COACH AMERICA NAMES CHAD DIXON COO
(Dallas, TX – December 1, 2009) - Coach America President, George Maney, announced that effective December 1, 2009 that Chad Dixon has joined the company as the COO. Chad will be based out of the Dallas office and will report directly to George. Chad brings a tremendous amount of energy and substantial experience managing and growing capital intensive businesses in competitive industries, said Maney.
Most recently, Chad served as COO of Bus and Coach International (BCI) for Pronaia Capital Partners, a private equity firm, where he had served as Vice President of Investments and Operations. Prior to BCI, Chad has had a distinguished career which has included five years as President of Scenic Airlines where he managed the business through the significant downturn following 9/11.
COACH AMERICA NAMES GEORGE MANEY PRESIDENT
(Dallas, TX – November 4, 2008) - Coach America, the largest tour and charter bus operator and the second largest motorcoach services provider in the U.S., today announced that George Maney, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has been named President of Coach America, effective immediately.
Mr. Maney has over 20 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry. Prior to joining Coach America in 2006, Mr. Maney served as Vice President of Operations at Independent Stationers. Earlier in his career, he held finance and managerial positions at Daisytek International, McKesson and American Airlines. He holds a B.A. from The University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.
“It is exciting and satisfying to promote such a capable individual from within our organization,” said Mike Haley, Chairman of the Board of Coach America and a member of Fenway Partners Resources. “George is intelligent, dedicated and very responsive to the needs of our customers, employees and the marketplace. Coach America has made great strides in our performance at all levels in 2008 and we look forward to George leading us to continued growth in 2009.”
Mr. Maney commented, “I am honored to be given this opportunity to lead Coach America into its next phase of growth and development. I look forward to working with Mike and the rest of the Coach America and Fenway teams to realize the Company’s tremendous potential.”
Mr. Maney will work with members of the finance team to handle his former responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer until a permanent replacement is named.
The Company also announced that Bill Bergstrom, Chief Operating Officer, has left the Company in order to pursue other opportunities. The Board of Directors has initiated a search for a permanent replacement and will make an announcement when the process has concluded.
Mr. Haley added, “On behalf of the entire organization, the Board of Directors wants to thank Bill for his dedication and service to Coach America. We are grateful for all of his efforts and wish him well in his future endeavors.”
COACH AMERICA ACQUIRES OHIO-BASED LAKEFRONT LINES AND HOPKINS AIRPORT LIMOUSINE
(Dallas, TX – April 22, 2008) - Coach America Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of motorcoach services, has completed its acquisition of Lakefront Lines and Hopkins Airport Limousine of Cleveland, Ohio.
Lakefront is the largest coach operator in Ohio with operations in Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati and Detroit. The company provides charter, tour, contract and scheduled services, and is one of the oldest passenger transportation companies in Ohio.
Lakefront and Hopkins have been owned by the Goebel family for 40 years. Tom Goebel will continue in his role of General Manager and Chris Goebel assumed the title of Assistant General Manager upon the closing.
“This purchase comes at just the right time for me and my family,” according to Tom Goebel. “We had hoped for a sale to a large, national company that would respect our heritage and help us to take advantage of additional opportunities in the surrounding markets. Coach America fit that image perfectly.”
Lakefront was the recipient of the Large Operator Vision Award for 2007 from the United Motorcoach Association. Mike Haley, executive chairman of Coach America, explained, “we were highly impressed with the reputation of Lakefront in Ohio and the model by which it operates its business. There aren’t many coach companies in the U.S. that have a fleet this size with each of the coaches less than five years old, and a strong emphasis on providing safe, dependable and high quality service to its customers and a great workplace for its employees.”
The Lakefront acquisition represents an expansion into new geographic territory for Coach America. The company already maintains a number-one position in most of the 30 major markets it serves throughout the western, southeastern and mid-Atlantic sections of the United States. Lakefront adds to that stature in the mid-west and provides an excellent platform for growth within the region.
COACH AMERICA ACQUIRES SAN DIEGO-BASED CONTACTOURS
(Dallas, TX – July 5, 2006) - Coach America, the nation’s largest charter and tour company, has acquired Contactours, the oldest sightseeing company in San Diego, offering the broadest array of sightseeing tours in Southern California and Baja, Mexico.
“The acquisition will enable Coach America to build its sightseeing business in San Diego and further expand its charter business in southern California, as well as the Baja region of Mexico,” said Craig Lentzsch, chief executive officer at Coach America.
Ed Comartin, currently general manager of Contactours, has been named general manager of Coach America’s San Diego operation.
Coach America, utilizing the CoachUSA, American Coach Lines, Gray Line, and various local brand names, operates in 30 major markets in the United States. Based in Dallas, Coach America is organized in five geographic areas that include the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Mountain, Southeast and South Central regions to support its local markets.
Services provided by Coach America include group charter, group tour, contract services, convention shuttles, cruise line transfers, sightseeing tours, airport shuttles, casino shuttles and intercity passenger services. It has 2,500 vehicles, with motor coaches making up over 60 percent of the fleet.
RAZ TRANSPORTATION / GRAY LINE OF PORTLAND'S FLEET NOW POWERED WITH ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BIO-DIESEL FUEL
(Portland – June 2006) - Raz Transportation/Gray Line of Portland announced that its fleet of 64 motorcoaches, mini-coaches, shuttle buses, trolleys and transit buses are now powered with a bio-diesel blend of fuel that is energy efficient and friendlier to the environment than standard diesel fuel.
