WEST CHESTER, Pa. — Surprise, humbled, and excited. Those were the words Krapf Bus Cos. Chairman Dale Krapf used to describe his reaction upon hearing that he will receive CEO of the Year award from the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry on Wednesday at Longwood Gardens.
Krapf’s recent and long-term business accomplishments and his involvement in the community factored into his winning the award, said Marianne Martelli, the county chamber’s vice president of operations.
Through its expansion of operations to the Midwest, Krapf has increased its number of employees and nearly doubled the size of the company in the past year, Martelli said.
Krapf Bus Cos. expanded its school bus operations into the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and the Chicago suburb of Naperville through its acquisition of Septran Bus Co. In addition to Minnesota and Illlinois, Krapf operates in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia.
Krapf’s passion for giving children the opportunity to flourish and grow within Chester County contributed to the chamber’s decision, Martelli said.
Having served on the chamber’s board and as its chairman, Krapf recommended the creation of the Chester County Chamber Foundation. The foundation has created the Youth Leadership Program that equips the county’s youth with skills that they can use to contribute to Chester County in the future.
Krapf is currently serving his final month as the chamber foundation’s president. Krapf Bus Cos. also gives a scholarship to one graduate from an area high school that uses its buses.
Krapf previously won Chester County Chamber’s Small Business Leader of the Year Award in 1994. The National School Transportation Association gave Krapf the Distinguished Service Award in 1994 and its Hall of Fame Award in 2005.
