Talking Shop: Community Transit's Mechanic Apprentice Program

Community Transit prides itself on investing in our exceptional Mechanics. We place a high value on education, both on-the-job continuing education and company-funded formal education. It's how we ensure we not only have an incredibly talented team to maintain our ever-growing fleet of vehicles, but we have a team that feels valued, confident, inspired. One way we grow these relationships with our employees is through our Apprentice Program.

Our Apprentice Program began as a way for our Vehicle Service Attendants and Vehicle Service Workers to gain the experience necessary to become a skilled journey-level mechanic. By growing our own mechanics through years of extensive training, we are privileged to have a team that is truly the best of the best. Most of our graduates from the program are still part of our maintenance family. We are proud to note there is an exceptional commitment to our agency that comes from growing up here. We all take care of each other.

Not all of our apprentices, though, come from in-house. We also partner with several technical colleges in the area to source dynamic candidates who are eager to learn. Our four-year Apprentice Program takes place over four years/8,000 hours. Students receive paid on-the-job learning at 60% of our regular mechanic salary, increasing every six months during the four-year program to receive 100% of salary at graduation. During this program, Community Transit pays for six hours in the shop and two hours at school for each weekday as they work towards their Diesel Technology Certificate. Our two-year Apprentice Program is offered when a student comes to us after receiving the certificate and works full-time in our shop for two more years.

Program participants spend each day partnered with a qualified Journey Mechanic to learn the ins and outs of all of our systems, including engines, transmissions, and brakes. This on-the-job learning not only ensures our apprentices learn everything their job will require of them, they also feel part of a family who believes in making a difference. Our Mechanics learn the importance of trusting the team that precedes them and trust for those who follow. This helps our new hires feel confident, no small task when working with complicated vehicles like ours. The programs also provide additional classroom learning for safety aspects and for detailed instruction on our specific equipment. Our apprentices are evaluated every quarter on their attentiveness, preparedness, safety, and quality of work.

While we require our apprentices to get a Diesel Technology Certificate, Community Transit recognizes the value in investing in additional education. We pay for additional coursework so they can get an associates degree. A well-rounded education provides our Mechanics with the potential to move up to leadership positions should they desire. Leadership positions include supervisory roles where individuals organize and set priorities for the teams: Shop Lead, Journey Mechanic Lead, Body Shop Lead, and Component Rebuild Lead.

Want to be part of a team that values it's employees? We're hiring! www.communitytransit.org/mechanics

Meet Jon Elmgren: Community Transit's 2015 Transportation Employee of the Year

The lure of the open road and making a difference in one's community are motivators for many of our Coach Operators to choose driving for us as a second career. We are lucky to have drivers from all walks of life, with prior careers that are interesting and varied. From former pastors to French chefs, you may be surprised by the story of how your bus driver ended up behind the wheel.

Jon Elmgren started his career as a Data Analyst for Boeing before transitioning to the insurance industry where he worked for 25 years. The desire to be of public service led Jon to investigate a second career that he could be passionate about. He found his way to us in May 2008 (he was in the same training class as Dispatcher Jessica Greene). A former rider who knew the area well (he and his wife built their home in NE Monroe in 1980), Jon just knew driving for us would be a career he would really enjoy. "I like the variety of driving different routes in different areas. I get to drive for awhile and use my breaks to take a walk, get some exercise, and stay active."

When our Coach Operators go above and beyond in their service, sometimes our riders are kind enough to give a commendation so we can recognize them. When Jon was driving the Boeing to Gold Bar route, a serious traffic situation encouraged Jon to call Dispatch to problem solve how to reroute so our customers wouldn't be further delayed. One Boeing employee was so impressed with Jon's commitment to customer service, he called to say thank you for getting him home on time. This commendation earned Jon the honor of Transportation Employee of the Month, which translated to Transportation Employee of the Quarter to Transportation Employee of the Year.

