Women in Buses Day Celebrates Growth, Leadership, and Alignment
From awards to personal insight, a packed agenda in Reno
Women in Buses Day brought out accomplished and inspiring speakers, an engaged crowd, and a lot of energy Friday at ABA Marketplace at the Reno Sparks Convention Center.
The event, led by Women in Buses Chair Amanda Koelker and Past Chair Christa McCusker, included opening comments from ABA President and CEO Fred Ferguson, Tim Barnes of Platinum Sponsor MCI, presentation of the 2026 Women in Buses awards, and presentations by Dr. Kerry Petsinger and Tiffany McMacken, as well as giveaways followed by a reception.
Welcome address from Fred Ferguson
Ferguson told the group that WIB sets a standard for ABA. “Women in Buses is incredibly engaged,” he said. “That standard is what we’re chasing in ABA.”
He also referenced ABA Avenue and the 100-year timeline, noting that they show a level of impact. “When you show up, people notice,” he said.
Year in Review
Koelker gave a rundown of the organization’s achievements and activities over the past year and recognized the outgoing and incoming leadership teams.
She highlighted the group’s growth, noting that WIB added 60 members, with 356 participating in webinars and more than 150 registering for the event at this year’s Marketplace.
WIB Awards Presentation
Lynn Marzullo of Motor Coach Industries took to the stage to present the WIB Operational Excellence Award to Savannah Fernandez of Star Shuttle and Charters.
Erin Sullivan of Bloom Tour & Charter Services presented the Women in Buses Award to Chris Rackmyre of the Maine Tour Connection.
Mornings That Matter: Start Each Day Feeling Unstoppable
Dr. Kerry Petsinger opened her presentation by talking about her early married life and unsuccessful attempts to start a family before having four children and redirecting her life and career. She profiled her transformative 10-minute morning routine, which she noted with the acronym GETUP.
“G” stands for gratitude, which she said decreases stress, strengthens relationships, and inspires success.
“E” is for envision. Petsinger related how achievers saw their success in their mind before accomplishing it, particularly Jack Canfield, the author of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series, who was rejected by more than 100 publishers but envisioned himself as a New York Times best-selling author before it happened.
“T” stands for today’s why, which helps us focus on what matters and prompts us to do the hard things for peak performance.
“U” is for unstoppable mind and body, leading to bigger goal-setting, pushing through barriers, making power statements, and power moves.
“P” stands for purpose-driven action, adding meaning, connectedness, or value in two minutes.
The Power of Yes and the Wisdom of NO
Tiffany McMacken engaged the audience with an interactive, intensive look at making aligned choices in work and life.
She shared a story about how, even though she had a full plate, she stopped to make cupcakes for her son’s birthday celebration on short notice, pointing out that we all experience “cupcake moments.”
McMacken presented an exercise in which attendees imagined their best year ahead, answering worksheet questions on aligned yeses—which give energy—and misaligned yeses—which drain energy.
She asked attendees to describe the energy they would like to bring to their lives and what they would become if everything were aligned.
Then she asked participants to choose their one word for 2026, which they eventually inscribed on a button that each attendee had received when entering the room.