According to Raz Transportation general manager Paul Downes, the motor coach operation is the first private transportation company in the Northwest to convert its fleet to this alternative fuel source. “Our fleet now operates on bio-diesel fuel which emits less pollutants but required some minor modifications to our fleet’s engines and fuel systems. It is an efficient fuel source, but most importantly, contributes to a cleaner, safer environment.”
Raz Transportation is the largest private transportation provider in Oregon and southwest Washington. Raz Transportation is part of Coach America, the nation’s largest charter and tour company, with more than 2,600 vehicles and nearly 3,000 employees. Coach America’s fleet includes motor coaches, mini-coaches, trolleys, double-decker buses and other transportation vehicles. Coach America, utilizing the CoachUSA, Gray Line, Arrow Stage Lines, All West, Raz Transportation, Kerrville Bus and American Coach Lines brand names, operates in 30 major markets in the United States. Services provided by Coach America include group charter, group tour, contract services, convention and corporate shuttles, cruise line transfers, sightseeing tours, airport shuttles, casino shuttles and intercity passenger services
USA, LLC FINALIZES ACQUISITION OF AMERICAN COACH LINES / COMPANY NOW NAMED COACH AMERICA
(Dallas – April 26, 2006) - CUSA, LLC, the nation’s largest charter and tour company, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of American Coach Lines (ACL), the largest motor coach operator in the Southeast. Concurrent with the acquisition that expands the company by one-third, the company has announced a new name, Coach America.
“Our two companies are the best in each market they serve,” Craig Lentzsch, Coach America CEO, said. “We have a common approach to the customer, which should insure a smooth consolidation.”
“The new name reflects the size and capacity of the new company, which covers the southern half of the country from coast to coast, offering expanded service to our national accounts.”
Coach America, the new company, operates 2,535 vehicles, with motorcoaches making up 60 percent of the fleet.
ACL operations will become a region of Coach America. Bill Bergstrom, formerly president and chief operating officer of ACL, will become a regional vice president at Coach America.
“We believe the combination will further enhance our excellent customer service through the rapid transfer of best practices among all locations,” Lentzsch said. Each company conducts extensive driver training and safety programs and maintains high ratings on inspections by federal and state agencies.
Additionally, the company has also launched its new website, accessible at www.coachamerica.com.
CUSA, based in Dallas, operates under the Coach USA brand in 20 major markets of the southwest and west coast.
American Coach Lines (ACL), based in Lake Worth, Florida, is the southeast’s largest motorcoach operator. It has 10 locations on the east coast from Baltimore to Miami.
Headquarters for Coach America will be in Dallas. CUSA and ACL were privately held and terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
COACH USA HOUSTON INTRODUCES CRUISE SHUTTLE SERVICE
(Houston – March 2006) - Coach USA Houston announced that it has launched a new “park and ride” cruise shuttle service to the Port of Galveston Cruise Terminal.
Cruise line guests can park free-of-charge at three Houston “park and ride” facilities and will be shuttled in deluxe motor coaches directly to the front door of the Galveston Pier drop off location. The “park and ride” locations offer free 24-hour secured parking and are located at:
- The Woodlands, Texas, 701 Westridge Rd. at Sawdust,
- 4001 North Freeway
- Hobby Airport, Avistar Sun Park, 7601 Airport Blvd.
Cost of the round-trip shuttle service is $59.00 per person. Children’s rates (12 and under) are $49.00 per person. Coach USA also offers guest arriving at Hobby airport transfers to the Port of Galveston Pier. Cost of the round-trip transfer is $49.00 per person.
Cruise line guests may contact their professional travel agent to book their cruise shuttle, book it directly online at www.bookcoachusa.com or by calling 800-479-5287.
Houston’s Coach USA is part of Dallas-based CUSA, LLC, the nation’s largest charter, tour and sightseeing company. CUSA offers a broad range of transportation services, utilizing the principal brand names of Coach USA and Gray Line and operates in 22 markets in the western half of the United States.
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CUSA FILES FOR DOT APPROVAL TO ACQUIRE AMERICAN COACH LINES
(Dallas – January 2006) - CUSA, LLC, the nation’s largest charter and tour company, announced an agreement to acquire American Coach Lines (ACL), the largest motor coach operator in the Southeast.
CUSA filed for approval of the transaction with the Surface Transportation Board, a unit of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Based in Dallas, CUSA operates primarily under the Coach USA brand name in 20 markets in the southwest, Rocky Mountains and west coast. It has 1,100 motor coaches and 900 other vehicles.
The acquisition will expand CUSA's market coverage across the southern half of the country, from the Atlantic to Pacific. On the east coast, the network will extend north from Miami to the Baltimore-Washington region, and on the west coast it will span the area from San Diego to Portland, Oregon.
“Our two companies are the best in each market they serve,” said Craig Lentzsch, CEO of CUSA, LLC. “We have a common approach to the customer, which should insure a smooth consolidation.”
ACL, based in Lake Worth, Florida, serves 10 markets from Baltimore to Miami, with 430 motor coaches and 110 other vehicles.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to become part of CUSA, because both companies are dedicated to safety and high-quality customer service,” said Mark Konttinen, CEO for American Coach Lines.
The two companies said they expect approval from the STB within 90 days.
