About Us
Our strategic consulting firm specializes in reducing student transportation costs while improving overall operations, through optimization of routes, analyses of boundaries and bell times and management of resources. We also help schools and districts prepare for and respond to natural or human-caused crises and disasters.
FOUNDER & CEO
Paul Novak, Founder & CEO, has over 45 years of safety, security and transportation experience, serving in senior leadership positions in both public education and the U.S. military.
Prior to Gauge Precision Consulting, Mr. Novak served for over 21 years as the Director of Safety, Security and Transportation for a 13,000 student urban school district in Tempe, Arizona.
His transportation department was renowned for its safety, efficiency and its high level of customer service. The State Auditor General found that the methods employed resulted in a lower cost per student and cost per mile than all other comparative districts while maintaining high customer satisfaction ratings. Mr. Novak held a Gubernatorial appointment to the Arizona School Bus Advisory Council, including three years as its Chairman.
He authored innovative changes to school security plans which were adopted immediately after Columbine and Sandy Hook; plans that are in force today in school districts across many states. He established a Crisis Line which is monitored 24 hours-a-day and front-office containment designs which have completely prevented access to instructional and common areas on all campuses while maintaining a family-friendly and inviting appearance.
Mr. Novak's 20 year U.S. Army career included senior leadership assignments in force protection of U.S. and coalition forces, transportation and logistics management, as well as the lead for U.S. - Soviet Union treaty enforcement, to name a few. His assignments took him overseas to Europe, Asia and Africa, and the Middle East including multiple combat tours of duty.
Mr. Novak has been invited to speak at national and state conferences across the U.S. on topics ranging from leadership and teamwork to school safety and security as well as student transportation. His public speaking has included banking professionals, school business officials, a variety of organizations inside and outside of education across the country. Mr. Novak has appeared on TV and radio as a subject matter expert (SME), when there is Breaking News surrounding a school tragedy in the U.S. He has current contracts as a SME on multiple projects with the Federal Government.
SENIOR RISK MANAGEMENT
CONSULTANT
Regina Robles has has a long and successful career in public education, serving in leadership positions from risk management to director of maintenance. She oversaw facility maintenance and operations for all school and administrative campuses, during her recent 15-year career.
Regina has developed collegial inter-agency relationships with multiple law enforcement and fire agencies, a critical step for any head of school district safety. She assisted numerous school districts with creation of emergency response plans and training.
As a risk manager, she became the honest broker and clearing house for decisions that necessitated risk and threat assessments. She has been an active member of the Arizona Association of School Business Officials for over 10 years and is a master in the overall operations of school business.
She managed multi-million-dollar budgets and developed district-wide processes and procedures Maintenance Process Manual, to allow all staff the ability to understand and follow district maintenance procedures and to maintain consistency and mitigate district liability. This on-line toolkit is next-generation and walks facility leaders, staff, and maintenance personnel, on all facets of facility operations and maintenance. Additionally, she developed a maintenance handbook to support all maintenance staff on job-related information, understanding the district's mission and values and providing safety training.
Regina’s many leadership roles have led to her role as a sponsor of the Superintendent’s Student Council, leading a group of 8th grade students as a mentor in leadership, communication, and accountability.
She has developed emergency preparedness guidelines for administration and classrooms; developed internal communications line for all 911 calls; developed quick tip line, giving students, staff and the community an open line of anonymous communication to speak up and report suspicious concerns.
She is OSHA and FEMA trained and certified.
Regina has developed collegial inter-agency relationships with multiple law enforcement and fire agencies, a critical step for any head of school district safety. She assisted numerous school districts with creation of emergency response plans and training.
As a risk manager, she became the honest broker and clearing house for decisions that necessitated risk and threat assessments. She has been an active member of the Arizona Association of School Business Officials for over 10 years and is a master in the overall operations of school business.
She managed multi-million-dollar budgets and developed district-wide processes and procedures Maintenance Process Manual, to allow all staff the ability to understand and follow district maintenance procedures and to maintain consistency and mitigate district liability. This on-line toolkit is next-generation and walks facility leaders, staff, and maintenance personnel, on all facets of facility operations and maintenance. Additionally, she developed a maintenance handbook to support all maintenance staff on job-related information, understanding the district's mission and values and providing safety training.
Regina’s many leadership roles have led to her role as a sponsor of the Superintendent’s Student Council, leading a group of 8th grade students as a mentor in leadership, communication, and accountability.
