STB (TSX) 6.44 , 0.24 down 3.59%
STB (NASDAQ) 6.32 , 0.19 down 2.93%
Date : 3:59 PM ET on May 18, 2012

Industry-Experienced Management

Email this page Print

With industry experience that averages more than 25 years, Student Transportation Inc's management team brings an unparalleled level of knowledge and operational expertise to the school districts we serve. The team has proven itself by successfully growing the business through a strategic and disciplined acquisition, bid and conversion program. STA & STC leaders are poised to seize additional opportunities and continue to grow the business.



Denis J. Gallagher


Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Denis GallagherDenis J. Gallagher, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Student Transportation Inc, has over 30 years experience in the passenger transportation industry. He directs the strategic operations of STA & STC and has led and developed investor activities through capital raises and debt financing for the company since its inception. Gallagher is a proven senior executive who has spent his entire career in transportation. In 1997, Gallagher formed Student Transportation Inc making him the third generation in his family to found and head a passenger transportation company. Prior to forming Student Transportation Inc, Gallagher was regional vice president and then senior vice president of operations for Laidlaw Passenger Services Group with responsibility for over 200 locations in the US. As a member of the Laidlaw senior executive team, he played a key role in the company's expansion into new markets, along with the consolidation and integration of many acquisitions. Gallagher began his career at Coast Cities School Buses, Inc., founded in 1922 by his grandfather and father, which later, as president and CEO he grew to the largest privately held school bus company in New Jersey. A 1976 graduate of Monmouth University, Gallagher earned a B.S. in Business Administration. He is a past member of the University's Board of Trustees and was the recipient of the University's Distinguished Alumni Award. He is involved in numerous industry and community activities.

back to top


Patrick J. Walker


Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Patrick J. Walker, executive vice president & chief financial officer, has more than 20 years financial management experience. He began his career as an accountant with the Philadelphia CPA firm Tait, Weller and Baker, followed by McGladrey & Pullen of New York. Between 1989 and 1992, Walker served as manager of accounting and financial reporting for global food products giant TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc. In 1992, he joined Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the largest regional operator of theme parks in the United States, as corporate controller before being promoted to vice president of finance in 1998. From 1999 to 2001, he served as chief financial officer of two portfolio companies of Indigo Capital, a private equity firm. Prior to joining STA in 2002, Walker was a consultant to the chief financial officer of H.J. Heinz Company, a $9.4 billion food products firm. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a Certified Public Accountant, he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Institute of Management Accountants.

back to top


John DiMaiolo


Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

John DiMaiolo, Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, has more than 20 years of financial management experience. He has over 8 years experience in the student passenger transportation industry. DiMaiolo began his career as an accountant for Cadence Industries in 1979. In 1982, he joined Twin County Grocers, Inc., a wholesale food distribution company and held various positions over the next 12 years, including Financial Accounting Manager, Manager of Budgeting and Financial Systems and Division Controller. In 1995, DiMaiolo joined New Jersey Press, Inc., a multimedia news provider in central New Jersey as Corporate Controller. From 1998 to 2000 he served Journal Register Company as Vice President and Corporate Controller. Before joining STA, DiMaiolo was Director of Finance for Laidlaw Transit Inc.'s Eastern Business Group for the past 8 years. DiMaiolo is a graduate of Duke University, earned a Masters in Business Administration from Seton Hall University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Public Accountants.

back to top


Patrick Vaughan


Chief Operating Officer

Patrick is a seasoned veteran in the pupil transportation industry. After joining Laidlaw Transit in 1991 Patrick worked as District Director of Operations until 1996 when he was appointed Senior Vice President of Operations until 2007. Patrick led one of two operating units spanning from Maine to Florida and Texas to Pennsylvania consisting of $700 million in revenue with over 250 locations. Prior to Laidlaw Transit being acquired by First Group plc he was chief operating officer from 2008-2009 for the $2.6 billion dollar transportation company. He was elected to the board of directors of National School Transportation Association (NSTA) in 2006 and served through 2008. Vaughan was recognized by the NSTA in 2008, receiving the prestigious "Golden Merit Award" - an industry association award that recognized his leadership and contribution to improvements in the student transportation industry. In 2008, Vaughan joined the Boston firm of Jamary Properties, Inc. as President of the commercial property management group. Most recently he re-entered the pupil transportation industry and joined STI as Chief Operating Officer with his former colleague and mentor Denis Gallagher whom he worked with while at Laidlaw from 1992-1996 Vaughan is a graduate of Northeastern University where he received a BS in Business Administration and Suffolk University where he completed an MBA degree. He resides in Norwell, Massachusetts with his wife and their three children.

