The following article appeared in the Winter 2009 NYSBCA Newsletter, The Yellow Bus

One of the nicest benefits of our NYSBCA membership is being given this opportunity to share a little more about TEAM Matthews and me.

I am co-owner and president of Matthews Buses, Inc. and Vice President of the Matthews Group, Inc. I have been actively involved in the bus industry for over 23 years. Prior to this, I earned a BS degree from Springfield College and worked on my post-graduate degree at Ithaca College. During my college career, I was an NCAA All-American Springboard Diver and the Captain of the Swim Team. After graduation, I accepted a teaching position with Ohio University and served there as both teacher and coach. I officially joined the company in 1986 and first worked as a commercial bus sales representative. I moved up to our Ballston Spa corporate headquarters and assumed the role of President in 2000. Growing up in the bus business, I learned from the ground up by detailing buses, doing PDI’s, installing air conditioning, and installing wheelchair lifts. I have fond memories of picking up and delivering new Thomas Built buses from the factory. My most vivid memory of working in the company prior to attending college was having my parents mentoring me and making me do things right the first time. I was fortunate to have my parents influence as they are very amazing people. Team Matthews is truly a family affair with my wife Lori Matthews working with us focusing on IT and Customer Service. My family is my inspiration to work hard and be the best person I can be.

Matthews Buses, Inc., has had the privilege of serving the transportation needs of the NY school bus community for over 42 years and our dedication to the core values of keeping our customers first in everything we do has helped us to continue to grow and prosper. In August 2008, we became the Thomas Built Buses dealer for Central and Northern FL, servicing both school and commercial bus customers from our Orlando-based dealership. In February 2009, we expanded our NY territory to include Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Rockland and Ulster counties with the acquisition of Quality Bus and Truck Center. This move made us the largest bus dealer in the state of NY and one of the largest in the nation. We proudly offer parts, service, training, warranty repairs, painting, and bus sales to Western, Central and Eastern New York through our facilities in Dansville, Syracuse, Ballston Spa, and Maybrook. We offer a fleet of mobile service vehicles throughout NY, New England, and FL operated by some of the best school bus technicians around. Through the use of these vehicles, it is our goal to provide “Service When You Need It!” This past summer we were fortunate to have Mike Knippenberg join our Team assuming full sales and management responsibilities for our dealership operations in Maybrook. My brother Guy is our Sales Manager for upstate NY and heads up our used bus sales efforts as well. We have a very experienced bus sales team who I believe are second to none in their professionalism and product knowledge. They are counted on by our customers to be trusted advisors.

Matthews Buses was recently named Dealer of the Year for 2009 by Thomas Built Buses during the NAPT convention in Louisville, KY. We were selected for this honor from all Thomas dealers in the U. S. and Canada. This represents the highest achievement attainable for a Thomas bus dealership. I was extremely proud to receive this coveted award on behalf of our entire organization. This award is presented each year to a Thomas dealer who demonstrates outstanding performance in sales volume, customer satisfaction, service, parts, and financial performance. Personally, I believe this award belongs to our dedicated employees who are passionate about providing great customer service. I also wish to thank our customers for placing their trust in us and the Thomas product line we have had the long-term privilege to represent. My parents have always firmly believed that our customers come first and happy customers, in turn, become loyal customers. By continuing this tradition Matthews Buses has now earned the Thomas Dealer of the Year award for the third time in our history. This is such a special honor for me, my family and everyone else on the Matthews Bus.

In 2009 we became one of only five Thomas Built Bus dealers in the nation to be awarded the MyBus (child care buses) franchise, with responsibility for the Northeastern U.S. In 2009 we were also named Platinum Dealer of the Year for Startrans (Supreme), commercial buses for our sales efforts throughout NY, CT, and New England. In addition, we proudly represent the full line of buses from Champion, Elkhart Coach, Federal Coach, and Turtle Top. To learn more about our company and the products we have to offer you can visit us at www.matthewsbuses.com.

Matthews Buses, Inc is one company within the Matthews Group, Inc. My brother Brad Matthews is the President of the Group and on a daily basis manages Rifled Air Conditioning. Matthews Specialty Vehicles, and Matthews Mobile Media (Graphics Company). Being part of other diversified companies like RAC helps Matthews Buses offer customers a true one-stop shop experience.

Thomas Buses leads the school bus industry in bus innovation and design. The Safe-T-Liner C2 is a prime example of this. After researching the two available emission technologies for 2010; Thomas, Daimler and Freightliner determined that SCR was the most reliable and fuel-efficient option. It is also the 2010 choice of 90% of engine and vehicle manufacturers. The Cummins engine already enjoys a 17% MPG advantage over IC and this advantage in 2010 will only increase.

Matthews Buses was founded on a simple, yet effective principle. “Any job big or small, do it right or not at all”. This is the foundation for our company’s operating philosophy, and for me, contains the blue print for our future success.