Who We Are

Jim Fey

Co-Owner and Director of Operations

Jim was born and raised to be part of the Student Transit leadership team - literally! As part of the Fey family, he watched his forefathers grow and develop the business over many years. Jim officially began working with the company in high school, painting and cleaning up the buses over the summers. He later left to go to college in St. Paul and intended to stay in the area after graduation. However, when his father asked him to help with installing a new computer routing program, he couldn't say no. "And," Jim says, "the rest is history." Today, he manages the business's day-to-day operations and acts as a liaison between Student Transit and the school districts they serve.

Running a fourth-generation school bussing company never gets boring for Jim; there are always new challenges to overcome each day. But that's why he loves it. Transporting the community's most precious cargo is a big responsibility, and he relishes that Student Transit can "make a difference in the lives of these future great Americans." A big reason for being successful in their mission, he believes, is the positive, welcoming environment of the organization. They are a family-owned business inside and out and put a premium on treating every employee like they are a part of the family as well.

Jim has always been well-connected with his family, and he fondly remembers visiting his grandparents in Florida during Christmas vacations growing up. Today, he feels blessed to have a wonderful wife and five children, and he loves heading North to spend time together with family and friends at the lake place. In his own time, Jim is a general aviation pilot -- a hobby he picked up later in life to combat his fear of flying. And, in line with his love of travel and exploring, Jim would choose Thomas Jefferson as his ideal bus passenger so he could learn more about the Western Expansion in the United States and missions such as that of Lewis and Clark.

Ray Fey

Co-Owner

Hi friends! Mr. Jim here again. Sorry to say my brother Ray couldn't be here to write about himself today. He's busy scoping out the group transportation situation in Antarctica. The last we heard from him, he was calculating how many penguins could fit in a school bus. He's quite the dedicated researcher, that Ray. 

As you may know, Ray is our resident world traveler. He recently returned from hiking the Matanuska Glacier in Alaska and birthday-suit-bungee-jumping in New Zealand. One day, he hopes to snorkel with the bulls in Pamplona and run with the stingrays in the Bermuda Triangle. (Or maybe it's the other way around. I get those mixed up.)

When he's not traveling, Ray juggles his time between managing the northern hemisphere's largest natural gas vessel and crocheting the world's ugliest Christmas sweater. Through it all, he maintains his rebellious spirit. He once was busted for tipping cows in Pulaski (but we usually like to keep that off the record).

Recently, Ray has been hard at work planning his next adventure - a road trip to the iconic Corn Palace in South Dakota. Other bucket list items include making the trek through the Himalayan Mountain range and taking a selfie with the Abominable Snowman.

Marty Klukas

General Manager

A Coleman, WI native, Marty came to Eau Claire after 30 years in the Air Force. A combination of having family in the area and believing that Wisconsin is a great place to live eventually led him to Student Transit. He has been working here since 2014. As General Manager, Marty acts as Chief Energy Officer (as in, he spreads an abundance of positive energy around the office) as well as Janitorial Co-Lead. He is also a self-proclaimed "Jack of All Trades, Master of None."

Marty loves that the whole team at Student Transit feels like family. He says that while their work is very serious, they don't take themselves too seriously. He also notes that working with the company has reminded him that being patient can be valuable because "much like the military, not much happens quickly." And, speaking of family and the military, Marty says his ideal bus passenger would be his late father, so he could listen to him tell war stories again.

Marty starts his work mornings early - waking up at 4:30 am to get ready, make coffee, and take care of his black lab, Lincoln… And then, inevitably, he'll need some more coffee at the office. Above all else, he loves his job and notes that he would like to see the organization grow in the coming years and expand into other towns. Marty says he'd like the community to know that  Student Transit is the "#BESTPLACETOWORKEVER! Seriously, this is a fantastic place to work!"

David Myers

Director of Safety

With a background in the Criminal Justice field, David takes his position as Director of Safety very seriously. He has been with Student Transit since 2015 and initially joined the team as a part-time bus driver. His love for working with the Fey family has kept him around, and he would love to see the company continue to expand in the coming years.

David also likes to recognize the hard work of the amazing bus drivers and monitors, because their jobs are much more difficult than most people realize. And the most valuable lesson he has learned while working at Student Transit is: "Never assume anything. We have people from every walk of life. Never talk before you think, because you may be hurting someone's feelings or speaking down to them."

