Contributions of Specialty Mfg.'s Greg Bridgeman remembered
Specialty Mfg. Co. loses a valuable member of its company family.
Greg Bridgeman, vice president and general manager of Specialty Mfg. Co., passed away on Oct. 16 after a brief illness.
Bridgeman had spent the past 14 years with Specialty, the Pineville, N.C.-based manufacturer of safety products for both the transit and school bus industries.
"Greg's career was characterized by a lot of hard work, a lot of innovation and a great deal of integrity," said John Ellison, president of Specialty Mfg. "Greg was also integrally important in helping our customers understand why these innovations would help them, and they trusted his judgment."
During his tenure, Bridgeman oversaw the development of key bus products, including roof hatches, lighting systems and rubber flooring. He served on the board of directors of Invertec, a United Kingdom-based manufacturer of interior lighting systems for transit buses that was acquired by Specialty.
Bridgeman was a respected leader in the bus industry and a longtime member of the American Public Transportation Association. He also helped to form the Supplier Council of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services. He was also a member of the National Association for Pupil Transportation and the National School Transportation Association.
"He was a great friend to many people who worked in the pupil transportation industry," said Bob Whitehouse, president of IC Corp., a school bus manufacturer in Conway, Ark.
"Over the past 14 years, I, along with many others, have worked hard and played hard with Greg," Whitehouse said. "I will miss him greatly."
Bridgeman, who is survived by his wife Janice and two daughters, Abby and Vanessa, was born in Gaston County, N.C., and served in the U.S. Army in Germany. He was a member of the Cramer Mountain Men's Golf Association and Christ United Methodist Church in Gastonia, N.C.
The family asks that any gifts or memorials be sent to Christ United Methodist Church, 3415 Union Rd., Gastonia, N.C. 28056.
More Management

Minnesota's Rustad Tours Takes Delivery of New MCI Motorcoach
The latest addition represents Rustad Tours’ 17th new MCI coach, marking more than four decades of partnership between the two companies.
Read More →
Seattle's Sound Transit Refunds Debt, Saving Approximately $23 Million
As part of the debt refunding process, Sound Transit requested that the credit rating agencies rate the new debt issuance along with the current outstanding debt.
Read More →
North Carolina’s CATS Celebrates 50 Years of Public Transit
The milestone event honored generations of transit workers and showcased how public transportation has evolved into a multimodal system serving one of the nation's fastest-growing regions.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Endera Delivers to California, Safety Vision Teams with San Antonio's VIA, and More
From manufacturers and suppliers to transit agencies and motorcoach operators, these updates offer a snapshot of the projects, partnerships and business moves driving the industry forward.
Read More →
Smarter Maintenance Starts with Risk, Not Routine
As infrastructure ages and funding pressures mount, effective asset management is becoming critical to maintaining safe, reliable transportation networks.
Read More →
OCTA Extends Senior Mobility Program Agreements Through 2031
The Measure M-funded program has provided nearly 3.5 million trips and will continue helping thousands of older adults maintain independence and access essential services.
Read More →
VIA's Silver Line Clears Environmental Review, Advances Toward Construction
The VIA Rapid Green Line is currently under construction, with service expected to begin in April 2028.
Read More →
Modernizing Mobility with CharterUP CEO Armir Harris
From digital transformation to evolving customer demands, CharterUP's Armir Harris offers his perspective on the transportation industry's next chapter.
Read More →
CTTC Enhances Transit Workforce Pipeline Through New Partnerships and Leadership
The group's latest initiatives focus on developing talent, expanding training opportunities and addressing workforce needs across the transit sector.
Read More →
San Diego MTS Keeps Service Intact With New FY 2027 Budget
The approved spending plan avoids route cuts and lays the groundwork for addressing transit funding challenges through the end of the decade.
Read More →