MILWAUKEE — As the 2024 Republican National Convention approaches, many downtown Milwaukee businesses are preparing for more foot traffic during the convention.

There are also some businesses on the outskirts of Milwaukee that will be making a profit from the four-day Republican event. KB Excursions is a family-owned charter bus company based in Cudahy. 

Ken Davis is a Marine Airforce veteran and has been a motor coach operator for over two decades. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

Ken Davis is a Marine Air Force veteran and has been a motor coach operator for over two decades.

Davis said KB Excursions recently landed a contract to drive convention-goers this July.

“It’s bringing a lot of revenue in, not only to the Milwaukee area, but it’s bringing a lot of revenue into the small businesses which is really going to help this business grow,” said Davis.

Davis said the company expects to see a 30% boost in revenue in its third quarter this year, solely from the RNC contract. He said the chance to work with the convention was unexpected.

“I am surprised that we got offered the opportunity to work for the RNC because it seems like most bigger businesses usually get most of the work,” said Davis.

Ken Davis polishing the lug nuts on one of KB Excursions charter buses. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

Ronald Wingers is a driver and the company’s operations safety director. He’s also a veteran who served in the U.S. Army.

Wingers said he’s excited the company he works for will receive national exposure.

“I just love the job from the standpoint I get to see people from all different walks of cultures and walks of life,” said Wingers.

He said he believes this opportunity will bring the business to a new level.

Ronald Wingers is a driver and the company’s operations safety director. He’s also a veteran who served in the United States Army. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

“It’s going to help promote this company, it’s going to help put us on a stronger leg, building a foundation to grow this business,” said Wingers.

It’s a sentiment Davis said he shares. He said the cost of doing business is high in the motor coach industry and the RNC contract will help drive future growth.

“They [KB Excursions] started with two buses and within the last four years, they’ve grown to seven buses, and they probably have enough small businesses around that they could probably as many as ten buses within the next five years,” said Davis.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated how many years Ken Davis worked at KB Excursions. This has been corrected. (May 20, 2024)