David also previously worked as a full-time coach, a product of his love of traveling with his family and playing seasonal sports as a kid. Though, as fond as those childhood memories are, he says that if he had to choose one age to be for a week, it would be 30 so he could experience meeting his wife all over again. And if he could choose anyone to be a passenger on a bus he was driving, it'd be his late parents so that he could have one extra conversation with them.

Rhonda Tollefson

Director of Transportation

Originally from Mondovi, WI, Rhonda came to Eau Claire for college and discovered Student Transit while she was here. A friend mentioned to her how great of a place it was to work, and, now over 35 years of service later, she couldn't agree more! She is currently the Director of Transportation and handles all of the routing planning for the Eau Claire school district.

Rhonda wakes up at the last minute each morning, gets ready, kisses her dog (and husband) goodbye, and drives to work. There she is greeted by a family-like workplace with owners that she believes truly care about all of their employees. She believes that the company's greatest strength is its unwavering commitment to the safety of the students and other bus passengers.

Rhonda most fondly remembers the times she spent with her best friends when she herself was school-aged. She would love to be 17 again to be able to be in high school and hang out like the good ol' days. Rhonda has greatly enjoyed her time with Student Transit and has learned that "What you do matters! You are not just the bus driver or monitor! You are a role model in the lives of the children."

Brandon Birkenholz

Assistant Director of Transportation

Brandon has always had a fascination with school buses. His Great-Grandpa Lee was a bus driver, and so is his mom, Sam. When he was younger, he rode along on her routes for fun each day. When he got his own bus driver's license at 18, he started driving routes when he was still a senior in high school! Brandon later moved to Eau Claire for school and drove for the Altoona School district. When they were acquired by Student Transit, Brandon came along and has been here ever since. Hs has been part of the team since 2012 and is currently responsible for coordinating daily extracurricular and charter operations, supervising the Altoona/Fall Creek routes, and overseeing driver compliance with licensing physicals, and background investigations.

Brandon's favorite part about Student Transit is its team orientation and family atmosphere. "Everyone here at Student Transit, and the Fey family themselves, genuinely cares about the employees, customers, and communities served," he says. Brandon takes pride in the organization's commitment to safety and feels honored to be entrusted with the lives of the community's most precious cargo each day. He hopes that Student Transit can continue to grow alongside the surrounding communities and foster a sense of trust and responsibility.

Brandon fondly remembers rushing off the school bus as a kid to drive the four-wheeler down to his grandparent's farm to play with all the "toys" with steering wheels. Today, he would love to have Betty White as a passenger on his bus. Brandon also says that he would like to go back in time to teach his 21-year-old self a few life lessons (and tell him to invest in Bitcoin!). He says the most valuable lesson he has learned since working at Student Transit has been: "Always strive to learn more and continue to progress yourself to succeed. Never stop learning and bettering yourself as a person."

Lacey Bast

Dispatcher & Monitor Manager, Human Resources Director

Born and raised in Eau Claire, Lacey joined the Student Transit team while she was studying literature in college. By the time she graduated, she couldn't imagine leaving the company and has loved her job ever since. She is currently in charge of answering phones, working the two-way radio, and managing the bus monitors' schedules.

While she sometimes struggles to leave for work in the morning because her dog, a miniature Goldendoodle named Bentley Ray, tries to lure her back into bed with her cuddliness, Lacey enjoys working with the Student Transit team each day. She believes the company's greatest strengths come from its over 80 years of experience. She loves to see the team research more sophisticated technologies to improve their operations and continue supporting their biggest priority of student safety.

Lacey is big on family connections at Student Transit and home. She fondly remembers weekly dinners at her grandparents' house when she was a child with all of her aunts and cousins. Inspired by watching "I Love Lucy" as a child with her mom, Lacey would also love to have Lucille Ball as her ideal bus passenger so she could talk about her and her husband's careers and their impacts on the television sitcom industry. And if she had to choose one age to be for a week, she'd want to be 100, "but only if it comes with wisdom and memories."

Jill Radloff

Human Resources

I came to Student Transit when it was time for me to transition and find another job that was as meaningful for me as being a classroom teacher. Driving a school bus keeps me connected with school staff, parents, and students. In between routes, I have spent time volunteering, doing chores at home, healing from breast cancer treatments, enjoying a second job, and occasionally taking a nap. I was nervous about the thought of transporting so many "babies" relinquished to my care! Student Transit has top-notch on-site training. The training gave me the tools and confidence I needed to follow through and obtain my CDL.

