Many Miles with the Stagecoach
One definition that Webster's Dictionary gives to the word interim is "temporary, of short duration". Appointed to the Stagecoach Board of Directors in 1994 on an interim basis, Jim Kennedy, outgoing President, may cause the term to be re-defined to "on going, of long duration". Seeing things through, from start to finish, is the quality Jim brings to everything he embraces. There is nothing Jim does that is "temporary, of short duration," rather he leaves his positive mark across the long term. In the case of the Stagecoach, this has meant leading the organization from his role as President of the Board of Directors for the past fourteen and a half years.
Operations Manager, Don Ferris, sums up Jim’s many contributions in this way, "He brought a wealth of experience to our organization and gave us solid, stable leadership." Since 1994, Jim has done exactly that in guiding Stagecoach across the volatility of numerous challenges, changes, and opportunities. This spring marks the end of an era for the Stagecoach as Jim leaves his post as the Board Chair.
An industrial designer during his lengthy, professional career, Jim developed an initial interest in plans by the Stagecoach to restore an old railroad building into its present headquarters in Randolph.
That move, which was part of Randolph's downtown revitalization effort of the time, was significant, according to Jim, in that it "added professionalism" to Stagecoach’s image. He further cites that transforming the old railroad building into a transportation center for Stagecoach and Amtrak, "was a vote of confidence in public transit by the state and federal governments."
Another major advance for Stagecoach in the mid 90's that Jim points to was the upgrading from van-style vehicles to the more accommodating, small transit buses. These ADA-compliant vehicles, in addition to providing transportation for passengers in wheelchairs, lend themselves to improved access and comfort for all.
In observing the increasing, overall interest in public transportation, Jim recounts another benchmark during his tenure on the Board which has seen the Stagecoach establish regional commuter transportation with the River Route along the I-91 corridor and the 89er from the Randolph area. Both commuter routes now provide three daily round trips to the Upper Valley (White River – Lebanon area). Jim explains that creating the River Route was in response to "a big push from Bradford area residents and from employers in the Upper Valley."
Stagecoach Manager, David Palmer, comments that, "Jim’s list of accomplishments is far greater then the few he mentions. If you look at the organization’s history over the past fifteen years, there were constant challenges that required a firm, steady hand to successfully navigate. Through all this, Jim has certainly earned recognition as Stagecoach’s “unsung hero."
So, with Jim"s departure from the Stagecoach Board on April 30th, what is the greatest ongoing challenge that he sees for public transportation? Knowing all too well the rigors through which he has guided Stagecoach, Jim is quick to answer, "it has been, is, and will continue to be financial." He stresses the importance of local funding and is grateful to see the appropriations for Stagecoach that are being voted by more towns in its service area. As to Stagecoach's greatest strength? In defecting the question away from himself, Jim gives credit to the organization's staff and drivers and operating a well maintained feet through equipment upkeep and acquisitions.
The other members on the Board of Directors know that Stagecoach now faces a daunting transition in going forward without Jim. In imparting a word to the wise and what this may mean, it was recently quipped that, "should you be asked by Stagecoach to do anything on an interim basis, be careful – you could end up like Jim Kennedy!"
