Grande West Welcomes Keith Parker to Board of Directors
VANCOUVER, March 12, 2018 /CNW/ - Grande West Transportation Group Inc. (TSXV: BUS; OTC PINK: GWTNF) – March 12, 2018: ("Grande West" or the "Company"), a Canadian manufacturer of mid-sized multi-purpose transit vehicles for sale in Canada and the United States, is pleased to announce the addition of Keith Parker to its Board of Directors.
Keith T. Parker is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Goodwill of North Georgia. One of the largest nonprofit organizations in the southeast, Goodwill spans a 45-county territory, operating 60 stores, 58 donation centres and 13 career centres and employs nearly 3,000 people. Mr. Parker took the helm at Goodwill of North Georgia in October 2017.
Prior to transitioning into his leadership role at Goodwill, Mr. Parker served as Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority until September 2017. In his tenure at MARTA, he and his team balanced the budget, improved efficiencies, increased bus and rail service, enhanced the customer experience, and restored pride among MARTA employees and staff. During his transit career prior to MARTA, he served as Chief Executive Officer and President of VIA Metropolitan Transit and Chief Executive Officer at the Charlotte Area Transit System.
Throughout his career Mr. Parker has received numerous awards and accolades for his work as an organizational leader and transportation visionary. He won Texas CEO of the Year Awards in 2011 and 2012. He was recognized as the nation's Outstanding Public Transportation Manager by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) in 2015. METRO Magazine named Mr. Parker as one of its 20 Most Influential People of the Decade.
Jean-Marc Landry, Chief Executive Officer of Grande West stated, "It's an honour and very exciting to have Mr. Parker join our board as we become much more active in the U.S. Keith brings a wealth of experience in transit to Grande West's team."
Mr. Parker commented, "I am thrilled to join Grande West, a company destined to disrupt the North American transit market. With an experienced team led by Jean-Marc Landry, I will offer my insight into exceeding the customer experience the U.S. market has come to expect. We don't simply want to sell buses, we want to become partners in the communities we serve."
A native of Petersburg, Virginia, Mr. Parker was appointed to the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors by Governor Terry McAuliffe in 2016. Parker received VCU's Alumni Star Award in 2015.
Mr. Parker served on the board of directors for Goodwill of San Antonio and Goodwill of North Georgia. He remains active and engaged in civic and charitable organizations, including service on various national and local boards of directors – such as The Eno Center for Transportation and Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. He holds an MBA from the University of Richmond, as well as a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and a BA in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University.
About Grande West
Grande West is a Canadian company that designs, engineers and manufactures mid-size multi-purpose transit vehicles for public and commercial enterprises. Grande West's Best-in-Class heavy-duty Vicinity bus is available in 27.5', 30' and 35' models powered by clean diesel or CNG designed with affordability, accessibility and global responsibility in mind. It costs significantly less than a regular 40 foot transit bus, is more maneuverable, burns less fuel and emits less harmful emissions. Grande West will soon be offering a new product which will be the first Crossover Vehicle in the transit space - a medium-duty, monocoque-designed rear engine vehicle.
The Company has been successful in supplying Canadian municipal transportation agencies and private operators with new buses and is receiving follow-on orders in many Canadian transit agencies. Grande West is compliant to Buy America certification, and along with ABG, its exclusive US distributor, is actively pursuing opportunities in public and private transit fleet operations that would benefit from Grande West's vehicles.
For further information please contact:
Grande West Transportation
John LaGourgue
VP Corporate Development
Ph: 1-604-607-4000
[email protected]
www.grandewest.com
Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Private Placement, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Grande West's expectations include uncertainties relating to the receipt of final approval from the TSX-V; and other risk and uncertainties disclosed in Grande West's reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. Grande West's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. Grande West assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
SOURCE Grande West Transportation Group Inc.
Grande West Transportation, John LaGourgue, VP Corporate Development, Ph: 1-604-607-4000, [email protected], www.grandewest.com
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