As I transition into a new role with Student Transit, I am excited about the combination of driving my school bus and working in the HR department! Best of both worlds for me. I see my bus kids/families each day. The HR office piece allows me to use my mentor/situational leadership style. I find value in guiding others through mistakes and helping them grow. I adapt my approach to the individual's specific needs.

Jennie Ammerman

Student Behavior Liaison

On one sunny afternoon in the spring of 2021, the television played a local news clip about the need for school bus drivers. Out of curiosity, I read an article with a link to Student Transit. After completing the interview, and orientation, the path to getting my CDL license began. My fears were put to rest by the care and encouragement of my trainers.

Student Transit's leadership and training team is the best in the business. We tell our hesitant trainees, "If I can do it, you can do it!" because we know each member of our team has been through it, and we help each other climb this seemingly unsurpassable mountain.

Saying that I love driving a bus is an understatement. Initially, I felt empowered and safe driving this massive vehicle. However, I started building rapport with my students and began to see how bus drivers and the bus ride to school can impact a child's life. I understand the importance of this position for students, their families, and our community. I know students and their families depend on me and my co-workers tosafely transport their children to school.

I love helping my co-workers find resolution. Bus drivers deal with many students ' personalities, behaviors, and needs on a daily basis. Most often, issues are manageable because the drivers have worked to establish trust and rapport with their student riders. Sometimes, a student situation presents challenges that require wrap-around support from the leadership team, school staff, parents, or other community systems.

Outside of Student-Transit, I am giddy about long nature walks collecting sticks and stones, soaking up glorious sunrises penetrating the soul, and watching live music performances at small venues. My family is my life. We love planning cross-country road tripping adventures. I love woodworking, painting, crafting, gardening, and creative writing.

LeAnne Moehle

Training Coordinator

As the Training Coordinator, LeAnne is usually the first face new employees see as she works with them to ensure they get the best training possible. She also helps to coordinate buses for special events in the area and drives the school routes most mornings. When her daughter started school, LeAnne found herself with a bit more time on her hands. Soon, she discovered that a part-time position with Student Transit was the perfect fit. It didn't take her long to realize that this was where she belonged, and she quickly transitioned to full-time.

LeAnne loves working with the Fey family. She says she feels like more than just a number at Student Transit because they truly care about their employees. She believes that the family-oriented feel is one of the company's greatest strengths and has stable roots in the community. Over the years, she has learned that "change is constant, and you must be willing to roll with it! You can't be afraid to take the first step."

A long-time fan of driving, LeAnne also knows how to be prepared. She never leaves home without her license, Fed Med Card, chapstick, and sunglasses. She learned these lessons early, as she drove demolition derby cars from ages 15 to 21. She was determined to prove that girls could do the same things as guys! However, when it comes to bus driving, she notes that her ideal passenger would be her biggest fan, Grandma Cook, who would be so proud of her accomplishments.

Patti Schrader

Scheduler

I've been driving since 2001. I love to drive! I moved here from Florida with my CDL and knew I wanted to drive. My sister told me Student Transit has been around forever and seems to be a good transportation company. Being a part of the Student Transit family, I can make a positive impact on my students, and I love the challenge of filling the role of scheduler.

Suzie Seyller-Conroy

Dispatcher

Suzie has an impressive tenure with Student Transit - she has been with us for nearly 50 years! That's about half of our company's entire existence. All those years ago, she came to make a decent wage driving school buses and has stayed for the camaraderie. And, she says she's so glad she did because of the way everyone here is treated, and because she knows that "we do make a difference." She currently works in dispatch, checking-in drivers, and assisting with routes.

When it comes to getting ready in the morning, Suzie has her routine down to a science: "Wake up. Tend to the pets. Check phone for calendar, weather, emails, and messages. Make coffee. Tend to the pets (again). Shower. Make bed. Check phone for messages (again). Make a smoothie. Pack purse. A quick conversation with my significant other. Kiss Chico (significant other), Hamilton (cat), and Gage (Dog) Goodbye. Head to Work." She never walks out the door without her coffee, smoothie, and phone in hand.

Growing up in a home where only men went to college while women were supposed just to get married, Suzie was determined to do more. Before coming to Student Transit, she worked in retail, as a waitress, and was even an assistant manager at a candy store. Since joining the team here, she says the most valuable skill she has learned is how to be responsible. And to combine her experiences, Suzie would love to have her mother as a passenger on her school bus because she had always wanted to do it herself, but never got the chance.