Community Transit

Top Commuters and Commute-Friendly Employers Honored at 2008 Awards

Fiserv Health doesn’t have a budget for its Commute Trip Reduction program. But that doesn’t stop the Bothell company from getting its employees involved in finding alternative transportation ideas.

For its efforts, Fiserv Health was named the 2008 Employer of the Year at the Visionary Awards banquet presented by Community Transit Feb. 19 at the Embassy Suites in Lynnwood.

The Visionary Awards turned out to be a big day for Bothell, as UW-Bothell Public Safety Officer Deborah Conley-Staerk won the SMART Commuter of the Year award and the City of Bothell’s Sabrina Combs was the Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Year. Fiserv Health, the Employer of the Year, is also located in Bothell. Sione Phillips won the SMART Commuter of the Year non-CTR division award.

The Visionary Awards honor Snohomish County and Bothell employers that encourage commute alternatives as well as longtime and avid commuters. The program was introduced 12 years ago as a way to recognize employers who support Washington State’s Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) goals, Employee Transportation Coordinators who promote CTR and employees and commuters who make these programs work.

Fiserv has an effective telework program that has an 18 percent employee utilization rate. This has helped the company save on costs through a smaller office space and lower equipment rentals. Employees are benefiting by saving money on gasoline to get to work.

Conley-Staerk – the SMART (Save Money And Reduce Traffic) Commuter of the Year – was the winner among four finalists, who were each a SMART Commuter of the Quarter in 2008. Besides keeping UW-Bothell safe and secure, she also educates students on the benefits of the U-PASS. The U-PASS is offered through the University of Washington and is good on all Community Transit local and commuter routes as well as King County Metro and Sound Transit. Conley-Staerk has been riding the bus for more than 10 years.

The other finalists for the Commuter of the Year award were:

• Lee Peel: Lee has commuted by bike to his job at Kaas Tailored in Mukilteo for the last four years regardless of the weather conditions
• Gil Larrabee: Gil has taken the bus from his home in Seattle to work at AT&T in Bothell for more than 15 years
• Chuck Mason: A Health Information Specialist at Stevens Hospital, Chuck commutes from his Whidbey Island home by ferry and bus.

Sabrina Combs was honored as the ETC of the Year thanks to her work in creating a section of the City of Bothell intranet site devoted to commuter information as well as including commute alternative articles in Bothell’s monthly employee newsletter.

Sione Phillips, the SMART Commuter of the Year non-CTR division, has been an alternative commuter since his days riding his bike rather than riding in the family car as a youth. Now, he rises at 4 a.m. every day, rain or shine, to bike from his home in Edmonds to his job in Redmond. The non-CTR division honors commuters who do not work for an employer that falls under state CTR regulations.

2008 Visionary Awards

Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor with Deborah Conley-Staerk

SMART Commuter of the Year -
Deborah Conley-Staerk

When you work at a university, teaching is a part of everything you do. Just ask Deborah, she not only helps to keep the University of Washington’s Bothell campus safe and secure as a Public Safety Officer, she also educates students on the benefits of the U-PASS. With over ten years of experience, she knows first-hand how riding the bus to work is a smart move. Congratulations Deborah, our SMART Commuter of the Year!

Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor with Sione Phillips

SMART Commuter of the Year Non-CTR - Sione Phillips

Even as a child he was an advocate for riding his bike or walking, as opposed to riding in the family vehicle. Today he rides his bike to work every day rain or shine. Our SMART Commuter is a prime example of someone who is dedicated to promoting a healthy environment and solid transit system.

His sister says, “I believe that he deserves this award for all of his quiet but hard work and devotion.” We couldn’t agree more. Congratulations, Sione Phillips, our SMART Commuter of the Year non-CTR!

Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Director Bob Drewel, Sabrina Combs and her father, Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick

Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Year - Sabrina Combs

Whether it is working with individual employees or the entire Bothell Fire Department, Sabrina Combs from the City of Bothell is able to deliver the beneficial messages associated with choosing commute alternatives that her employees understand. She has created a section on their employee intranet site devoted to commuter information as well as launched the inclusion of commute alternative centered articles in Bothell’s monthly employee newsletter.

The ability to work well with a diverse population, outstanding communication skills, and trend setting creativity are just a few qualities of a successful ETC, and Sabrina possesses all of these qualities and more. Sabrina is constantly working with the City of Bothell and other local ETCs in order to enhance the effectiveness of CTR programs across the county.

Bob Drewel with Fiserv Health ETC and Operations Manager Lisa Pritchard .

