ROME — Leonard Bus Sales, a family-owned business headquartered in Rome, says the family’s third generation is now leading the firm.

Mike Leonard, former owner and president of Leonard Bus Sales, recently announced that his son, Jon Leonard, has taken over as company president. 

Jon Leonard will own the company jointly with his four brothers Patrick, Ben, Dan, and Chris. The transaction became official on Jan. 1, the firm tells CNYBJ in an email.

The succession continues the family business started by their grandparents, Gerald and Helen, in 1965.

The goal of the succession process was to implement an ownership, leadership, and management-transition plan that “supported the continued success of Leonard Bus Sales and its school-transportation partners; and provided clarity regarding major decisions,” per a company news release. 

The plan had Jon Leonard and his four brothers together buying the company from their father, with Jon purchasing all of the voting shares, the company said. The Leonards didn’t disclose the purchase price.

“I am honored that after a long and thoughtful succession-planning process, our son Jon decided to purchase the business and assume the leadership role at Leonard Bus Sales,” Mike Leonard, former owner and president, said. “Barb, and I couldn’t be prouder of Jon, and our sons Patrick, Ben, Dan and Chris for the commitment and dedication they have demonstrated over the years. Having Jon at the helm means Leonard Bus Sales will remain a family-owned business. It also ensures the culture that we have fostered over the years, like making safety a priority, will continue to be demonstrated to our school transportation partners for years to come.”

The succession plan for continuing family ownership has been in the works for “a number of years.” For the past five years, Jon Leonard served as the vice president of Leonard Bus Sales, with responsibility for day-to-day operations. 

Jon’s brothers Patrick, Ben, and Dan will continue their current roles at Leonard Bus Sales ensuring that the company remains the family-focused business it has been for three generations. Jon’s brother, Chris, will continue his career in commercial construction at his company — Leonard Contractors Inc. — which is located in Tampa, Florida.

“I want to thank my parents for having the confidence in me to lead Leonard Bus Sales. I also want to thank them for teaching me about the school transportation business and why it is clearly one of the most important industries in the country,” Jon Leonard, new owner and president of Leonard Bus Sales, said. “The school buses we sell, service, and support for our school transportation partners are carrying life’s most precious cargo. It is a huge responsibility and it’s something that we think about every day at Leonard Bus Sales. I look forward to working with our team to build upon the foundation of our success which was established by my grandparents and my parents.”

About the company

Leonard Bus Sales says it is a distributor of IC Bus brand school buses in upstate New York and distributes Trans Tech Type-A school buses throughout New York as well. IC Bus school buses are made in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Trans Tech school buses are made in Warwick, New York in Orange County, the firm tells CNYBJ.

The company operates facilities in Rome; Bergen in Genesee County; Deposit in Delaware County; Middletown in Orange County; and in Saratoga Springs, north of Albany. Leonard has about 180 employees statewide with 35 of them based in its Saratoga Springs facility.

Customers include West Genesee Central School District; Baldwinsville Central School District; and Norwood-Norfolk Central School District in St. Lawrence County, per the firm’s website.