New Flyer Employees Honored with 40 Under 40 Distinction

New Flyer Xcelsior bus

Two New Flyer of America Inc. employees have been named to Mass Transit Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 listing for 2020.

Lindy Norris, director of marketing and public affairs, and Ben Wood, plant manager of New Flyer’s Anniston, Alabama facility, were recognized for outstanding innovation, demonstrated leadership and a commitment to making an impact in transit.

Norris and Wood join four other New Flyer employees — Stephanie Laubenstein, Ian Macpherson, Paul Cantin and Brydon Owen — who were honored on previous Top 40 listings.

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“New Flyer is proud to now have six leaders recognized on this prestigious list. Ben and Lindy exemplify our team’s passion to drive innovation in and advancement of North American public transit,” said Chris Stoddart, president of New Flyer.

Norris joined New Flyer in 2017 as director of marketing communications, where she led the company’s efforts at the 2017 American Public Transportation Association’s EXPO conference and the launch of New Flyer’s Vehicle Innovation Center, the first and only innovation lab of its kind in North America. In her current role as director of marketing and public affairs, Norris now advocates for technology advancement, workforce development and investment in sustainable infrastructure for the transportation industry, in addition to leading New Flyer’s North American brand strategy.

“With our industry advancing more rapidly than ever before, the opportunity to solve novel challenges alongside social, environmental and regulatory change is an absolute privilege,” Norris said.

Wood has been with New Flyer for a decade, helping to develop its people, processes and partnerships. As director of materials, he improved inventory accuracy and process efficiencies and as director of purchasing he managed more than $1 billion in annual business with more than 350 industry suppliers, while setting a New Flyer record for the improvement of on-time supplier delivery.

As plant manager of the Anniston facility, Wood now leads more than 700 employees. During this past year, he inspired his team to achieve the rank of New Flyer’s best performing manufacturing facility. He and his team have launched advanced zero-emission bus manufacturing processes, enhanced product quality, reduced work-in-process by 85 percent, increased employee retention and embedded 5S and Lean Manufacturing techniques throughout the plant.

“Together, our Anniston team works hard to build the industry’s best mobility solutions through innovating buses, technology and infrastructure; promoting sustainability, and delivering the highest quality products to communities across North America. I am so proud to be part of changing our industry for the better,” Wood said.

New Flyer has 9,000 team members operating from 50 facilities in 10 countries.

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