Eight Shuttle Drivers Achieve Safety Milestone

Passengers board a shuttle outside Location T. Cincinnati Children's shuttle drivers regularly navigate congested streets in the Uptown area to deliver employees safely to their work destinations.

Cincinnati Children’s has over 20 locations that measure 6 million square feet (over 2,400 square miles), which can make staying connected seem impossible at times.

Our Parking, Transportation and Fleet Services team has been getting us where we need to go safely since 2001. Twenty years ago, we began offering three shuttle routes with six buses. As the medical center continued to grow, so did our shuttle services. Today we offer eight routes and 22 shuttles with the help of 50 team members.

Recently, we celebrated and thanked our Parking, Transportation and Fleet Services team during National Transportation Week. We recognized the hard work and contributions of our team, as COVID-19 thrust all transportation workers into the spotlight and onto the front lines.

Eight of our Parking and Transportation teams received special recognition during this week for reaching a monumental milestone recently or in the past, “100,000 Safe Miles Driven.”

“We have been tracking driver mileage since 2006 and felt it was a great tool to recognize drivers who are focused on the road keeping us safe. Drivers who have not been cited for an accident, hit a fixed object or have not been involved in any incident with a pedestrian will be eligible for this honor each year during National Transportation Week. Shuttle drivers log about 8,000 miles a year, so it takes time, patience, and great dedication to achieve this milestone. I am thankful and proud to have them all as part of our team,” said Bob Baer, director, Parking and Transportation.

"Inspire" was able to talk with five of these first-class drivers. Here's what they had to say:

Cassandra Williams

How long have you been driving for Cincinnati Children’s, and what brought you here? Almost 17 years. My brother used to work for Cincinnati Children’s and encouraged me to apply when he saw the shuttle positions opening up. What do you like best about your job? Having conversations with so many different people. Every day I get to learn something new. Who taught you to drive? My older siblings. I was the youngest of nine, so it was up to them to teach me how to drive. It was a great and fun experience for me, but I am sure they got a few early gray hairs from it. What is your most memorable moment as a shuttle driver? Being asked by my department to be a trainer. This allowed me to step up in my role and be more confident in myself. I love being a trainer and helping our new drivers learn the routes so they will be successful in their new role. What’s your top safe-driving tip? Keep your head and your eyes moving constantly. This gives you the opportunity to check your blind spots and see things you might have missed. What’s your pet peeve with other drivers? And how do you keep your cool? When cars cut in front of the shuttle with barely enough room. Everyone is in such a rush that they forget how much danger they are putting people in. When this happens, I say a prayer. God and I have a good relationship, so I stay praying and thank God no one got hurt. When I’m not at work, you can usually find me babysitting my three-year-old granddaughter. I am a grandmother, and I love it! People would be surprised to learn that I ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­am the same person in and outside of my job. I am always cracking jokes and trying to make people laugh 24/7. What do you most want your passengers to know about being a shuttle driver? Sometimes it can be very dangerous on the roads. Please appreciate what we do every day. We may make it look easy, but some days it isn’t. What motivates you to drive another 100,000 miles without incident at Cincinnati Children’s? The joy of constantly getting my passengers to where they need to be.

Lynette Witt

How long have you been driving for Cincinnati Children’s, and what brought you here? I have been driving at Cincinnati Children’s for 15 years. Before that, I drove for a school bus company, so it has been a great experience always being able to work with and for kids. What do you like best about your job? The morning shift, and my fellow co-workers. Who taught you to drive? My parents taught me how to drive, and since day one, I have been a good driver. What is your most memorable moment as a shuttle driver? I have so many memorable moments in my role I cannot pick one. Every day is a new adventure, and I am always ready for it. What’s your top safe-driving tip? Take your time and always be cautious and aware of everyone else on the road. What’s your pet peeve with other drivers? And how do you keep your cool? When other drivers get frustrated on the road. Driving is all about patience and taking your time. I just remember to keep calm and roll with the punches, because that is all you can do. When I’m not at work, you can usually find me fishing on nice spring and summer days. And on not-so-nice days, you can find me at the casino. People would be surprised to learn that I ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­smile all the time. With COVID-19 and masking, I know it is hard to see my smile, but please know it’s there. What do you most want your passengers to know about being a shuttle driver? My number-one mission is to always make sure that my passengers get everywhere safely. Communication is key in my role, so please always say hi and tell me how I can make your experience more enjoyable. What motivates you to drive another 100,000 miles without incident at Cincinnati Children’s? My time at Cincinnati Children’s has been so enjoyable. I appreciate everything that has happened to me over the years here and look forward to many more to come.

