Wow ! 35 years in this wonderful industry ! I feel so lucky to have a job that is an adrenaline rush every day . Like so many of us , we basically tumbled into this business and it didn ’ t take very long to realize that we now work 24 / 7 . Because of that , it became a love / hate relationship . Those of us that have stayed , love this BCSI
Believe me , our business has changed so much . Keith and I bought our first motorcoach to tour with Preservation Hall Jazz Band . From there we started our own tour company , BSCI Tour and Travel .
We did escorted tours over the entire United States . One of the many different groups that we have felt proud to pull were the multiple bus band trips . We have taken groups to march in the Rose Parade in California , Chicago , District of Columbia , New York , Bowl games in Florida , and so many more . All of these were 4 to 8 Motorcoaches each . We have always had a great reputation for coordinating multiple bus moves . Since we are DOD certified , we do a lot of military moves . After closing our tour company , the international market has been a large part of our business . We provide transportation for quite a few companies . Our drivers loved working with them .
Keith and I realized years ago that the owners are not the most important people in a company . Our drivers and other employees are . We feel so thankful to have some awesome people that have made this company great . Some have been with us over 20 and 30 years . They are family to us .
I believe the most valuable thing that we can do to be successful in this industry is to belong to Associations like the American Bus Association .
I have been very active in the South Central Motorcoach Association . From their beginning , I have served on their board and am a Past President . We are and have been members of NTA , UMA , ABA , SCMA , AMA and TMA . Right now I am on the Board and Executive Board of the American Bus Association . I love this entire Industry . The contacts we have made over the years are invaluable . So many have become close friends and are like family to us .
Like so many of us in the motorcoach industry , Keith and I had no one to step in to take over Bus Supply Charters . Our 3 children grew up working with us and hated it because it is 24 / 7 . We have some RV Dealerships and 2 wanted to work there . The other has a car dealership . Keith and I were so fortunate to be friends with John McCommon who has Cline Tours . We sold him our business in 2015 . I am now employed as General Manager for as long as I want to work .
I pray everyday that we will all still have our businesses when COVID is gone !
MISSISSIPPI
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