Why UTS
- State certified providers for Non-Medical Transportation Services
- More than 25 years of Ohio Department of Developmentally Disabled transportation experience in Butler, Hamilton, Warren, Montgomery, Clinton, Clermont, Franklin, Fairfield and Preble Counties in Ohio
- 24/7 dispatchers and customer service with cutting edge technology GPS, custom scheduling software for timely and dependable service
- Superior, experienced drivers with training and continuing education programs
About Us
UTS is a state of the art company that cares about the people we serve. We also invest and are involved in the communities we serve. Universal Transportation Systems LLC dba UTS is an Ohio Limited Liability Company that is owned by Geoff Kuzio
We are highly regarded by the school districts, agencies, and corporations we serve in Southwest and Central Ohio. We provide services in nine counties including Butler, Hamilton, Warren, Clinton, Clermont, and Preble, Montgomery, Franklin, Ohio.
We have experience in all transportation system types, including adults and students with special needs, on-demand service for NET, PRS and workforce programs and transit systems, making UTS uniquely qualified to meets the needs of a diverse population.
We train each driver to the highest standards. Exceeding the requirements set by Ohio Pupil Transportation, the Ohio Revised and Administrative Code, as well as the Federal mandate for Drug & Alcohol programs. Any client can be rest assured that all drivers are screened, trained and monitored to meet these high standards.
Our company transports an average of 3,500 clients per day in over 250 Company owned vehicles. This service always maintains a high level of reliability, on-time performance, while exhibiting particular sensitivities to our clients’ physical and special needs. We are committed to an exemplary level of safety.
Our attention to maintenance is second to none! Our entire fleet is inspected daily. We feel the best policy is an intensive preventive maintenance effort to avoid problems before they develop.
Staff
Our Staff is Second to None
Our team of Drivers, Call Center Specialists, Schedulers, Dispatchers, Trainers and Office Staff are committed to delivering the highest level of safety, reliability, and customer service. Our dedicated HR and Training Center provides best in class training and certifications so our clients and their families can rest assured that they are in good hands. UTS believes in promoting from within and supports a culture of building career opportunities. The current President of UTS started as a driver!
Staff Members
Geoff Kuzio
CEO
Geoff Kuzio purchased Universal Transportation Systems in 2017 and is the acting Chief Executive Officer and owner. Prior to coming to UTS, Mr. Kuzio spent 20 years in executive roles with Fortune 500 companies, including PepsiCo and The Campbell Soup Company. He has held leadership roles in Sales, Finance, Marketing and Logistics. Mr. Kuzio graduated from Miami University and lives in Cincinnati, OH with his wife, Tessa and his 2 children.
Mike Cronin
President
Mike Cronin is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 25 years’ experience in both industry and public accounting. Throughout his career, Mr. Cronin has worked in Fortune 500 and large private companies as well as several entrepreneurial ventures. His background has primarily focused on the healthcare industry and his experience encompasses both finance and government affairs.
Carolyn Burer
VP of Program Management
Carolyn Burer, the previous UTS owner has remained at the company as President and leads the day to day operations. Ms. Burer has 30 years of experience operating companies in the field of transportation and has worked in all aspects of on-demand and specialized transportation during her tenure at UTS. Heavily involved in company operations, she maintains supervision over the various contracted services UTS provides.
Wanda Price
School Department Director
Wanda Price started at UTS in 1991 as a route driver, after a few years became the receptionist receiving the incoming calls and redirecting them to the UTS staff, drivers, and dispatchers. Wanda then became an assistant for the school department staff which lead her to her current position at UTS as the UTS school department manager.
Wanda really enjoys assisting the many school districts and parents with safe transportation for students. Over the years she has seen many successes in the lives of the students who have grown into productive positions in life as an adult. Wanda graduated from Badin High School and lives in Fairfield with her husband. Wanda is a proud mother of 3 children and 3 wonderful grandchildren.
Chris Hudak
CTO
Chris Hudak has been in the Information Technology industry for 27+ years, he started when he was 19 with the USAF connecting many program offices together with new computer networking technologies. Since then, Chris has worked for many technology companies throughout his career and has been able to use his knowledge to improve the quality and efficiency of corporate processes and workflow. Chris is passionate about technology and loves to help others use it to improve their lives.
Tom Nicolaus
Vice President of Operations
Tom has over 20 years in the transportation industry. Most recently he was the General Manager at Queen City Transportation where Tom oversaw the school transportation division. In this role he grew operations from less than 30 buses to over 125. Prior to Queen City Transportation, Mr. Nicolaus owned and operated his own transportation company operating taxi’s, black car service and NEMT services in Kentucky and Ohio.
Tom, his wife Lisa and his 2 children, Kayleigh (13) and Tripp (10) live in Ft. Thomas, Kentucky.
Stevie Brown
Human Resources Director
Stevie Brown started at UTS in December of 2019 as Human Resource Director. Prior to taking on this role, she received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Wittenberg University as well as a paralegal certificate from Capital University. After over a decade in the paralegal field, she decided to go to UTS for a different career experience and is thoroughly enjoying helping employees make the most of their time here.
Tyler McGee
Hiring Director
Tyler McGee joined UTS in April of 2019 as the lead hiring manager. He has a bachelor’s of business administration from Wilmington College and has spent several years working in insurance as well as service industries. At UTS, Tyler enjoys helping employees reach their goals and start new journeys filled with growth and achievement. Outside of work, he enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends.