"It feels good to be acknowledged. Community Transit drivers are a notch above in terms of how friendly they are and the service they provide. To be chosen for this honor was a real surprise." Funny enough, Jon says he saw the customer who complemented him not that long ago. "I was getting ready to start my route, but I saw him standing in line for a different bus. I jumped out of my bus to tell him the news. He was really excited."

Small acts of kindness can make a huge difference in someone's day, month, or even year. Congratulations, Jon, on being chosen as Community Transit's 2015 Transportation Employee of the Year. We are so pleased your dedication to service was recognized by your customer, your peers, and our agency. Thank you for being part of the Community Transit family.

Has a Coach Operator made a difference in your day? Don't wait for Bus Driver Appreciation Day to tell them; let us know in the comments below!

Meet Devan Hogan: Community Transit Coach Operator

When every day is different, it certainly keeps the work day from getting boring! Rotating schedules, changing environments, and a wide range of vehicles and customer personalities have Coach Operator Devan Hogan looking forward to the unique challenges each day will bring.

Though Devan has been with Community Transit for less than two years, there have been opportunities where he has driven all of Snohomish County in the course of a week. "Going different places every day is fun. I get to see gorgeous sunrises and sunsets every day. New places and new faces makes it feel like I'm doing something new every day."

Devan stresses how important diversity training was when training to be a Coach Operator, "We learned to be sensitive to different kinds of people. One of the biggest things we deal with are different personalities every day, some of which can be difficult. We learn how to be patient and answer questions, and to respect that everyone is in a different stage in their life."

Different routes require different buses as well. "The length of a bus changes how it drives. While I've driven Swift and our articulated 60' buses, surprisingly it's the 40' buses are the most challenging to drive. They're harder to turn since the axles are further apart." Driving these challenging vehicles makes Devan feel like he can do anything, "It's a fun job. It's given me the confidence to feel that if I can drive any of those vehicles, what else can I drive? I'm thinking a motorcycle next."

Thank you, Devan, for being part of the Community Transit family and for reminding us that every day is an opportunity for embracing change and learning something new.

Do you value a work environment where every day is different? Share your comments below!

"I'm Laurel. And I Tweet It."

Social media has become an important vehicle to reach our customers. From rider alerts to service change announcements, we strive to provide exceptional service and foster great relationships with our passengers. From first thing in the morning until late at night, Laurel, from our Agency Communications department, monitors our social media to ensure our customers stay informed.

Laurel spent fourteen years marketing online financial services where she thrived on responding to rapid technological changes. Part of these changes included incorporating social media as a method for outreach and customer service. Laurel brought her passion for social media to Community Transit three years ago, "It was nice to be able to usher in Twitter and nurture our audience there. Social media has an immediacy to it that is unique. It gives us the opportunity to respond right away to customers, to tell them we hear them and we're listening."

Laurel monitors @MyCommTrans regularly, especially early in the morning just before our commutes are at their peak, responding to any questions or concerns. By coordinating efforts with our Customer Service and Dispatch departments, Laurel utilizes social media to connect with our riders. "When people are frustrated, listening and responding goes a long way. It helps when you feel like someone hears you. We may not have the answer right at that moment, but we'll work hard to get the answer you need."

In addition to Twitter, Community Transit also has a Facebook page and can be found on YouTube and LinkedIn. "Every social media platform is different, but the interactions I have with customers, whether it's a 140 character tweet about service or a 'Like' on a photo I've posted to Facebook, make my job challenging and fun. To be able to answer a question and get feedback in such an immediate way makes social media a great fit for public transportation."

Thanks, Laurel, for your commitment to service, for being the friendly voice our customers see on their Twitter feed, and for being an active listener and problem solver. When you "Tweet It", you make a difference in how we help bring our customers home.

"I'm Matt. And I Help People Use It."

Nearly 10 million passengers board a Community Transit vehicle each year. With a service area that spans over 1,300 square miles, these boardings take place in all kinds of environments, from bustling urban areas to sleepy suburbs to outlying rural routes. A lot of our passengers have never taken a bus before, or are intimidated to take the bus from one environment to another. We rely on the efforts of our hardworking Sales & Distribution team, where people like Matt help our passengers use it and ride with confidence.