She has developed emergency preparedness guidelines for administration and classrooms; developed internal communications line for all 911 calls; developed quick tip line, giving students, staff and the community an open line of anonymous communication to speak up and report suspicious concerns.
She is OSHA and FEMA trained and certified.
SENIOR TRANSIT
CONSULTANT
Carlos de Leon has provided proven leadership in building and managing teams of diverse professionals to improve transportation services, achieve community goals and implement award-winning transportation programs and projects.
His specific areas of transportation management expertise include transit services (bus, dial-a-ride and rail systems), multi-model transportation planning, project management, traffic management, street maintenance and parking services.
Most recently, Carlos led three major service divisions (Transit, Street Maintenance, and Parking) at the City of Tucson Transportation Department with over 150 employees and annual budget of over $100 million from 2012 to 2018. His major accomplishments as Deputy Transportation Director include the successful implementation and operation of the 4.8 mile Tucson Sun Link modern streetcar system, improvements in transportation service delivery and customer service systems, and modernization of technology and equipment across all three Divisions.
Prior to joining the City of Tucson, Carlos was the Director of Transit Services for the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Tucson, Arizona where he was responsible for managing and coordinating development, support and implementation of seamless regional transit services and projects.
Carlos also worked at the City of Tempe Public Works Department for over 17 years in various transportation positions including Deputy Public Works Director for Transportation and Transit, where he provided leadership and strategic direction for implementation of City’s $45 million annual transit program and $10 million annual street program.
During his time at Tempe, Carlos led the start-up, management and implementation of local and regional fixed route and neighborhood circulator services and provided management support for Metro Rail project team in design and construction of initial 20 mile light rail project. As a result, the City achieved record transit ridership of 11.8 million annual boardings in Tempe and received national sustainability awards, increased customer satisfaction.
As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Carlos served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Supply Corps, where he held various leadership positions including Marine air group assistant operations officer, substance abuse control officer, repairable material control officer, and accounting section officer.
After leaving military service, Carlos earned a Masters of Environmental Planning from Arizona State University. While working at his post graduate degree, Carlos worked for the Maricopa Association of Governments, as a transportation planner working on regional transportation plans and programs.
His specific areas of transportation management expertise include transit services (bus, dial-a-ride and rail systems), multi-model transportation planning, project management, traffic management, street maintenance and parking services.
Most recently, Carlos led three major service divisions (Transit, Street Maintenance, and Parking) at the City of Tucson Transportation Department with over 150 employees and annual budget of over $100 million from 2012 to 2018. His major accomplishments as Deputy Transportation Director include the successful implementation and operation of the 4.8 mile Tucson Sun Link modern streetcar system, improvements in transportation service delivery and customer service systems, and modernization of technology and equipment across all three Divisions.
Prior to joining the City of Tucson, Carlos was the Director of Transit Services for the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Tucson, Arizona where he was responsible for managing and coordinating development, support and implementation of seamless regional transit services and projects.
Carlos also worked at the City of Tempe Public Works Department for over 17 years in various transportation positions including Deputy Public Works Director for Transportation and Transit, where he provided leadership and strategic direction for implementation of City’s $45 million annual transit program and $10 million annual street program.
During his time at Tempe, Carlos led the start-up, management and implementation of local and regional fixed route and neighborhood circulator services and provided management support for Metro Rail project team in design and construction of initial 20 mile light rail project. As a result, the City achieved record transit ridership of 11.8 million annual boardings in Tempe and received national sustainability awards, increased customer satisfaction.
As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Carlos served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Supply Corps, where he held various leadership positions including Marine air group assistant operations officer, substance abuse control officer, repairable material control officer, and accounting section officer.
After leaving military service, Carlos earned a Masters of Environmental Planning from Arizona State University. While working at his post graduate degree, Carlos worked for the Maricopa Association of Governments, as a transportation planner working on regional transportation plans and programs.
SENIOR SECURITY CONSULTANT
Kinard La Fate is a combat veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, culminating with a distinguished and decorated 27 year career as a U.S. Army Colonel. His vast experience in law enforcement spans decades and includes military and civilian positions, in the U.S. and for U.S. missions and foreign police agencies in the Middle East.
His positions have included coordinating and synchronizing staff actions in law enforcement operations at the very highest levels of the United States Army, as well as anti-terrorism and force protection counter-measures and strategic security planning and training. While on active duty, he managed police operations as the Provost Marshall (chief of police) for large military bases in California, Kansas, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Subsequent to his 2 Army career, he served for 11 years with the U.S. Embassies as a civilian senior law enforcement lead or program manager in Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Iraq. He worked extensively as an executive leader of a $300M DOD program in Afghanistan. His positions had him working closely with U.S. general officers, coalition forces, FBI, DEA, US Customs and foreign police agencies.