Employer of the Year, Fiserv Health

Fiserv Health in Bothell does a great job of promoting their program and getting their employees involved even though they do not have a budget for their CTR program. Fiserv’s most effective CTR program element is their telework program that has 18% employee utilization rate. Both employer and employees have witnessed the direct benefits of a strong telework program. Starting with the cost savings management sees with lower office space and equipment rentals all the way to the savings the employees’ experience with lower fuel costs. Congratulations Fiserv Health!

2007 Visionary Awards

The 11th Annual Visionary Awards celebrate Snohomish County's and Bothell's commuting champions while promoting greater use of commute alternatives and increasing management support of employer transportation programs.

Congratulations to the 2007 Visionary Awards winners honored on February 21, 2008.

Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC)
of the Year - KC McNeil

Bob Drewel, Executive Director Puget Sound Regional Council with KC McNeil

KC McNeil, the ETC at Romac in Bothell, has been their ETC for many years and has always done a great job; mentoring other ETCs and giving advice when asked. KC always makes sure his employees know about the program and have what they need. And in 2007, KC bumped it up a notch. KC launched a 'Bike the Summer' challenge with a fellow ETC. He helped form teams and helped his employees find bicycle commuting routes.

KC discussed with the management team the need to push more ridematching and shared his concerns that high gas prices are normalized and are not a motivation for employees to get out of an SOV.

Employer of the Year - Amgen

Bob Drewel, Executive Director Puget Sound Regional Council with Amgen's ETC, Jan Law

Amgen has an incentive program that pays 100% subsidy for transit, vanpool, and ferry. Carpool participants receive a $25/month incentive for sharing a ride and $50/month for being dropped off on site at least 4 days per week. Cyclists & walkers receive a $50 monthly incentive for using the alternative 3 days per week.

They also have great management support. Their CEO provides budget and staff time to ensure their commuter program is the best it can be. Our Employer of the Year is committed to helping reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

SMART Commuter of the Year - Steve Moody

Joyce Eleanor, CEO of Community Transit with Steve Moody

Our SMART Commuter of the Year could shorten his commute by driving his car but he chooses to use not one, not two, not three, but four commute options to make his 100 mile round trip commute. Steve Moody of Philips Medical Systems in Bothell leaves his home in Silverdale in a carpool with his wife - that's one, then walks on the ferry to Seattle - that's two, then catches two buses from Seattle to Bothell - that's three, and then walks the last 15 minutes to work - that's four! He works a full day then commutes the same way home. Our nickname for Steve – Commuterman! And the money he saves from not driving – that's SMART.

SMART Commuter of the Year (Non-CTR) - Coco Counts

Joyce Eleanor, CEO of Community Transit with Coco Counts

Our SMART Commuter of the Year from a non-CTR site is Coco Counts. Coco has been a bus rider her entire life. She remembers when Community Transit first started, with just a few buses and routes. Coco is one of Community Transit's best ambassadors. When her friends express hesitation about using the bus, she tells them how easy it is and shows them how to use the Bus Plus book. She has even gone so far as to help strangers at stops and on the bus with their schedule questions.

Coco is a regular at our events and often knows our routes better than our own planners. After devastating service cuts, she gathered 500 signatures to successfully get Route 114 back. Her comment to one of our staff members was, "If Community Transit doesn't go there, then neither do I!"

Worksites that Achieved CTR Goal

Bob Drewel, Executive Director Puget Sound Regional Council with Monya Waskowich, Cypress Semiconductor (center) and Lisa Pritchard, Fiserv Health (right)

Six worksites in Snohomish County and Bothell attained their CTR goal for 2007. These companies are:

• AT&T Building 6 reduced drive alone by 15%
• Bingo King Company reduced drive alone by 10%
• Cypress Semiconductor reduced vehicle miles traveled by 39%
• Fiserv Health reduced drive alone by 22%
• Harris Ford reduced drive alone by 18% and vehcile miles traveled by 43%
• Puget Sound Energy reduced drive alone by 16%

Do you know a person or group committed to traveling by bus, carpool, vanpool, bike or foot? Earn recognition and applause for someone with an inspiring commuting story. Each year, Community Transit selects Saves Money And Reduces Traffic (SMART) Award winners. Nominees must work or live in Snohomish County or Bothell.

Winners receive a $100 VISA Gift Card and are honored at Community Transit's annual Visionary Awards luncheon in February. Help us thank the people who keep our air clean and our roads clear of traffic. You can even nominate yourself! Complete the nomination form online.

2006 Visionary Award Winners