After thirteen years of working in the transit industry, Matt joined our Sales & Distribution team as a Supervisor just over a year ago. He knew right away it would be a good fit, "When I worked for Everett Transit, Community Transit was one of our partners. Everyone there was always positive and I could tell it was a good place to be. If you're going to work, you might as well find a home. From the very beginning, everyone has been welcoming and supportive. The fact that you can have a real conversation with our CEO means a lot. It starts from the top down."

Our Sales & Distribution department is responsible for distributing route information to a network of over 225 outlets across Snohomish County. From colleges to grocery stores to libraries, this small team of eight is constantly on top of every rider alert and service change. All those time tables you see at bus stops are also managed by this team. A minor service change could mean swapping out materials at 550 bus stops, while major service changes could mean 1,200 stops and take two weeks.

Not all of Matt's team's work is behind the scenes. Sales & Distribution also staffs the RideStore in Lynnwood where they get the opportunity to directly impact our customers. From selling ORCA (One Regional Card for All) products to providing trip information, this team helps people navigate the world of public transportation. Matt says, "The availability of transit options can often turn an unwelcome burden into an exciting new experience. It's so satisfying to help somebody discover this entire new world available to them. The look of relief they have when they realize how easy it is is really rewarding."

One final way that Matt's team makes a difference is by reuniting our customers with their property. You would be surprised at what gets left on our buses! While it's common to find laptops, iPhones, purses and wallets, the RideStore also receives everything from bikes to yard tools. Every day items are either found on the bus or turned into the RideStore by helpful passengers. While the team receives well over 600 items each month, sadly only 25-30% of these are ever claimed. Any item determined to have value that is left unclaimed will eventually be surrendered to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. If you've misplaced your wallet, try checking here first!

At the end of the day, Matt and his team find real value in helping people use our services. "It all comes down to touching the lives of customers. Everyone has somewhere to go. How can we help them?" Thank you, Matt, for overseeing an awesome team that feels truly passionate about our customers. Because of your efforts, new riders are empowered to take advantage of our services and more experienced riders are encouraged to try new ways of getting to where they need to go.

"I'm Shawna. And I Support It."

With a transit system network as vast as ours, it's no wonder that Information Technology is the key to connecting us with our customers. Every division in our agency depends on our hard-working IT department. We rely on talented people like Shawna to help us drive it, maintain it, coordinate it, resource it, plan it, and guide it, all so that we can bring you home.

Giving back to the community has always been important to Shawna. After years spent working on emergency issues supporting technology for Snohomish County 911, Shawna joined the fast-paced but far less stressful environment of Community Transit. "I enjoy being in public service and being part of my community and Community Transit seemed like a good fit. I was immediately impressed by the unique culture here. It felt like a family right away." This connection to community can be on a large scale, or it can be far more intimate, as Shawna discovered when a family tragedy hit just a few months into her employment. "Immediately I felt instant support. I was given a lot of flexibility so I could take care of what was important. It felt like family, and honestly that's how I got through it."

A self-professed "gadget freak" who enjoys taking things apart to see how they work, Shawna has always had an affinity for technology. In addition to providing support for our internal network and help desk, Shawna has been involved in researching special pilot projects and taking the lead in researching hardware and software acquisitions. "So much of what we do in IT is behind the scenes. We troubleshoot in the background in a virtual environment so you can't even see what's being done. It's cheaper, faster, and more streamlined. I'm proud to work for a company that has such cutting-edge technology. Working here is never stagnant. I am always learning something new."

While innovative technology and dynamic problem-solving definitely excites Shawna, what really makes a difference each day are the connections she makes, from her internal team to her colleagues and coworkers. "My team has a broad view and we always back each other up. People are generally grateful for the help we provide. It feels good to work where people are grateful every day. You feel super-special, like you have a superpower."

We think you are a superhero, Shawna! Thank you for being part of our incredibly talented team of technology experts who are always supporting our agency's efforts to see where we can do better to serve our customers. You bring every department at Community Transit to life, all so we can connect in meaningful ways to our customers and bring them home.

