Pictured above is the 2024-25 MSBOA Board of Directors.

Kathryn Forbord, President

Kathryn is the Director of Operations at Schmitty & Sons which is an employee-owned company located in Burnsville, MN. She has worked in the transportation industry for 12 years focusing on marketing, recruitment, safety, customer and employee relations. She is passionate about the importance of safe and reliable student and passenger transportation. Kathryn attended the University of St. Thomas where she earned her degree in Business Marketing Management.

Kathryn is an active member of the community and currently serves on the board for the Lakeville Chamber Convention and Visitors Bureau and Pan-O-Prog community festival. Outside of work she enjoys spending time at the lake, watching football and spending time with family and friends. She currently resides in Elko New Market with her husband Mike, who also works at Schmitty & Sons, and their son Owen.

Shane Johnson, 1st Vice President

Shane has been working at Palmer Bus Service since 2009 and currently serves as Chief Operations Officer (COO). He oversees the operations of over 25 locations across the state of Minnesota by collaborating closely with site management and school district leadership. Shane is passionate about employee development and uses his years in corporate leadership and his service in the military to curate talent amongst his team and build a strong bench of new leaders that positively impact the school bus industry.

In addition to his role as COO, he serves on the Board of Directors for the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) and is a member of the NSTA's Legislative Committee. Shane is passionate about ensuring the school bus industry is properly advocated for at both the state and national levels.

Shane has been married to his wife, Syndie, for 30 years.  After raising four children together, they both enjoy empty nesting by camping, traveling, skiing, golfing, and trail running with their dog, Skye.

Traven Medawar, 2nd Vice President

Newer to the Board and Industry, Traven Medawar has a passion for making a difference. Traven is the General Manager of Ready Bus Company and Rochester Bus Service and works in sales with Minnesota Coaches. He spent time on the Board of Directors for United Way and currently serves on the development committee for Rochester Catholic Schools. With his previous experience in logistics at Amazon as well as Enterprise Rent-a-Car, he is looking to bring a diverse perspective to the MSBOA.

Traven is a California native and is blessed with two little ones and his wife Emily of 5 years. Beyond spending time with his family, Traven has a passion for all sports but particularly football and the Denver Broncos. He and his family are avid travelers and made the commitment to hike every state park in Minnesota.

Bethany Bertram (Schubert), Immediate Past President

Bethany has been the President of Trobec's Bus Service for over six years. She grew up in the school bus industry and has a true passion for the business. Bethany recalls begging her dad, Tim Schubert - CEO of Trobec's Bus Service, to take her to work with him during summer months in elementary school and always yearning to travel with him on motor coaches when she was on breaks from school. Her ability to be detail oriented, relate to customers, meet deadlines, and maintain customer relationships has helped her to succeed in her business and in the industry. Bethany currently serves as president of the MSBOA Board of Directors, and she manages the Minnesota Charter Bus Operator's (MCBOA) website.

When Bethany is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys traveling as much as she can and taking in as many adventures as possible. 

Jason Anderson, Board Member

Meet Jason Anderson. Jason is the director of business development for Vision Transportation in Elk River and Big Lake. He started in the bus business in 2007 and has never looked back. Jason values his many friends and colleagues in the industry and truly has a passion for this business. Jason’s hope for all in the student transportation business is that they have a blessed and safe school year and are able to find an abundance of drivers. “Wishing you, your team and family the very best. If there is something I can do to support your business, call and I’ll jump.”

Jason and his wife, Marissa, have four wonderful kids which keep them very busy. They enjoy fishing together as a family.

Rayme Bernick, Board Member

Rayme has been in the school bus industry since 2007, when she joined her husband’s family business, Stahlke Bus Service.  Stahlke Bus Service has been in business since 1948, Rayme loves getting in the bus and interacting with kids when she gets a chance. 

Rayme has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from St Cloud State University. When not driving the desk or a bus she enjoys watching her two daughters play on the soccer field, playing with her two dogs, LouAnn and Martha, working out, and spending time with her husband Jay. 

