In 2007, Koamivi (Kwah-mee-VEE) Attisso left Togo in West Africa and in search of opportunity. Today, he’s a Metro Transit light rail operator.
“I’ve always loved transportation,” Koamivi said. “I lived near the airport as a kid. I dreamed about flying planes or driving trains.”
Before making his way to transit, he worked as a mortgage processor at a financial institution in Minnesota. In 2022, he was laid off and started driving rideshare. “I bought a new car, but after expenses, it felt like a ten-dollar-an-hour job,” he remembers.
That’s when a friend told him about Metro Transit. “I jumped on it,” Koamivi said. “It was a chance to build something better.”
He was hired directly into the light rail operator training program, even though he only had a Class D license at the time.
“Metro Transit helped me earn my Class B,” he said. “Week by week, they trained us on safety, rules, and how to operate both buses and trains.”
Not everything came easily. During one of his first high-speed practice runs in a tunnel, Koamivi nearly walked away.
“I said, ‘Maybe this isn’t for me,’” he said. “But others encouraged me, including my mentor. They said that feeling is normal at first.”
With support from peers and instructors, Koamivi pushed through. Today, he’s proud of what he’s accomplished. “Metro Transit makes you feel like part of a family,” he said. “Even when you make mistakes, they help you learn and grow.”
This job doesn’t just support him, his wife, and new baby here, but his extended family back home as he sends a portion of his earning there. “That’s how our culture works. Your parents raise you, and you support them in return.” he said.
Looking ahead, he hopes to explore more opportunities at Metro Transit. “There’s room to grow,” he said. “This isn’t just a job. It’s a future.”
We're hiring!
Want to be a part of the team that keeps the metro moving? We’re hiring!