Great People

When Thomas Carey entered the workforce in 1979, he entered a down economy and jumped from job to job. After a friend became an operator at Metro Transit, he decided to apply, too.

“I thought, ‘if he could do it, so could I,’” Thomas said. “There was a lot of job security there – no matter how bad the economy gets; people still need transit.”

His 35-year career began in 1989 as he reported for duty at the Old Shinglecreek Garage (renamed Ruter years later). But it would be Heywood, where he spent the bulk of his career 30 years. Towards the end of his career, he used his union seniority to move into the state-of-the-art garage, North Loop.

“I was number 2 at Heywood and number 12 system wide,” he said. “With time, it gets better here.”

At the end of his career, he was able to have his pick of shifts and routes he preferred, including the 645, 9, and 3. He remembers working through the Thanksgiving and Halloween blizzards where he didn’t get stuck. And narrowly missing the 35W collapse while on duty. Whatever happened, however, he had no doubts this is where he wanted to be.

“I love to be behind the wheel,” Thomas said. “I never tire of looking out a window with a wheel in front of me.”

Beyond driving, he enjoyed interacting with the customers, especially to share smiles and jokes. He found that it helped build report and a reputation with riders. This included taking a page from his clown alter ego named “Broccoli.”

“Not everyone likes Broccoli, but I hope you like me!” he would joke to customers.

Even though he loves his job, he knows there’s a time to move aside for the next generation to take the wheel. But before he left, he served one more State Fair – a service he provided every year at transit. On his very last ride, he announced his retirement, which was met with applause and congratulations.

“I’m going to miss my job,” Thomas said. “But I find myself in a really good place.”

In retirement, he looks forward to camping, visiting friends in the Dells, snow birding in Florida, and looks forward to welcoming a new grandchild into the family.

Just two weeks after high school, Bill Beck started working at Metro Transit as a cleaner.

“My father worked here and suggested I apply,” Beck said. “He told me that there would always be transit and that it’s a steady, secure job.”

As Beck retires as a manager of bus maintenance 44 years later, he confirms his father’s advice. In the first few weeks at the old Nicollet Garage, however, he wasn’t so sure.

“I remember a moment thinking ‘what am I doing here?’” he said. “I found out this is a great place to work, and you’re given all the tools you need to succeed.”

Beck’s success came from learning on-the-job, which helped him move into different positions, from cleaner to fueler to skilled helper to mechanic. He advanced to management after gaining supervisory experience in the STEP program, the predecessor to the Leadership Academy.

“I’m proud to be the first mechanic to take part in that program,” Beck said. “It got me where I am today.”

In over four decades, Beck spent time at every garage except for the old North Side Garage. He also saw every new bus type and technology from AC and power steering to electric buses come to Metro Transit. Reminiscing about historical milestones reminds Beck how quickly time flies. 

“I used to tease the older guys at the garage, but now I’m the older guy!” Beck joked.

His 44 years were split evenly between roles in labor and management with 22 years apiece. He worked on various shifts, including overnights, to help keep transit running around the clock. For the latter part of his career, however, his day started at 5 a.m.

“I’ve always loved my job, no matter what,” he said. “I just hope that I leave this place better than I found it.”

In retirement, he plans to do more camping and biking at as many national parks as possible with his wife. And he looks forward to treating every day like a Saturday and sleeping in.

Unsure what kind of career he wanted, E. Glenn Gilbert took his father-in-law’s advice and applied for what sounded like a secure job as a vault puller. It didn’t take long for him to feel right at home, and after finding his calling uncertainty turned to determination and he built a career in transit that would eventually span more than three decades. Gilbert retires next week after 34 years of service.  

“When I started, I was a college dropout with a young family and no obvious career,” Gilbert said. “Working here gave me opportunities to increase my knowledge, skills, and abilities, to be part of a public service that really matters to the community, and to achieve the financial stability to retire.”  

The opportunities Gilbert found at Metro Transit were largely of his own making.   