He has vast experience as a security consultant and has engaged with numerous Defense and space agencies, including a $123M ICIDS III (integrated commercial intrusion detection system) program. Kinard is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College; the Air War College and has his masters of science in human resources.
His positions have included coordinating and synchronizing staff actions in law enforcement operations at the very highest levels of the United States Army, as well as anti-terrorism and force protection counter-measures and strategic security planning and training. While on active duty, he managed police operations as the Provost Marshall (chief of police) for large military bases in California, Kansas, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Subsequent to his 2 Army career, he served for 11 years with the U.S. Embassies as a civilian senior law enforcement lead or program manager in Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Iraq. He worked extensively as an executive leader of a $300M DOD program in Afghanistan. His positions had him working closely with U.S. general officers, coalition forces, FBI, DEA, US Customs and foreign police agencies.
He has vast experience as a security consultant and has engaged with numerous Defense and space agencies, including a $123M ICIDS III (integrated commercial intrusion detection system) program. Kinard is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College; the Air War College and has his masters of science in human resources.
SENIOR SCHOOL SAFETY CONSULTANT
Lyn Butcher is a retired Phoenix Police Sergeant with over 25 years of law enforcement experience.
She spent the 15 years as a Sergeant supervising School Resource Officers in various large public schools throughout the fifth largest city in the United States.
As a supervisor, she worked closely and frequently with senior administrations in schools and at the district level, up to and including superintendents.
Lyn earned her B.S. in justice studies and her M.S. in Public Administration from Arizona State University.
She spent the 15 years as a Sergeant supervising School Resource Officers in various large public schools throughout the fifth largest city in the United States.
As a supervisor, she worked closely and frequently with senior administrations in schools and at the district level, up to and including superintendents.
Lyn earned her B.S. in justice studies and her M.S. in Public Administration from Arizona State University.
SENIOR PUPIL TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANT
Jeffrey Cook is a senior consultant for Gauge Precision Consulting, with 33 years of experience in the pupil transportation industry. He is considered an innovative thinker and a progressive leader in the industry. His wealth of knowledge and experience come from his decades as a successful transportation director in both Washington and Arizona, where he delivered improved efficiencies and operational improvements.
Mr. Cook has served on the executive board of Transportation Administrators of Arizona for a number of years and presented in Washington, DC on the operational values of running a fleet on alternative fuels. His district was the first in Arizona to provide verified pre-trip inspections and he has effectively used GPS/telematics to improve overall student transportation operations.
Mr. Cook began his pupil transportation career as a dispatcher/router and was rapidly promoted to director. He carries the respect of industry professionals far and wide and is frequently sought out by his peers to help them develop strategies to resolve operational shortcomings in their districts. His role today, as an industry consultant, enables him to share his recent experiences as a director, with superintendents and directors across the U.S. with credibility.
He spent five years with the industry leader in pupil transportation telematics. He served as their national field service supervisor and project manager. This experience he gained, looking at the internal workings of school district transportation operations from the outside, resulted in his next assignment as the director of transportation of one the Arizona's largest school districts.
Mr. Cook has chaired numerous district-wide committees on a wide range of topics over the years; a testament to the respect his school districts have for him, as an educational leader. Those committees included contract negotiations, workplace diversity, team building and leadership, to name just a few.
Mr. Cook has served on the executive board of Transportation Administrators of Arizona for a number of years and presented in Washington, DC on the operational values of running a fleet on alternative fuels. His district was the first in Arizona to provide verified pre-trip inspections and he has effectively used GPS/telematics to improve overall student transportation operations.
Mr. Cook began his pupil transportation career as a dispatcher/router and was rapidly promoted to director. He carries the respect of industry professionals far and wide and is frequently sought out by his peers to help them develop strategies to resolve operational shortcomings in their districts. His role today, as an industry consultant, enables him to share his recent experiences as a director, with superintendents and directors across the U.S. with credibility.
He spent five years with the industry leader in pupil transportation telematics. He served as their national field service supervisor and project manager. This experience he gained, looking at the internal workings of school district transportation operations from the outside, resulted in his next assignment as the director of transportation of one the Arizona's largest school districts.
Mr. Cook has chaired numerous district-wide committees on a wide range of topics over the years; a testament to the respect his school districts have for him, as an educational leader. Those committees included contract negotiations, workplace diversity, team building and leadership, to name just a few.
