VMC CONSULTANTS

Dr. Ganim balances fifty years of private, public and educational sector experience with extensive academic credentials – BS Industrial Engineering; MS Operations Research; and a Ph.D. in Organizational Communications.

His consulting engagements span more than 300 public jurisdictions and 200 school districts, including twenty New York State counties. Dr. Ganim has performed or supervised more than 100 Job

Classification and Salary Studies (compensation studies) for New York State local governments and five such studies in Florida when acting as the Consultant for Florida’s Gold Coast League of cities (the four counties—Broward, Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach, and all the municipalities and school districts in these counties). In addition, Dr. Ganim acted as the professional HR and Labor Negotiator for over 125 municipalities and school districts in New York State and State of Florida.

As CEO of Value Management Consultants, Inc., Dr. Ganim is focusing on the improvement of transportation for children with special needs – pre-school and school aged, and other sensitive
populations.

Mr. Ganim earned his baccalaureate in Business and Engineering from Cornell University in 1986. From then until February of 1989 he was employed by NYNEX (New York Telephone) as a data network development specialist. At NYNEX he assisted in the development of NYSERNET, a high-speed data network throughout New York State.

Since joining the VMC Group in 1989, Mr. Ganim has been assigned to the project management and implementation of specialized transportation products and to the institution of several key transportation projects. In this capacity he has had significant experience in supervisory management, and regularly works with transporters, school officials, program participants and jurisdictional supervisory staff. Mr. Ganim has been trained in the use and maintenance of several transportation software packages, and the support of the VMC clients who employ these products. In connection with the foregoing, he has made extensive use of his experience with Novell, UNIX, (AIX), and LANtastic.

During a three-year period from 2004 through early 2007 Mr. Ganim served as Transportation supervisor, specializing in the transportation of children with disabilities, for the Elizabeth Township School District (New Jersey). In that position, Mr. Ganim used all of the skills he developed at the VMC Group in connection with the operation and maintenance of transportation software and student databases, supervision of drivers and monitors, and compliance with legal requirements.

Mr. Ganim brings a rare combination of theoretical and practical experience to a major transportation project, since a part of his duties have required that he work closely with individual clients, frequently visiting their respective sites to assess their data needs and concerns, and to provide localized and customized training in transportation oversight and in the use of the various software products utilized by VMC.

Mrs. Poole is a VMC veteran having worked for the company in various capacities over the years. In her current role, she is responsible for Routing, Attendance, and Invoicing.
Since 2020, Peggy has enhanced her experience in the public sector as a human resources director for the Ontario Bus Company where she was responsible for hiring and recruitment policies, training, and implementing best practices in all aspects of employment. Most recently, she was a dispatcher for Greece Central School District overseeing bus routes for K-12 children. As the central point of contact for the district, she dealt with all stakeholders – parents, administrators, drivers, and attendants to ensure safe and compliant transportation.

Additionally, Peggy’s skills are enhanced with over 10 years of experience in the medical field relating to patient care and HIPAA regulations. Her extensive experience in various fields of patient care, from Emergency, Family practice, and Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, as CNA gives her a unique insight into medical regulations and quality care of handicapped adults and children. She is versed in Medicaid guidelines having worked directly with Medicaid and
Commercial insurance billing acquiring authorizations.

During her tenure at the Southwest Washington Medical Center Family Practice office with the state Medicaid Program she worked to lower the number of delinquent, well child visits by Medicaid patients. Her efforts afforded the clinic a reimbursement award of over $35,000 and the program was then implemented in numerous other clinics throughout SW Washington where she was invited to train their staff.

Mrs. Poole holds a Paralegal degree and performed her internship with a Contract Attorney and Court Justice. Her many years of customer service and care of medical patients serves her well working with sensitive populations and their parents and caregivers.

Mr. Seifert’s role at VMC is focused on Cost Accounting. He brings over 30 years of experience with Federal, State, County and Local Agencies to the VMC team. He has deep expertise in bid preparation and fulfilling various types of contracts. His background with Governmental Agencies, customers, and other personnel, allows him to deal with various types of individuals, negotiate any issues and meet deadlines in an efficient manner.

Among his many contributions to VMC clients, Mr. Seifert has been exemplary in organizing invoicing grids for both the counties and transporters. This is a key activity to help municipalities, such as counties, maximize their resources through cost containment. This is often a dynamic process with student population changing quite frequently. He has established a strong and healthy relationship with both parties that enables VMC to act efficiently on behalf of its clients. Further supporting his role, Mr. Seifert has experience in implementing computerized inventory databases, detailing cost, maintaining customer records, correspondence, statements, and automated secretarial duties.

Bob holds a BA in Communications from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA.

Ms. Covert is a transportation professional, with thirty-six years of experience in the field.

She began her career with Blue Bird Coach Lines where she arranged charter bus trips and group tours. Her work included planning and providing for all facets of these trips, including scheduling and routing the motor coaches for daily and overnight excursions, arranging for hotels and meals, and scheduling visits to special attractions.

As VMC’s local Project Manager for its Coordinated Inter-Department and Inter-Agency Transportation Management in Cattaraugus County, and Transportation Management in Niagara Ms. Covert applies all of her multifaceted background and expertise. As coordinator of VMC’s efforts in Cattaraugus, she is responsible for the timely verification of transporter invoices.

In addition to her regular duties, Ms. Covert previously worked closely with the City of Olean, county management, local interest groups, and VMC’s Value Management Consulting professionals to establish a public bus service. For this project she had been intimately involved in the survey of potential ridership that established the need for this service, formulation of bid specifications, inducing transporters to bid for the project, public relations, structuring the bus route and schedule, and ensuring the quality of the services. She also set up a gas voucher program for the Cattaraugus One-Stop work program, contracting with and reimbursement to gas stations within the County.

Other previous duties included the management of Medicaid Medical Travel for Cattaraugus County, which involved arranging medical travel for Medicaid patients needing transportation to medical appointments.

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