"I'm Chuck. And I Plan It."

Designing the routes and schedules for a transit system that extends into two counties and serves tens of thousands of people is part science and part art. We have a team of planners that strategically analyzes and interprets complex data to determine the best way to meet the needs of our customers. Meet Chuck, one of our Schedule Analysts, who strives to ensure our customers receive the timely service they need and deserve.

A commitment to service has always been important to Chuck. His varied career includes being a pastor, a choral director, and a janitor before finding his way to us as a coach operator in 1999. After six years of driving for us, Chuck took on his role developing and monitoring our schedules. It's no small task! "I interpret APTS (Advanced Public Transportation Systems) data. When you factor in the vagaries of weather, traffic, and driving styles, it can be like hitting a moving target. Planning for transfers and connections adds to the complexity, as do the different challenges between urban vs. rural routes. I work with a very talented team that has excellent synergy. We work together to find that "sweet spot" where buses are on time without being too early or too late."

Chuck and his team work 3-6 months ahead of any service changes. This includes spending time each week in the field timing and gathering information for our scheduling software. Schedule Analysts, like Chuck, are required to maintain their Commercial Driver's License and drive buses in the field to help plan and revise routes. "I get excited about the detail work. I enjoy getting out in the field to see how routes are working."

For someone who has looked for opportunities to be of service in his career, transit service has proved to be very rewarding. "Community Transit is such a positive and caring community. People are good listeners and encourage each other. They enrich your life like a family. It's modeled from the top down. Everyone is always striving to do better, to provide convenient and reliable service to our customers, some of whom are transit dependent."

Thank you, Chuck, for sharing your passion for service with our colleagues, our customers, and our community.

"I'm Parminder. And I Drive It."

Coach Operators do more than safely drive our buses. They connect our customers with work, school, medical care, errands, friends and family. Our drivers are the first friendly face people see when they board. For many of our customers, seeing their regular coach operators every day fosters a sense of community, too. Drivers like Parminder are the face of our agency, and we rely on them to bring our customers home.

A lot has changed at Community Transit since Parminder arrived here from India over 25 years ago. Our bus fleet has evolved to include Double Tall and Swift vehicles, our service area has expanded to over 1,300 square miles, and our coach operator team has doubled in size to over 300 drivers. And we continue to grow! Our drivers now operate routes which include spacious rural regions, charming small towns, and bustling metro areas. Parminder enjoys this change of pace and scenery, "I've done a lot of different routes, and now I drive from Stanwood to Smokey Point/Arlington. I go around lakes and see cattle grazing in fields. I enjoy the mixture of small town driving and countryside driving."

On routes with less congestion, like Parminder's, there's an opportunity for drivers to build a relationship with their regular riders. "I get a lot of senior citizens who are running errands. They call me kid. I feel very blessed to provide service to these people. It makes me feel happy and welcome." It's not all commuters and seniors that Parminder gets to engage with, though. He is also part of a team of 5-6 drivers who drive our articulated buses as part of STEP (School Transit Education Program). He even gets to join Oxy Gene in parades across Snohomish County driving one of the antique buses that were part of our fleet when he first started working with us."

Coach operators like Parminder get behind the wheel after completing and passing a six week comprehensive training program. After graduating from our program they continue to receive training on new routes and new equipment. They also receive yearly ride checks from instructors where they get feedback and coaching on their driving skills. Lastly, our drivers attend yearly refresher training where they are kept abreast of new topics in their field. It is this commitment to supporting our coach operators that really makes a difference. Parminder says, "The atmosphere here is really nice. My colleagues are always helpful, from dispatch to other drivers. There's a lot of teamwork."

Thank you, Parminder, for working hard for over 25 years to bring our customers home. I'm sure they enjoy your smile and positive attitude as much as we do.

"I'm Mary. And I Resource It."