Mike Aksamit, Board Member

Mike and his wife, Jen, are the owners of Aksamit Transportation, Inc., also known as ATI. Mike started his school bus career in 1991 working for North Central Bus Sales in the parts department and quickly moved into the sales department. He and his wife have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. They had a desire to raise their family in a small town. In 2000, an opportunity in Browerville became available and they quickly jumped at the opportunity. The two started ATI with one district and have grown the business with exclusive operations with six districts plus provide services to several others. 

A strong and healthy family is very important to the Aksamits, which is why they treat each and every member of ATI as family. In Mike's spare time he enjoys being Papa to their three grandkids. He is very patriotic and likes to hunt, fish, go horseback riding, motorcycling, four wheeling, camping, trap shooting, family gatherings and racing old school buses with friends.

Eric Burrill, Board Member

Sean Casey, Board Member

Sean Casey has been with Park Adam Transportation since 2011, when he and his wife, Ann, moved to Minnesota to join her family business. Sean's duties as CFO, as well as other company functions keeps him busy throughout the year. Sean is a proponent of the MSBOA and is excited to be a member of the board. Sean and Ann have four children and ten grandchildren. Sean is a graduate of The University of Notre Dame. Ann and Sean enjoy cheering on their beloved Fighting Irish on Fall Saturdays.

Connie Grisim, Board Member

Connie Grisim member of MSBOA since 1984 and has served on the board of directors for the past 12 years. She and her husband Curt have owned Grisim School Bus together in Stewartville since 1984. The two started their business with a handful of routes and it has grown into something that always keeps them busy and is always rewarding. “The school bus community provides us with lifelong of friends and family,” Connie said.

Curt and Connie have two children, Casandra Crawford and Corey Grisim – both in the bus industry themselves. Casandra works for Schmitty and Sons and Corey works for the family business. Connie and her husband have five grandchildren and spends her free time enjoying the cabin on Roberds Lake in Faribault and the cabin in Two Harbors with friends and family.

Emmee Grisim-Lopez, Board Member

Mike Kubesh, Board Member

Mike Kubesh from Willmar. I have been married to my wife Jess for almost 31 years. She IS my life!!!  We have 2 grown boys, Isaiah (Sheriff Deputy) who is married to Amber (ER nurse) who have our first granddaughter, Avery, who is 11 months old.  Ethan (Job Coach for Disabled people) is married to Katelyn (Pharmacy Tech) and has our grandson, Dakota, who is 1.5 months old. My family is my life and I am grateful they all live in Willmar. I have been with Willmar Bus since December 2006.  I started as the Safety Director, moved up to Assistant Manager in 2008 and became Manager in 2015.  Lora Handt, my Office Manager and I bought into Willmar in 2018 and bought it from Ken Inselmann January 1st of 2024. I was a NREMT-I for 25+ years and on Willmar Ambulance for 21.5 year. I retired in August 2016. I was also a 911 Dispatcher for Kandiyohi County for over 6 years prior to coming to Willmar Bus. I work best under pressure and am still an adrenaline junky.  My wife tells me I am too much of an extrovert since I like to meet new people and like to strike up a conversations with them.  If you have any questions, please free to reach out and ask.

Rachel Hoglund Klein, Board Member

Rachel Hoglund Klein is third generation owner/operator for Vision Transportation of Big Lake, Elk River and St. Michael-Albertville.  Rachel enjoys the challenges and opportunities that the busing industry has to offer.  She is excited to be a part of MSBOA and looks forward to assisting in building relationships and foster growth for all within the industry.

Garrett Regan, Board Member

Garrett is the President of Faribault Transportation, Harmony Transit, and Ready Bus Company.  He grew up in the bus business as part of the Minnesota Coaches group of companies and has been working full time for the last 13 years in operations and contracting.  Garrett graduated in 2009 from the University of Notre Dame.

Garrett is currently on the Faribault Falcon Scholarship fund and Faribault Schools Leadership Committee at Faribault Schools along with the MSBOA Board of Directors for the last 10 years. Garrett is blessed with 3 young girls and his wife Amanda of 8 years.  Beyond spending time with his family, Garrett goes golfing as he can along with following hockey and football on TV.

Interested in joining the MSBOA Board? Elections are made every June at the Summer Conference. Board terms are for 3 years.