back to top


Michael J. Kennedy


Regional Chief Operating Officer, Atlantic Region

Michael J. Kennedy, regional chief operating officer, atlantic region, has served as vice president of STA's New England operations since 1999. He began his transportation career more than 35 years ago at Dunn Bus Corporation in Darien, Connecticut. In the 1970s, Kennedy joined National School Bus Service where he held increasingly responsible executive management positions, and later joined Vancom Transportation, serving as president of Vancom New York. He purchased New Hampshire's Goffstown Truck Center in 1998, which he operated until it was acquired by STA in 1999. A graduate of Boston College, Kennedy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science. He also completed graduate management studies at the University of Southern California and the University of Connecticut. Kennedy is a past chairman of the marketing committee of the National School Transportation Association and a past board member of the New Hampshire School Transportation Association.

back to top


Peter J. Pearson


Executive Vice President

Peter J. Pearson, executive vice president, served as regional chief operating officer, central region, since 2007 and as vice president of STA's Pennsylvania operations from 1997 to 2007. Pearson began his transportation career more than 25 years ago at Federal Express. In 1991, he was named director of operations for Laidlaw Transit in Sea Girt, New Jersey, and went on to serve as director of business development for four southeastern states. A graduate of Gannon University, Pearson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He currently is involved in many community and business associations and serves on the board of directors for the YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee. Pearson also is founder and President of the STA Education Foundation (STAEF) and Chairman of the annual STA John Finfrock Scholarship Golf Outing held in the Pittsburgh area.

back to top


Raymond Delegarde


Vice President, West Coast Operations

Raymond Delegarde, vice president, west coast operations, is a senior transportation consultant and operations specialist who directs operations, finance and business development for STA locations in the West Region. With more than 40 years experience in the student transportation industry within the United States and Canada, Delegarde's expertise includes multi-task executive mid-management level planning and communications. He has served on provincial funding committees and provided services to both private and public sector agencies. Delegarde has developed company policies and procedures on a local and national level in both the US and Canada. An accomplished public speaker, Delegarde is well-known in the industry for leadership and business development. He is a member of the California Association of School Transportation Officials and the Ontario Association of School Business Officials.

back to top


John Carey


Vice President of Business Development

As a Vice President, Business Development, John E. Carey leads STA's business development programs. Mr. Carey has more than 30 years of experience in the education and student transportation fields. From 1976 to 1981, he served as Director of Cost Analysis for the New Jersey Department of Education. In this capacity, he developed a nationally validated system for cooperative purchase of student transportation services. From 1980 to 1982, he served as Board Secretary of the Middlesex County Education Service Commission. In 1982, he joined the Monroe Township Public School Board as Director of Transportation and Facilities. In 1989, John joined Laidlaw Transit where he served as Director of Operations and Director of Business Development. His responsibilities at Laidlaw included operations management, new business development, and customer and labor relations. In June of 1997, John was appointed as Vice President of Student Transportation of America, Inc. John has developed numerous acquisitions for STA. Mr. Carey is a Member of the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT). He is a former Member of the New Jersey Pupil Transportation Executive Committee, the New Jersey Association of the School Business Officials, and School Transportation Supervisors of New Jersey. Mr. Carey has a B.A. in Economics from Bloomfield College and a M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Rutgers University.

back to top


Christopher J. Harwood


Senior Vice President, Canadian Operations

Christopher J. Harwood, senior vice president, canadian operations, has nearly 20 years experience in the passenger transportation industry. From 1989 to 1997, he was employed by Laidlaw Passenger Services and its subsidiary, American Medical Response. He held various positions at Laidlaw, including acquisition analyst, manager of financial planning analysis and director of acquisitions. Harwood joined STA as vice president of acquisitions and was named corporate vice president of finance in November 1999. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ontario and received an Honours Business Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario.

back to top



back to top