Meet Gerry Martin, Community Transit's Paint & Body Shop Lead

How does an Alaskan crab fisherman find his way to a state of the art maintenance facility in Everett, Washington? As is often the case, it all began with a woman. Gerry Martin was happily crab fishing and working as a forest fire fighter for the U.S. Forest Service when it came time to settle down and start a family. He landed at the maintenance department of the Edmonds School District. As it happens, they had a contract with Community Transit, providing maintenance on their small fleet of 6-10 buses. In 1985, Community Transit purchased the Kasch Park space and Gerry was given the option to move over. He jumped at the chance.

Part of what made the move so appealing to Gerry was the ability to be part of the planning process. "We got to help design the place, help set it up." It was this sense of feeling valued that cemented Gerry's commitment to the agency. "We saw a future for growth here. Now we've got some of the best techs out there. And the best equipment too."

This sense of feeling valued extends beyond the relationship with the agency. With the support of excellent training, competitive pay, and great benefits, Gerry and his team feel a strong connection to their peers. "There's a real sense of family here. A lot of us know these guys better than our own brothers."

With a whopping 38 years of service for Community Transit as of April 16, 2016, Gerry is an inspiration not only to his team but to the entire agency. Thank you, Gerry, for taking a chance on Community Transit!