As the director of student transportation for the DeKalb County School District, Bernando Brown leads one of the nation's largest student transportation operations. Before entering public education, he proudly served 20 years in the United States Army. Throughout both careers, his passion has remained the same: developing leaders, building strong teams, and creating organizational cultures where people and performance thrive.

In addition to my work with DeKalb County, Brown serves as chair of the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Professional Growth Committee and as a member of the Executive Board of the Georgia Association for Pupil Transportation (GAPT). He’s a national conference presenter and has been recognized as the Metro RESA Transportation Director of the Year.

When he speaks, his goal is simple: for every attendee to leave with ideas they can put into practice the moment they return to work. He combines practical leadership strategies, real-world transportation experiences, lessons learned during military service, and interactive discussions that challenge people to think differently, lead with purpose, and build stronger organizations.