After eight years as a vault puller, Gilbert moved to the stockroom where he was exposed to computers and started learning how to build queries and reports. There, he learned he had a knack for information systems and looked for ways to build and apply his skills in that space. 

After returning to school, Gilbert spent time in Bus Maintenance and Bus Transportation, where he honed his abilities developing nascent business intelligence tools that are still used today. Gilbert said he was particularly adept at interpreting what people needed from systems and putting that information in terms other people needed to deliver solutions. “That’s a niche not everyone can live in,” he said.   

For the past seven years, Gilbert has served as a business systems manager in Strategic Initiatives. In this position, Gilbert said he was able to put all his experience and education toward designing the next evolution of the same systems he helped get off the ground. Like every other position that came before it, he said it was the best job he ever had.  

Throughout his career, Gilbert relied on the same transit system he supported behind the scenes, riding the bus to and from homes in Blaine and Falcon Heights.   

Now, though, Gilbert is ready to ditch the commute and hand things off to a successor who can stick around and see the systems he’s helped bring to the foreground mature throughout their career.  

In retirement, he hopes to spend more time on the things he enjoys the most, including listening to live music and following IndyCar. “Mostly, I’m just looking forward to having a good chunk of my day back to chose what I want to do,” he says.  

In 1974, one college presentation propelled Scott Thompson into a 47-year-long career. 

“Two MTC operations planners spoke to our geography class about restoring the transit system after Twin Cities Lines became MTC,” Thompson said. “Not long after, I changed my major to urban studies.” 

Soon after, he sought an internship at Metro Transit. As there wasn’t one available in service planning yet, he began where he could, in the Marketing Department. “I just wanted to get a foot in the door,” he said. 

Soon after, he reached his goal of becoming a transit planner. Along the way, he also worked in the Public Facilities department, which highlighted other places Thompson could have an impact. “There was a lot of opportunity to improve processes here,” Thompson said. 

He remembers riding buses to count people as part of research and working with physical maps. And, at one point, he recalls only about 25% of bus stops had signage. “Today, Metro Transit is doing everything faster, better, and smarter,” he said. 

Thompson helped launch many services, including the METRO Blue and Green lines and supporting bus services within 10 years of each other. Unlike these scheduled launches, however, not everything goes to plan. In 2020, Service Development implemented drastic service changes in weeks, instead of months. 

“It’s a challenge to put together efficient schedules and balance the needs of the ridership,” Thompson said. “I enjoy the challenge of complex problems.” 

What he’s most proud of is helping design a reliable system for people who need transit the most. In his early years, a call from a distressed customer who didn’t connect with a bus inspired him to work tirelessly to meet the needs of riders. 

“We offer an important service to our public,” Thompson said. “We help people get to their jobs, groceries, and the doctor’s office.” 

In retirement, Thompson plans to spend more quality time with his wife, kids, and grandkids at his vacation home up North and take a cruise around the Caribbean.

Joanne Tyler applied to Metro Transit on a whim. “My friend wanted to apply to be a bus operator. I just made sure she went,” Tyler said. “I filled out an application for the heck of it. I didn’t think I’d get in!”

Tyler didn’t believe she’d be considered due to a resume filled with gaps and part-time employment as she raised her three kids. Unlike her friend, however, she was accepted and began training. But the road to 31 years of service was bumpy to start. “I almost quit during training,” she said. “I flunked my first driving test.”

Instead of quitting, however, she buckled down and drew inspiration from adversity. “I wanted to prove to them and myself that I could do it,” Tyler said.

Tyler retook the test and passed with flying colors and began a three-decade long career as a bus operator. “I’d never thought I’d drive anything bigger than a pickup truck,” she said. Now I’d rather drive a bus than any other vehicle!”

Tyler served the bulk of her career at East Metro Garage with stints at the old Single Creek and Snelling garages. She began on express service but discovered that she truly loved the local bus – especially routes 64 and 62. “I prefer local runs with regular people,” Tyler said. “You can build good relationships with your riders.”

In retirement, she plans to travel to two countries on her bucket list, Italy and Greece, and take up quilting.