Women in Buses Monthly Update: November 2025
Women in Buses Day information, WIB Awards, upcoming events, and more
NOVEMBER 2025
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
- Becca Atkinson – Trobec’s Bus Service
- Bethany Bertram – Trobec’s Bus Service
- Britny Avery – Image Tours
- Carlie Widdifield – CCIS Travel
- Genevieve Clayton – Lancer Insurance Company
- Katie McDaniel – Luray Caverns Corporation
- Tracy Fickett, CPA – BUSBooks, LLC
NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Jennifer Hadon, Corn Palace Gift Shop/Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer serves as the Tourism Retail Director for the Corn Palace Gift Shop and the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce in Mitchell, South Dakota. She oversees retail operations, coordinates bus tours and guides, develops engaging visitor experiences, and promotes tourism for the World’s Only Corn Palace and the Mitchell community.
Driven by a deep passion for hospitality, Jennifer’s goal is to give every visitor an unforgettable experience and to build a strong foundation that future generations in the tourism industry can expand upon. She is an active member of Women In Buses, the Travel Coalition of South Dakota, the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, and the American Bus Association.
Outside of work, Jennifer is dedicated to her faith community and serves as a leader in Celebrate Recovery, focusing on PTSD support. She also actively supports her local domestic violence shelter.
Jennifer joined Women In Buses after being inspired by the energy and camaraderie she experienced at her first ABA Conference in Philadelphia. She looks forward to sharing ideas, learning from fellow members, and giving back to the community of women driving the tourism and transportation industries forward.
WOMEN IN BUSES DAY
If you are attending Marketplace in Reno, NV, don’t forget to make your travel arrangements to include Women in Buses Day on January 9, 2026. This is our annual opportunity to get together as a council and celebrate our accomplishments from the prior year and discuss our future goals for 2026. The theme this year will be centered on GOALS —how to identify and accomplish them. More exciting announcements to come, so keep an eye on our social media and also the newsletter!
WIB Council is pleased to welcome Dr. Kerry Petsinger as our 2026 Women In Buses Day Keynote Speaker! Women in Buses Day is always an uplifting and inspiring day. We are excited to have Dr. Kerry set the tone for not only the New Year, but also for Marketplace and another year of WIB programming!
Dr. Petsinger is a High-Performance Coach and creator of Mornings that Matter®, the research-based, 10-minute GETUP outline to start each day feeling unstoppable. She has taught this routine to people from over 70 countries. She coaches and trains ambitious people on mindset, performance, and execution. Dr. Kerry deconstructs the science of peak performance into simple action steps to equip and empower people to perform at their best.
Friday, January 9, 1:00 – 5:00 pm PT, Reception 5:00 – 6:00 pm PT
Interested in sponsoring Women In Buses Day? See all the details here.
2026 WIB AWARD NOMINATIONS – DEADLINE NOVEMBER 14!
Leadership Award, nominate here
This award recognizes an individual or company that has advanced and promoted the role of women through mentoring, education, networking, or by creating meaningful opportunities for others.
Operational Excellence Award, nominate here
This award honors an individual who goes above and beyond in their role – from drivers and mechanics to customer service, sales, or operations – showing teamwork, dedication, and pride in their work.
These honors celebrate ABA members whose leadership, professionalism and passion make a lasting impact across the motorcoach, tourism and group travel industries.
CONNECTING THROUGH CONVERSATIONS (CTC) – A Networking Opportunity
CTC is the Women in Buses Council’s networking program designed to spark connections, one conversation at a time. Members are paired quarterly for virtual or in-person chats, creating opportunities to build relationships, share insights, and strengthen our industry.
Gearing up for the pairings in Q1 2026, sign up now!
“Networking and growing relationships through WIB participation is invaluable! I love meeting new people in the industry and learning more about roles and operations different from mine.”
WIB CALENDAR
RESCHEDULED! Wednesday Webinar: When the Wheels Come Off: Managing Disputes, Compensation, and Customer Trust in Charter & Tour Services
Wednesday, November 18, 2:00 pm ET
Learn how to protect revenue while maintaining trust and fairness with customers when the unexpected happens.
*Unable to attend on the day of the webinar? Register to receive the recorded version, which you can watch at your convenience.
Our Speakers: Joshua Turchin & Stephen Ryan
Joshua Turchin has been in passenger ground transportation for the past 17 years, with roles in sales/business development and operations management at a motorcoach tour agency. Currently, he is the Director of Charter Solutions for Coach USA, overseeing their charter sales division and overseeing charter tech, sales strategy, partnerships, and large events across the US and Canada.
Stephen Ryan has been in customer service leadership for 18 years, designing and maintaining B2B and B2C customer enhancement initiatives. He has worked in the legal, financial, and transportation spaces. Currently, he is the Director of Retail Operations for Coach USA and Megabus, which entails overseeing the end-to-end award-winning customer service platform.
Meet & Eat
Wednesday, November 19, 1:00 pm ET
Curious about something? Looking for advice? Or just want to meet some incredible people in tourism?
Come join our monthly virtual chat! This is your space to guide the conversation, swap ideas, and make genuine connections across the industry. Whether you’re here to learn, share, or simply network, you’ll find a welcoming community. Many great friendships, and even game-changing collaborations have started in these chats. Don’t miss out!
WIB – ON THE ROAD
Join your fellow Women in Buses members on the road at different industry events. WIB hosted two great gatherings this past week, “from sea to shining sea.” Members were able to spend some extra time connecting at both the California Bus Association as well as the Bus Association of New York Annual Meetings.
Do you have an event you are attending soon? Are you interested in helping to host an OTR? We’re always on the hunt for additional opportunities to meet. Contact us at [email protected].
WIB BOOK CLUB
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin has been selected for the club’s fall read. For this selection, members return to a fictional read that packs a powerful punch. It’s a story of an unlikely friendship between a 17-year-old terminal patient, Lenni and 83-year-old Margot. Ironically, this story may even be an EXCELLENT lead in for WIB Day! Stay tuned!
Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 13, 2:00 pm ET. Invitations and zoom links will be sent shortly to book club members. If interested in joining email [email protected]
MILESTONE MOMENTS
Congratulations to Jamie Casey, recently named President of C&J Bus Lines. This announcement comes on the heels of her 30th work anniversary with the Portsmouth, NH company. Jim Jalbert, C&J Bus Lines CEO offers, “Jamie’s journey with C&J is truly remarkable. She started as a part-time employee while still in high school and has grown into a strong, visionary leader. Her dedication, expertise, and deep understanding of our customers and operations make her the perfect person to lead C&J into its next chapter.” Read more about Jamie’s journey.
“Success isn’t about the end result, it’s about what you learn along the way.” ~Vera Wang
