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Ken Presley joins UMA as Vice President of Industry Relations

The United Motorcoach Association is pleased to announce the appointment of veteran motorcoach industry insurance executive Ken Presley as UMA Vice President of Industry Relations, a new position.

Presley has spent most of his career insuring motorcoach operators, most recently through Service Insurance Agency of Richmond, Va., where he was company vice president.  While Presley’s business activities have focused primarily on the southeastern United States, he has built a national reputation as an expert on motorcoach safety, management and regulatory affairs.

“Ken brings a great deal of operator knowledge and insight to UMA,” said UMA President and Chief Executive Victor Parra in announcing the appointment.  “In fact, his knowledge of the operator side of the business is something the association has never had before.

“His experience in helping Trailways operators get ready for DOD inspections, his work in developing financials and performance benchmarks for operators, plus his extensive knowledge of safety and regulatory requirements will serve him and our membership well,” Parra added.

Since he began working closely with motorcoach operators more than 20 years ago, Presley has engaged in a broad range of industry activities and won a number of awards for his efforts.

He is a member of the motorcoach associations of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee and Virginia, and sits on the board of directors of the Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and South Carolina associations.  He led the successful effort by the Motorcoach Association of South Carolina to fight charter bus rules violations by the Charleston public transit agency.  Restitution is being sought by the South Carolina operators. 

He has supported the efforts of the Bus Industry Safety Council for seven years and currently services as chairman of the council regulatory committee.  He is co-chair of the marketing committee of the Trailways Transportation System and was named 2005 Trailways Associate of the Year. 

In January, he was selected Tennessee Motor Coach Association Associate of the Year.  Most recently, he received the President’s Award from the Georgia Motorcoach Operator’s Association at its annual convention in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

But it has been his assistance to individual motorcoach companies that has gained him wide respect among operators.  He has provided companies, big and small, with valuable guidance in such areas as business management, establishing credit, risk management, partnering, grant programs, strategic planning, budgeting and cost control. 

“Sometimes it seemed like I spent more time assisting clients in financing motorcoaches than insuring them,” said Presley. “Mutual success has always been important to me.”  Now, says Presley, he is “eager” to bring his proven track record to UMA.

“We're excited about having Ken on board,” said Parra. “Because of Ken's extraordinary capacity to handle numerous projects, he'll be instrumental in helping us develop and manage new and improved services for UMA members.”

As Vice President of Industry Relations at UMA, Presley will be the primary resource for UMA members on a wide range of issues and topics, plus he will manage several key association programs; help shape industry policies; interface with key government agencies, state associations and other industry groups, and help organize grassroots networks when needed.

For the past three months, motorcoach industry safety consultant Carmen Daecher has been providing UMA members with expert regulatory, safety and security information.  “We want to thank Carmen for his work,” said Parra.  “His assistance to members proved invaluable.”   

Presley, a native of Jeffersontown, Ky., a suburb of Louisville, was educated at Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky.  He and his wife Mary have six children. They plan to relocate to the metro Washington, D.C. area.  Presley is an active hiker, backpacker, fisherman and gardener.

Meanwhile, UMA is looking to retain a seasoned lobbying firm to assist with association legislative policy work.