New Flyer Industries Canada ULC has congratulated Paul Smith, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, for receiving the Canadian Urban Transit Association 2018 W.G. Ross Lifetime Achievement Award. With the award, Paul is subsequently inducted into the CUTA Hall of Fame.
The W.G. Ross Lifetime Achievement Award is given annually to an individual exemplifying exceptional promotion and practice of public transit in Canada. Paul spent three decades at New Flyer, starting in engineering and advancing to executive leadership of sales and marketing, during which time New Flyer’s transit bus market share in Canada and the U.S. grew from 19.5% to nearly 45 percent.
Paul was integral in the development of groundbreaking technologies, and shaped the public transit industry with safer, more accessible, and efficient transportation. Paul is an ardent industry advocate with decades of contribution to CUTA’s executive committee and Board of Directors, in addition to participation with the American Public Transportation Association including the Business Member Board of Governors.
“We are thrilled to congratulate Paul on this momentous and well-deserved occasion as he prepares for retirement at the end of 2018. Few have achieved as much as Paul Smith, influencing an entire industry with his vision for innovation and accessibility,” said Wayne Joseph, president, New Flyer of America. “Paul was instrumental in New Flyer’s introduction of many industry firsts during his tenure, including diesel-hybrid propulsion, fully-accessible low-floor technology, the redesign of the electric-trolley bus for off-wire applications, the development of the company’s first battery-electric bus, and the introduction of New Flyer’s Xcelsior fuel cell-electric bus models.”
“Paul truly cared about creating and delivering solutions that made lives better and evolved the industry while doing so. Paul’s legacy is a testament to his reputation and hard work: he is well regarded and respected in cities across North America and leaves a legacy of innovations and pride with his colleagues at New Flyer,” said Paul Soubry, president and chief executive officer, NFI Group. “Under Paul’s leadership, over 10,000 buses were delivered to major Canadian transit agencies, including Winnipeg Transit, OC Transpo in Ottawa, Metrolinx in Toronto, Edmonton Transit Service, Calgary Transit, and the Coast Mountain Bus Company in Vancouver.”