Each weekday over 36,000 passengers rely on us to bring them home. It takes a dedicated team of employees who are passionate about the passenger to make this happen. How do we find such a wonderful group of people? Through our talented Human Resources department, where individuals like Mary get excited to grow relationships, build confidence, and empower employees to be successful.

First impressions are everything. Mary remembers the sense of belonging she felt when first hired in 2004 as an administrative clerk. "They were prepared for me. Everything I needed was ready for me before I got there. That felt great." As a Human Resources Assistant for nearly ten years, Mary has been making all new hires feel valued from day one. "Part of my role is giving a benefits orientation to all new hires. It's such a positive position! I get to meet everyone in the agency which is rare. For many people it's their first impression of Human Resources, so I try to be friendly, open, and welcoming."

For Mary, it's not just about establishing good relationships with employees. She is committed to maintaining and growing those relationships as well. "I try to treat each person as an individual, to make time for them. It's important to be accessible, to give everyone my full attention. I don't think of my job as a job. I'm here because I want to be. These aren't just new hires, they're coworkers I'm excited to meet and get to know."

Helping others navigate sensitive issues also presents Mary with an opportunity to create a safe and trusted environment for employees. "I help them gain the skills and tools they need to be successful. By being a good listener, I am able to help them build on their strengths. I get excited that people will come and talk with me and share their personal stories."

Employees who are valued from the day they walk in our door, end up being employees who are happy to come to work. This translates to a work environment where employees feel they have a voice and a support system to be successful. Thank you, Mary, for fostering a work environment that feels like family. A family that believes in bringing people home.

"I'm Royce. And I Take Care of It."

Maintaining an operation as large as ours requires more than the skill of our talented mechanics. We couldn't get our buses on the road without the support of our Facilities Maintenance team. From our state-of-the-art shop to our corporate offices to every bus stop spread across 1,305 square miles, Facilities Technicians like Royce take care of it all.

A retired Navy man, Royce has dedicated his career to public service. Since joining our ranks in 1995, he's seen his team grow from five to twenty people to meet the needs of our customers. The crew is split into two groups: road and base. Our road crew cleans and maintains all of the bus stops, stations, and signage for our extensive route system. Our base crew maintains the buildings that house our corporate offices and maintenance shops. This includes all of the support equipment our mechanics use to keep our buses in prime working condition, such as lifts, pumps, exhaust motors, etc. Our Facilities Maintenance team even maintains a steam bay which cleans each vehicle's engine before mechanics begin their work.

In Royce's early years at Community Transit, when our facilities were much smaller, technicians functioned more as generalists, doing a little bit of everything. Of course this meant more specialized skills had to be contracted out. Now, Facilities Maintenance has grown to include certified plumbers, HVAC technicians, electricians, and welders. "In the past we figured out how to fix things on our own," says Royce. "Now we work together as a team to problem solve. You don't have to feel bad if you don't know something. There's no criticism, only encouragement. We have each other's backs."

By bringing on highly-skilled technicians, we now keep all of our maintenance in-house so we can control the quality of work. "There's a real pride of ownership here," says Royce. "Everyone has the same goal in mind: serve the customer. It's a great sense of accomplishment knowing the equipment you maintain is used safely by other people."

Thank you, Royce, for taking care of our facilities, our equipment, our route stops, our employees, and our riders.

"I'm Jessica. And I Coordinate It."

Did you know that nearly 10 million passengers board a Community Transit vehicle each year? With a service area of over 1,300 square miles, from Stanwood to Seattle, there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make sure our buses get our passengers where they need to go. We rely on a team of fantastic trouble shooters who can solve problems on the fly to make sure service is as seamless and timely as possible. People like Jessica, one of our cool-headed, fast-thinking Dispatchers!

Over 36,000 passengers use our service on an average weekday, and the majority board during peak commuter hours. This means a large part of our fleet is doing a "morning pullout" between 4:00 - 7:00 a.m. Dedicated Dispatchers like Jessica are starting their day at 3:30 a.m., taking roll call and pulling up multiple online screens which display real time information about each bus. As the morning progresses, challenges inevitably occur, such as bus delays or breakdowns. If a bus does break down, Jessica will have to coordinate a coach exchange (this could be a coach out of service nearby or one from the bus yard). A Road Supervisor will need to be arranged, coordinated conversations with our Maintenance Department to send out a truck will happen, and our Customer Service representatives will be alerted to let customers know there may be a delay.

