The California Bus Association (CBA) has announced the creation of the Vickie Cole Memorial Award for Women in Leadership to honor the legacy of Vickie Cole, the co-owner of American Stage Tours in Concord, California, and a leader in the motorcoach industry.
Sponsored by Prevost, the award will recognize women who demonstrate the passion, innovation and leadership that Cole embodied throughout her career.
Vickie Cole’s journey in the transportation industry is a testament to hard work and perseverance. She began as a school bus driver, advanced to become a motorcoach driver, and ultimately co-owned a successful bus company with her business partner, Charles Williams.
Vickie’s dedication to the industry and her commitment to mentoring and empowering women have left a lasting impact on the motorcoach world, according to the association.
“The Vickie Cole Memorial Award for Women in Leadership is designed to honor women who continue to lead, innovate, and inspire within the motorcoach industry, just as Vickie did,” said Vicki Bowman, Executive Director of CBA. “Vickie’s legacy is one of perseverance, leadership, and service to others, and we are proud to partner with Prevost to ensure her influence continues through this award.”
Honoring a ‘visionary’
Cole, who died unexpectedly at age 64 on Jan. 17, was a respected figure in the industry. She had been a part of the leadership team at American Stage Tours (AST) since 1991 and was the president of the California Bus Association at the time of her death.
Cole became CBA president in 2019, during which time she played a crucial role in membership communication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and advocated for national relief for members. Her efforts also helped grow the organization by welcoming operators from neighboring states into the CBA.
Prevost, a global leader in motorcoach manufacturing, is sponsoring the award.
“Vickie was a visionary in our industry, and we are honored to support an award that recognizes women who lead and mentor in the same spirit she did,” said Mike Power, Director of Marketing and Brand at Prevost.
The first Vickie Cole Memorial Award will be presented at the 50th annual CBA Annual Convention & Tradeshow, which will take place Oct. 27-29 in Newport Beach, California. Nominations are open to all women in the motorcoach industry.
For more information or to submit a nomination, visit www.cbabus.com/awards or contact Alice Lemon at alicel@cbabus.com.
