Ride Rio Metro

What attracted you to the transportation industry?
I never thought of a career in transit. Transit found me! I was a basketball team mom for our youngest son’s team and the previous New Mexico Transit Association (NMTA) Director’s son played on the same basketball team. She was impressed with my organizational skills and graphic design work on the teams’ rosters. I was asked if I was able to help with conference nametags and registration. Soon after I was asked to help with creating newsletters. I assisted in this compacity for a short period of time before the NMTA Director’s position became available, which I was asked to temporarily fill. I have now been the Administrative Director for fourteen years. 

What has been your greatest professional achievement? auto
The greatest achievement that I am proud of was working through the obstacles that were in place prior to my employment. Much time was spent organizing/creating files, the application process for reinstatement of non-profit status, and the ability to obtain and maintain opinion free annual financial audits. In addition, an even greater achievement that is not as tangible is the feeling of unity that I have encouraged throughout all agencies/staff. We are now a solid NMTA Family!  

How have women made a difference in the transportation industry?  
I feel women not only can perform professional duties in business but also have a gift to see a need on a personal level to assist colleagues to achieve goals through encouragement and support. I also feel that women tend to have a more natural ability to display high levels of servant leadership as we juggle the needs of family, business colleagues and customers. 

What was the biggest influence in your selection of a career in transportation?
The one thing that immediately stuck out to me and continues to impress me is the heart of those working in transit. No one works in transit to get rich, but to serve others. Bus operators, dispatchers, trip schedulers and beyond do what they do to care for their communities and to serve those who rely on public transportation. It is more than just driving a bus or scheduling a ride, everyone involved becomes part of the passenger’s family unit. 

What is your favorite aspect of your job?
The bus roadeo! It brings operators together from across the state and it’s been wonderful to see the relationships that have been created. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that if I am anywhere in New Mexico and need help, I know someone who has my back. Interesting story, my cousin put a FB post a few years back and was concerned because she lost contact with her son who was driving home from a military base he was stationed at in Texas during a snowstorm. Her last contact with him was in Melrose near Clovis/Portales. I reassured her that I know people who can help. I called a colleague with Clovis Area Transit. She contacted those she was working with on the Emergency Response Team. Within an hour, her son was awakened in his car by the National Guard. He was asked to confirm his name. Once confirmed, he was handed a cell phone and told to call his mom! 

What lessons have you been taught from the important women in your life that you have applied to your own life? 
This is a hard question to answer but I think the most important lesson I’ve learned from many important women in my life is to make time for ourselves. Self-care is so important and often we have so many hats to wear that we forget to care for ourselves. Along with self-care, I’ve learned that it is okay to say no. We need to always remember to advocate for ourselves and not let others take advantage of our natural gift of serving. 

How have these lessons helped you succeed as a woman in transportation?
Prioritization is a huge lesson that assists me daily to succeed. I am the only employee of NMTA. I do everything from answering the phones, bookkeeping, serving our members, coordinating training sessions, organizing the annual bus roadeo/conferences, and putting together the newsletter. I do all of this in no more than 25 hours a week! Knowing how to prioritize and setting boundaries are the only ways this can be accomplished. 

What natural talents do you possess that help in your chosen career?
Family unity and serving others are two gifts that I possess and help me daily in my career. I work hard to create a transit family unity for all our transit agencies. The first training I was part of back in 2009 had eight to ten attendees present with more than half being NMDOT staff. Everyone kept to themselves and didn’t engage in the training. I knew this needed to change. I discussed this with the first treasurer that I worked with from the NMTA Board. He reminded me that for sixteen years I was a stay-at-home mom and mastered the skills of family togetherness. He told me to “mama” NMTA members. So back to the family unity mindset I went, and I love my NMTA family!

What part of your career story would you like to share with the world?
When I was first considered to have a more active role in NMTA, I had someone ask me what makes me think I am qualified to do this job. He added that I don’t have the formal education needed, I hadn’t worked in a professional sector for over sixteen years, and he didn’t believe I could do the job. I told him that I have a strong work ethic and common sense that will allow me to do the job and do it well. Early on in my career there were times that I let his comments replay in my head and hold me back, but I knew my faith and stubbornness would prove him wrong. With the encouragement of my transit colleagues and NMTA Board, I am exactly where I need to be and have more than proven my worth! So, I encourage all to never let anyone tell you your worth. If your WHY is big enough, you can achieve the unachievable. 

How long have you been working for the company/organization? And what positions have you held prior to your current one?
I have been at NMTA for sixteen years with the last fourteen as the Administrative Director. Prior to this, I was a stay-at-home mom for sixteen years. During the sixteen years I was also very active in our church and held several positions, from Youth Director to Special Events Team Director. Currently, I am still active in our church and am the Women’s Mentor for thirteen small groups at our church campus. I also am the Co-director for our Special Events Team. 

How does what you do/what the organization does make a positive impact in the community?
My primary goal is to coordinate and host high quality training for our transit agencies. This enables every part of transit to have the opportunity to have the best training available to better serve their passengers/communities. 

What do you think is needed to further attract women to the transportation workforce?
The many employment opportunities available in transit need to be made known. Over the years when I tell people I work for NM Transit, I’m asked how I like driving a bus. Bus Operators are the only thing people think of when discussing working in transit. When I tell them all the opportunities in transit they are blown away. So, if we want to attract women, we need to let them know all that is available for them to do.  

What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter this industry?
Work hard, don’t let opinions of others impact what you can or can’t do, never be afraid to learn as many aspects of transit that you can. The possibilities of what you can do in transit are endless! Join the transit team and let’s keep moving forward! 

As told to Allyne Clarke, Marketing Manager, Rio Metro Regional Transit District