Jessica loves the challenge of putting the puzzle back together, "Every day starts out with the puzzle pieces perfect. When it explodes and the pieces go everywhere, I put it back together to make it work, keep service on the road and the customer happy. It makes me feel good when I can make things work. I feel like I make a difference, like I'm helping the community."

Jessica credits two main things with her success on the job. The first is her year-and-a-half stint as a Coach Operator before she took on her Dispatch position in 2010. "My time as a driver informs what I do. I know what it's like out there. It makes me more compassionate. Coach Operators are our customers too, and it's important to develop good relationships with them. It helps us all work really well together to solve problems." Jessica also praises her team for helping her get through hectic times. "There are 5-6 of us working collaboratively at any one time. There's a great sense of camaraderie. If one person is slammed, we all offer help. We always have each other's backs."

Next time your bus is running late, remember there is a team of people like Jessica who are working hard to bring you home.

Community Transit is Turning 40!

Can you believe it? For 40 years we have been privileged to provide safe, reliable, and friendly service to Snohomish County. We've come a long way in four decades! From our early years as a small local bus service (we didn't even have specific stops on routes back then), we have grown into a transportation leader for the Puget Sound region, with nearly 10 million passenger boardings per year. And our service area continues to expand!

Each weekday up to 40,000 passengers rely on us to bring them home. It takes a dedicated team of employees who are passionate about the passenger to make this happen. To celebrate our 40 years of service, we are launching an engagement campaign that honors the people who have brought us this far. "Bringing You Home" profiles 10 employees who represent departments across our agency, showcasing their commitment to service. This milestone birthday is a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to our riders, too. We thank you for the responsibility you have entrusted in us to serve you and our community. We look forward to continuing to earn your respect for another 40 years.

Community Transit's 40th Anniversary from Community Transit on Vimeo.

We also used this special anniversary to create a new 40th Anniversary mark for the "Bringing You Home" campaign. You may recognize the original CT logo from our antique bus. The new 40th Anniversary mark pays tribute to this original logo and will only be used for campaign materials. Look for it on print and social media in upcoming months.

Meet Sara Leekley: Community Transit Coach Operator

You never know when a random conversation with someone will change your life. Sara Leekley was attending her high school reunion when a chance encounter with Chris Beck, our HR Program Manager, changed everything. After working as an Administrative Assistant for 25 years, Sara was looking to find a new career that would leave her feeling inspired. Chris enthusiastically suggested she drive for us!

Sara admitted to feeling pretty intimidated at the start of training. "I was terrified at first. You have to have a healthy respect for such a humongous vehicle." But the small, three person class and the encouragement of the trainers had her feeling more and more confident each day. "I loved the training department. They were incredibly thorough, and knew just how to push you a little out of your comfort zone. You learn and grow so much."

 This love of learning has continued in the last year since Sara got behind the wheel. "I learn something new every day. About people. About Snohomish County. I'm even more aware of what's going on in nature. I never noticed the change of seasons before. Now, when I watch the sun come up and it's just gorgeous outside, I think to myself, 'I get paid to drive around all day. This is awesome!'"

Sara spent five years working for the Coast Guard after high school. She spent most of her teen years growing up on a sailboat, making the two hour commute each way from the family sailboat in Port Orchard to Junior High and High School in Seattle (of course utilizing public transit to get there!). "I've been looking for my last job for a long time. One that I'll enjoy until I'm done working. The funny thing is, when I got my uniform for this job, it looked the same as my uniform for my first job."

We are excited to have you on board, Sara! Your love for being on the road is inspirational. We hope this is the "last job" you've been looking for.

What inspires you at your job? Is it learning? Connecting with people? Let us know in the comments!

