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Maria has been part of her family business since she was a little girl. In 2018, she became the Operations Manager & Dispatcher for Benedict’s. A third generation family owner for the school buses, and second generation of the motorcoach business, Maria has the experience and depth of knowledge of the bus industry, inside and out. Her parents shifted the ownership to her and her sister, Tammy, in 2015.
Her Grandpa, Byron Benedict, started the business back in 1964 with school buses and tractors. Her parents, Bob and Cynthia Benedict, purchased coaches in 1991, to get out of the farm tractor business, and the rest is history!
Maria’s start in the company began when she was in middle school cleaning school buses in the summer, and starting full-time after graduating from college. Throughout her career, she has done everything, from odd jobs during summer vacations, driving school buses and vans, administrative work, planning tours, and driving motorcoaches.
Maria shares: “Growing up in the bus business and traveling on the coach trips with my family gave me the experience I needed. I was very shy and introverted in school, but being a Tour Manager over the years certainly brought me out of the shell.”
In her free time, she enjoys helping others and being of service to those who need help. In May of 2021, she started a local support group called “Advocates for Alzheimer’s” for caretakers of loved ones with some form of dementia. This is something that she feels very strongly about since her Mom currently suffers from Alzheimer’s. When COVID hit and traveling came to a halt, she was able to help take care of her Mom more and spend lots of time together. There were no resources or support groups nearby, so she started one in hopes of helping others navigate the difficult disease.
Maria currently resides in Wellsboro, PA with her husband Daniel, two daughters, Taylor and McKenzie, and 4 grandchildren.
We welcome such an experienced and caring person to our leadership.
Thank you, Maria!
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