LIBERTY — The Vallones are synonomous with great business acumen, hard work and providing safe transportation to nearly 4,500 school children throughout Sullivan County and Ulster County.

On Wednesday, November 1, the Vallone and DeSabato families inked a deal with Beacon Mobility to carry on that fine tradition.

Throughout its history, Rolling V has been a target of acqusition by large, national school bus operators.

This was due to Rolling V’s stellar reputation in the school transportation business. But time and again, the Vallone and DeSabato families turned down the offers to preserve the Rolling V brand.

This time, things are different.

Rolling V found a suitable buyer in a new group, Beacon Mobility.

Suitable in the sense that for all intents and purposes nothing will change.

“I will still be here, every day, behind my desk,” said Phil Vallone.

 “Unless I’m in Key West, or out hunting or fishing,” he said with a smile.

“I think we have won about every award the county has to offer,” Phil said proudly as he looked back at the Sullivan County Partnership’s Walter A. Rhulen Award in 2016 hanging on his office wall. “But that is a testament to the hard work put in by our employees each and every day – I’m just the front man.”

That hard work has earned Rolling V a reputation throughout the state and country as a well-run, forward thinking transportation business.

Recently, Phil and Donna’s son, Nick, who serves as Executive Vice-President of Rolling V Bus Corp. and President of the New York School Bus Contractors Assn., was chosen as one of the 2023 Transportation Power 100.

That group featured many of the movers and shakers who are behind projects who are keeping New Yorkers on the move.

And Phil and Nick will continue on after the sale.

Phil will be retained as an advisor to Beacon Mobility and Nick will remain at the helm of Rolling V and is being considered for a more robust role in overseeing additional operations un-der the Beacon Mobility umbrella in New York State.

Linda Kleingardner will remain as Operations Manager and Safety Dir-ector, posts she has held for many years.

The drivers, monitors, mechanics, safety and management team will also stay in place and continue to be led by the father-son duo of Phil and Nick.

Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development President and CEO Marc Baez congratulated the Vallone and DeSabato families on the sale.

“It took decades of hard work by them to build a company that size. We are so happy they are continuing to stay in Sullivan County, providing great employment and providing such necessary services to all of our residents.

“From school districts to public transportation, Rolling V has been there for the county,” Baez said. “We are delighted these operations will continue in Sullivan County.”

Sullivan County Community Resources Commissioner Laura Quigley said, “Rolling V, its staff and the Vallone family have been an incredible partner with their home County for decades, and I don’t expect that to change.

“I’ve worked closely with them to launch and expand the County’s free public transportation service, Move Sullivan, and they are a key reason it’s become as successful as it now is.” Quigley said. “They are team players in every way, and I’m grateful Nick and company are remaining committed to the places and people they’ve served so well.”

Nick Vallone said, “The stars aligned, and the time was right, we expect the partnership with Beacon to bridge good opportunities for all of our people, continue the same level of service and commitment to the community, and be positioned very well for the future. I cannot speak highly enough of the entire Rolling V team for their dedication, loyalty and attention to detail which allows us to fulfill our obligation to the communities we serve.”

Rolling V currently employees 300 people and at one time, including its downstate operations, employed 700. The downstate operations were sold during the past few years.

Sullivan County Par-tnership for Ecoomic Development President and CEO Marc Baez congratulated the Vallone and DeSabato families on the sale.

“It took decades of hard work by them to build a company that size. We are so happy they are continuing to stay in Sullivan County, providing great employment and providing such necessary services to all of our residents.

“From school districts to public transportation, Rolling V has been there for the county,” Baez said. “We are delighted these operations will continue in Sullivan County.”

Sullivan County Community Resources Commissioner Laura Quigley said, “Rolling V, its staff and the Vallone family have been an incredible partner with their home County for decades, and I don’t expect that to change.

“I’ve worked closely with them to launch and expand the County’s free public transportation service, Move Sullivan, and they are a key reason it’s become as successful as it now is,” Quigley said. “They are team players in every way, and I’m grateful Nick and company are remaining committed to the places and people they’ve served so well.”

Nick Vallone said, “The stars aligned, and the time was right, we expect the partnership with Beacon to bridge good opportunities for all of our people, continue the same level of service and commitment to the community, and be positioned very well for the future. I cannot speak highly enough of the entire Rolling V team for their dedication, loyalty and attention to detail which allows us to fulfill our obligation to the communities we serve.”

Rolling V currently employees 300 people and at one time, including its downstate operations, employed 700. The downstate operations were sold during the past few years.