Years of Service: 17
How did you come to work at Metro Transit and what do you do?
I was at a point in my life where I was looking for a career and not just another job. We had a family friend who had worked as a bus operator for Metro Transit for many years and seemed to not only like his job, but he was also making competitive pay and had great benefits as well. Those things interested me, so I kept asking him more about the job and he always had positive things to say, so I eventually applied. Fast forward a bit and I am now in my 17th year with Metro Transit. I spent four years as a bus operator, 11 years as a train operator and am now in my second year as a TRIP agent.
What are your favorite activities when you’re working on “on the clock?”
As TRIP agents we are asked to wear quite a few different hats. Our main duty is to inspect fares, but we also monitor for safety and code of conduct violations, provide customer service, build relationships with our community, and sometimes we even save people’s lives. It’s a very interesting job and every day is a new adventure. I love that about it.
I also enjoy working with many of my co-workers. For safety reasons, we always work in groups of at least three. When you’re spending 40 hours a week with someone, you can't help but get to know them and after a while they start to feel like family. That is another very cool part of the job that I cherish.
What are your favorite activities when you’re not work or “off the clock?”
One of my main passions in life has always been music. I am the lead singer and rhythm guitarist in an original rock band called Capital Sons. We’ve been releasing albums, making music videos, and playing shows for over 20 years and have released six albums of original music. It’s a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoy it. The work/life balance can be difficult to find at times, but for me the music is a labor of love that helps keep me grounded. I wouldn’t have it any other way.