominations for Women in Buses Awards Closes November 8
Each year Women in Buses honors two individuals or companies that best reflect the Women in Buses mission.
Please consider nominating someone you believe deserves these two esteemed awards. They will be presented on January 31 at Women in Buses Day in Philadelphia.
- Women in Buses Award recognizes an individual or company who has directly impacted the advancement and promotion of women within and among the motorcoach, tourism, and hospitality industries. Nomination form
- Women in Buses Operational Excellence Award is presented to an individual who displays excellence in service to their organization. This includes customer operations, drivers, mechanics, sales, or any other impactful area within the travel and tourism industries. Nomination form
Nominations will be accepted through Friday, November 8, but please don’t wait. WIB’s sponsor, Motor Coach Industries, will present both awards.
CONNECTING THROUGH CONVERSATIONS – NEXT ROUND OF MATCHES COMING
Our newest networking initiative will soon start its next round of Connecting Through Conversations (CTC) chats.
Communication and networking are pillars of WIB’s mission, as we understand the benefits – professionally and personally. We all have our “conference buddies” that we only see several times a year during various events and conferences. CTC allows these relationships to grow as colleagues and, more importantly, as friends.
If you’re new to CTC, participating is as simple.
1. You sign up by Monday, November 4.
2. Next month you’ll receive an email message introducing you to your match.
3. You and your match find a time that fits your schedules for an informal chat to get to know each other better. This can be in person, online, or via the phone.
Here’s what current/previous participants have said came from their initial conversation:
You do not need to do anything if you’ve already enrolled in CTC. If you haven’t yet participated, please sign up by Monday, November 4.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Angel Green – Visit OKC
Karen Reynolds – Georgia Coach Line
Rowena Sahulee – NYC Experiences
Reya Samuel – DATTCO, Inc.
Becca Van Meter – Hale Transportation
The WIB Calendar of Events
Tuesday, November 5, 5:00 pm ET
WIB On the Road – at the Ontario Motor Coach Association’s Marketplace
Join us for a meetup at Legend’s Sports Bar, inside Caesar’s Palace. Don’t forget your business cards. Bring a friend.
Wednesday, November 6, 2:00 pm ET
Balancing Strength and Empathy: Leading with Feminine Traits
Presenter: Janel Braden, Communications Specialist, San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association.
Balancing strength and empathy is about embracing a well-rounded approach that integrates traditional female traits such as emotional intelligence, compassion, and collaboration. Mastering this balance demonstrates that strength isn’t just about authority or control —it’s about understanding, listening, and nurturing relationships to build trust and inspire those around you. By leading with strength and empathy, you can foster environments where innovation thrives, individuals feel valued, and collective success is prioritized.
Passionate about empowering women, presenter Jalel Braden is dedicated to creating space where women can not only be seen but heard. She is an accomplished Public Relations professional with a strong background in communications, stakeholder relations, and project management. She has successfully led and contributed to award-winning projects that enhance and improve efficiency for her organization and its members.
Tuesday, November 12
WIB Book Club Discussion
The Collected Regrets of Clover, by Mikki Brammer
More information on this month’s book club below. Email wib@buses.org to be added to the meeting invite.
Wednesday, November 20 1:00 pm ET
Want to share a success story? Ask about Marketplace? Find out which hotel has the most comfortable sheets? Talk about your latest binge-watching program? Join us for a free-flowing conversation where (just about) anything goes.
WIB BOOK CLUB
Join us for a lively discussion on the Book Club’s latest title, The Collected Regrets of Clover, by Mikki Brammer. We’ll discuss and share thoughts around some of the key lessons from the book. Whether you’re a casual reader or a bookworm, this club is the perfect time to explore a great read and get to know other WIB members in a casual, non-work setting. To join the discussion on November 12, please email wib@buses.org to be added to the meeting e-vite.
HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR WOMEN IN BUSES DAY?
Friday, January 31, 12:30pm – 5:30pmET (NEW earlier start time) at Marketplace in Philadelphia
Planning is moving along nicely for what we hope will be our biggest and best WIB Day at Marketplace. This year’s theme, “She Believed She Could, So She Did,” aligns with our goal of empowering ourselves and each other.
Our keynote speaker, Gloria Guillaume will lead us in a workshop to gain a renewed sense of ability, face challenges and stressors with positive determination and drive, and overcome limiting behaviors to get things done! Following the workshop, we will have our popular, engaging networking session, and finish with our reception.
If you haven’t registered yet, there’s no better time than now. Register in the My Marketplace Passport!
Milestone Moments
Congratulations to WIB Member Emma Quinn who has recently accepted a new position with Collette Travel and Tours. Emma, formerly of Visit Rochester will begin a new position will Collette, working in Client Care in the Northeast. She is extremely excited about her new venture, as are we! Congrats Emma!
If you have a milestone moment to share we’d love to hear about it and so would our readers! Email us at wib@buses.org for our submission in our next newsletter.