Diana Navey
Payroll Director
Diana has been with UTS for over 24 years in various positions and currently enjoys working with our team and Controller and Call Center Manager. With over 35 years of experience in accounting and management, Diana has worked for several companies with payroll services and accounting before starting at UTS. Presently, she strives to use her knowledge to help UTS to continue to be a successful transportation provider to the vast communities they serve.
Damita Engram
Dispatch Manager
Damita has been in the school bus transportation industry for 24 years. She is a yellow bus OBI trainer with the ability to train people for their School Bus CDL driver’s license. Damita has been a part of the UTS family for 2 years. She started at UTS as a yellow bus driver and with hard work and dedication, she is now the Yellow Bus Dispatch and Customer Service Manager. Her favorite part about working for UTS is the team of fellow employees with who she loves growing with each and every day. Damita lives in Fairfield with her twin daughters An’Tania and An’Tanai, who are otherwise known as the UTS lil supervisors!
Stephanie Anderson
School Bus Compliance Manager
Stephanie has over 12 years of experience in the transportation industry in the Training, Compliance, and Human Resources Departments. She was previously employed by Queencity Transportation, where she helped bring 125 bus routes when there were originally less than 30. Stephanie started with Universal Transportation Systems in 2019 in the HR Department. This year, she has been crucial in assisting the company’s growth from 30+ to 90+ school bus routes. She lives in Hartwell and has 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren.
Training and Certifications
The basis of all successful transportation programs are a team of fully trained, experienced drivers, dispatchers and administrative staff. To ensure these individuals have the skill sets necessary to perform their jobs efficiently and effectively, UTS devotes a great deal of time and effort to our training programs for all employees.
Driver Training and Requirements:
UTS has a dedicated Training Center with the experience and scale to ensure all drivers are trained to the highest standards and are in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
We have a proven curriculum designed by our Training Manager, Rhett Atkinson and the Director of Safety, Frank Herzog, that ensures all UTS staff members are thoroughly trained.
Hiring and screening the right candidates is the cornerstone of recruiting and training great employees. UTS relies on a stringent screening policy and hiring practices that include, strong driving record underwriting, full drug and alcohol testing programs with a zero-tolerance approach. We are a Web Check provider and perform fingerprinting for local and federal background investigations, perform an annual T-8 or ODOT physical, combined with positive reinforcement of successful performance including a bonus programs for meeting and exceeding Service Level Agreements (SLA’s)
State and Federal governments establish driver qualifications and standards. UTS far exceeds the set standards through a stringent hiring, training, evaluation and advancement program.
Driver required certification for all UTS drivers include:
- FBI/ BCI Background Check Renewed every year
- Red Cross First Aid Certification Renewed every 2 years
- Red Cross CPR Certification Renewed every 2 years
- Medicaid Fraud, Waste & Abuse training Renewed every year
- Elderly Services Drive Certification Renewed every 3 years
- Blood Borne Pathogens Training Renewed every year
- GSC Defensive Driving Certification Renewed every 3 years
- Ohio Dept of Education Preservice Training Renewed every 6 years
- Drug & Alcohol Abuse Training Renewed every year
- DODD Major Unusual Incidents Training Renewed every year
- Clean Motor Vehicle Record Renewed every year
- T-8 Physical with Drug and Alcohol Screening Renewed every year
UTS requires an annual BCI and driving record from the Bureau of Motor Vehicle. In addition:
- Driver’s fingerprints are screened by the FBI.
- Driver’s identity is screened by Abuser Registry, Nurse Aide Registry, Sex/Child Offender, Systems for Award Management, and Incarcerated Offenders.
- Drivers are required to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol screening, post-accident and must participate in Random Drug Screening
Driver Training Curriculum:
Formal driver training is essential for the safety of our clients, and UTS takes pride in our ability to attract and retain qualified drivers and ensure their appropriate training.
UTS Driver Training includes a 55-hour training curriculum, annual refresher training, and 4 hours of required annual safety meetings. Our training for new drivers includes 20 hours of classroom training and 35 hours of On-The-Road training. This includes the ADA approved Drive Training to ensure client sensitivity and communication.
Quality and Safety
At UTS, We Believe in Leaving Nothing to Chance
UTS’ motto is “SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY.” Drivers receive ongoing instruction on safety rules and regulations, and there is a zero tolerance policy in place for anyone choosing to not follow these policies and procedures. Our vans are equipped with in cab video cameras, GPS monitoring, two-way radios and emergency equipment, and our drivers perform daily pre-trip inspections to ensure our vehicles are operating at 100% UTS has a 24 hour safety team led by safety director, Cetress Coston. Her team ensures a proactive quality control program to ensure 100% compliance with internal and customer requirements. This program includes driver coaching, training, and safety programs. Every aspect of our quality assurance program is designed to ensure we exceed our customers’ expectations.
Vehicles
Maintained and Dependable
UTS prides itself on offering clean, dependable vehicles. We are committed to preventive maintenance and pass rigorous annual local, state and federal inspections in which we consistently exceed standards. Understanding the needs of our client base means offering vehicles that accommodate their physical limitations. With more than 250 vehicles in operation, clients can expect a worry-free ride.
Prius – 10
Extended Vans – 10
Dodge Caravans – 150
Wheelchair Vans – 50
