Omnitrans Honors America’s Veterans

On Veterans Day, our country pays tribute to more than 26 million brave Americans who have served in our armed forces. We owe the many freedoms we often take for granted to their collective sacrifice and dedication. Without them, our nation and world would be an entirely different place. To those who served, we say thank you.

REGISTER ONLINE FOR JOBS AT OMNITRANS.

Military veterans often possess the skills and training that match jobs in public transportation. Veterans and others interested in a career at Omnitrans can sign up to receive notifications of future job openings through the OmniAlerts section of the Omnitrans website, http://www.omnitrans.org. Current openings and general information about working at Omnitrans are posted online at www.omnitrans.org/about/careers/

Omnitrans Employs Vets in Many Roles.

Omnitrans is privileged to have 90 employees who are also military veterans, whom we have listed below. Just as they served our country in a variety of ways, these veterans are deployed in a variety of roles at Omnitrans, from Coach Operator to Equipment Mechanic, Department Director and more. One employee is currently on active duty and two are active reserve. We are proud to have them on our team.

Kevin Allen Rick Alverez Carol Angier Joe Armenta Darrell Bell Patrick Belton Mike Bonacio Robin Bose Salvador Botello Allan Bowman Byron Brown Jon Bryant Fausto Bustos Diane Caldera William Carnall Craig Chance Jami Cisneros Edward Cooney William Collins Aron Cook Joanne Cook Kevin Copeland Paul Coussa Thomas Dahlin Joseph Day Leonard Diaz Mark Donley Dennis Eaves John Ellis Raymond Ellis Xavier Estrada Ronald Freeland John Gavin La’ Vern Gerald Terrence Gipson Andres Gomez Scott Graham William Hall Jr Jerry Henry Alejandro Hernandez Daniel Hernandez Manuel Herrera Bryant Hogan Brian Hoppie Roy Hoskinson Dion Igyarto Verretta Johnson

Dennis Jones Eric Keeney Michael Kevorkian Joseph Krolik Effie Lee Ralph Ligon Elliot Lipsey George Lizama Ray Lopez Daniel Luna Glennvanni Maiquez John Martinez Albert Matthews Herald Mc Coy Dennis Mc Neir Harold Mc Rant Alan Mooney Robert Neilson Jack Oliver Lionell Olley Sr. Alfred Orozco Gregory Owens Robert Peters Michael Plunkett Jr. Dwaun Roberson Archie Rockwell Alex Rosas Derman Redman Phillip Sosa Joseph Sozanski John Stafford Douglas Stanley John Steffon Hosia Stokes Krafton Stoll Wallace Tatum Willie J Thomas David Torres Emilio Torres Forrest Tucker William Valle Art Villagran Donald Walker Allen Wild Paul Wichman Clarence Wingfield Martin Yedwalsky

PLEASE NOTE: Omnitrans buses will be running as scheduled on Monday, November 12th. However our administrative offices will be closed in observance of the Veterans Day holiday

Rideshare saves money and grows friendships

Omnitrans employees Scot Huffman and Mark Crosby have been ridesharing for the past 4 1/2 years. Each of them saves around $100 a month in gas and having a friend along for the ride makes the time go by quickly.

“We eat lunch together on our breaks and one day the topic of ridesharing came up in conversation,” said Scot. “At first we weren’t sure we wanted to do it. But as it turned out, we were a great fit. We live in the same city and work similar hours. We also don’t have to go out of our way to drive to each other’s homes. My grandson and Mark’s son both go to the same preschool so it’s very convenient for us to meet there. It works out well.”

Mark, who is a member of the Omnitrans Green Team, also likes the fact they are helping the environment. “We’re putting one less car on the road and taking up one less space in the parking lot. And it definitely saves us money because it’s one less tank of gas a month that each of us has to buy and less wear and tear on our vehicles.”

Sharing the daily commute has also helped cement a friendship between the two men, who are now friends first and co-workers second. They share similar hobbies and interests, have gotten to know each other’s families and have even gone camping together.

Rideshare contests offered by the IE511 each year are an added bonus. Last year Mark won a $100 Best Buy gift card in the drawing. To learn more about how you can get involved with Rideshare visit http://www.ie511.org.  Pledge to Rideshare during California Rideshare Week (October 1-5) and you’ll be entered for a chance to win great prizes like an Apple iPad, overnights at a resort hotel, dinner for two, gift cards and much more.

Omnitrans FREE Ride Coupon
Celebrate Rideshare Week with a free ride on us! Simply download and print the Free Ride coupon from our website. Turn it in to your bus driver who will exchange it for one FREE Day Pass good for unlimited rides for one day only on our fixed-route buses between October 1 and 5. Visit our website at www.omnitrans.org for more details.

Happy Mother’s Day from Omnitrans

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Omnitrans. We appreciate you!

Coach Operators’ Story An Inspiration to Others

Back in February we did a story on Omnitrans coach operators Larry and Marianne Rose who have been married for more than 16 years. The post was later picked up by The Press-Enterprise and published on Valentine’s Day.

In response to the article, the Roses received a letter from Senator Bill Emmerson, congratulating them on their service with Omnitrans and their love and devotion to each other through so many years of marriage.

“We were very surprised to receive the letter,” said Marianne. “It felt amazing to be recognized in that way. Our little story has reached so many people and the feedback has been incredible.”

In the article, the Roses had talked about Marianne’s battle with uterine cancer and how she was paying it forward by talking with other cancer patients at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

“My doctor saw the article and started sharing it with his other cancer patients. I told him I’d be happy to talk to anyone who might want support from someone who had been through the process,” said Marianne. “That’s been the best part of this for me–being able to help make a difference to others. I’ve even had passengers come up to me and tell me about their own battles with cancer. I’m glad to be able to be there for them.”

Marianne wanted us to assure everyone that the PET scan she had to undergo on Valentine’s day came back fine and that she is doing well. “It’s all because of Him,” she smiled, pointing upward. “And I feel very lucky to be able to keep paying it forward by helping others.”

– Juno Kughler Carlson

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Do you have a great Omnitrans story to share? Let us know!
Email juno.carlson@omnitrans.org