Meet Joanie Kaemingk: Community Transit Coach Operator

Are you a people person? If so, you know how hard it is to have a job where you don't get to connect with others. Having a thriving eBay store wasn't enough for Joanie Kaemingk. "I just love customer contact. Even though my store was successful, I was really missing that. I just couldn't work alone anymore."

Joanie approached this new career path as a Community Transit Coach Operator with a little nervousness and a lot of energy. "When I started training, I was a little bit scared at first. But Behrooz, Jessica, and Treva in the training department were so good to me and treated me so well. I was determined to do my best."

While her downtown routes are certainly exciting ("I like the people, the congestion, the energy!"), what delights Joanie most are the local routes where she can connect with people. "I really appreciate when I get to help seniors and people with special needs. I'll hear such wonderful stories. One 86 year old customer shared with me how she used to live on a boat, that she retired from Boeing, and how her deceased husband was the love of her life. These people just want to be seen, to have someone listen to their story. I try to treat people with dignity, because you don't know what's going on in someone's life."

Surprising connections go beyond the customer at Community Transit, too. "There's such a sense of community here. Even though I've only been here almost two years, I'm friends with several of the other drivers."

Thank you, Joanie, for sharing your passion for making meaningful connections. Your enthusiasm and kindness make such a difference, to this agency, to your peers, and to our customers.

Do you strive to make an impact on others in your career? Is it important to you to connect with others while at work?

Meet Phil Halverson: Community Transit Mechanic

When you have a family to take care of, job satisfaction often becomes less about what makes you happy and more about what pays the bills. But what if you could find a job that gives you both? It's possible, here at Community Transit!

Phil Halverson is relatively new to our Maintenance team, recently celebrating his first anniversary with us. Feeling uninspired and undervalued in his early roles maintaining boats and medium duty vehicles, Phil says that working here is about so much more than providing for his family. "The benefits are such a blessing. Plus, they pay you what you're worth." With a starting salary of $30.88 per hour, Mechanics can expect to earn up to $34.41 after 12 months. Community Transit also offers exceptional benefits for the whole family, giving great peace of mind to employees with small children, like Phil.

Feeling valued also goes beyond being compensated fairly, too. Our Mechanics are trained on advanced systems, including APTS (Advanced Public Transportation System) and Hybrid technology. This investment in training adds confidence not only in skills, but in knowing the company you work for believes in you. "We get the support and time we need to do the job the right way. This takes away a lot of pressure. We know we will get the tooling and tech resources we need."

This commitment to the employee does a lot for a positive work environment, too. "Everyone is genuinely happy to be working here. I could see it right away. It was just oozing from everyone I met."

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Phil. We are so happy that you are part of the Community Transit family!

What does feeling valued by your employer mean to you? Is it more than just the salary and benefits?

Meet Ken Bailey, Community Transit's Maintenance Manager

It's easy to be passionate about your job when you work with a team that controls its own destiny.

Did you know Community Transit has a fleet of approximately 240 active coaches? These are in a constant state of flux with heavy duty transit coaches retiring after 15-16 years, new coaches joining the fleet, and mid-life rebuilds of engines and transmissions. A strict maintenance program ensures our vehicles are always at their very best. This means there are a lot of moving parts, and not just those that are automotive.

It takes a team of over 40 Mechanics and 7 Service Workers to make those parts come to life. Community Transit believes in keeping almost all of its maintenance in house, where we can ensure work is done to our exacting standards. This means we aren't dependent on anyone else to get things done right.

By investing in the very best training for our Mechanics, we rarely have to outsource. All of our technicians receive three weeks of intensive training on our vehicles, followed by six months on the shop floor to gain hands on experience on every one of our critical systems. This commitment to training empowers our maintenance team to be the best of the best. "Our Mechanics feel pride of ownership," says Ken.

It's not only the training that is meaningful to our Mechanics. There's a real sense of camaraderie as well. "There is a unique internal community here. Most of these people live around here, have worked here a long time. They understand each others' jobs and appreciate and value each other."

Thanks for helping put the 'Community' in Community Transit, Ken!