Debra Smith

How long have you been driving for Cincinnati Children’s, and what brought you here? I have been driving here for almost 14 years. I was looking for a change from driving a school bus when a friend told me that Cincinnati Children’s was hiring shuttle drivers. I put in my application, and the rest is history. What do you like best about your job? Knowing that at each drop-off, I got myself and my passengers there safely. Who taught you to drive? When I was 16, my cousin Derik took me to a parking lot to teach me how to drive. But I didn’t actually get my driver’s license until I was 18. What is your most memorable moment as a shuttle driver? A young woman got on my shuttle, visibly upset. She said she had to get home to her family and did not have time to ride the whole shuttle route. I told her I would take her directly to her car, and it was not a problem. I talked to her the whole ride, trying to ease her anxiety and be a friend. By the time we got to her car, she had calmed down and was on her way. While I have never seen this passenger again, it reminds me every day to treat everyone the way I want to be treated. What’s your top safe-driving tip? Always be prepared for the unexpected. What you think other drivers won’t do, they will. What’s your pet peeve with other drivers? And how do you keep your cool? When drivers pass me and then cut me off, making me jam on my brakes. While this is irritating to me, I am more upset that this could cause a serious injury for a passenger. I refuse to let the road steal my joy. So after this happens, I take a breath, check on my passengers, say a prayer and then move along. There is no use in dwelling on things that are out of my control. When I’m not at work, you can usually find me relaxing, babysitting my three-year old grandson or watching a 90s sitcom. People would be surprised to learn that I ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­am a very silly person and love comedy. You will never catch me watching a sad movie or TV show. If I am not laughing, I don’t want to watch it! What do you most want your passengers to know about being a shuttle driver? My passengers make my job less stressful. Getting the opportunity to meet, know and make friends eases road anxiety and allows me to do my job better. What motivates you to drive another 100,000 miles without incident at Cincinnati Children’s? I want to give back to Cincinnati Children’s, as they have given so much to me. My daughter was born with sickle cell anemia, and we spent afternoons and nights at the medical center receiving care. While I can never repay them for everything they have done for me, it brings me pride to work for them today.

Kenneth Barnes

How long have you been driving for Cincinnati Children’s, and what brought you here? I have been working in the transportation industry for 28 years. And 18 of those years have been at Cincinnati Children’s. I am so glad I found myself here because they have offered me more opportunities and benefits than any other place I’ve worked. What do you like best about your job? The chance to meet people from all over the world. It is so interesting getting to learn about the different cultures and backgrounds of everyone that comes to Cincinnati Children’s. I love getting to be a friendly face for them and to offer some Cincinnati hot spots and directions when needed. Who taught you to drive? My dad taught me to drive. I strive every day to be as good a driver as my father. What is your most memorable moment as a shuttle driver? When Michael Fisher road on my shuttle. He was so personable and will be missed after he retires. What’s your top safe-driving tip? Bring your A-game every day and stay focused. What’s your pet peeve with other drivers? And how do you keep your cool? A lot of individuals driving around the hospital don’t know where to go and can be under stress, leading them to be careless. I do my best to be on the lookout for everyone on the road. This lets me keep myself, my passengers and other drivers safe. When I’m not at work, you can usually find me exercising, traveling to warm tropical places, working on my condo or walking around and taking in the scenery at my favorite park, Eden Park. People would be surprised to learn that I­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ enjoy reading. I like to dive into nonfiction and self-help books. I also have my business degree from the University of Cincinnati and have worked in a few marketing roles. What do you most want your passengers to know about being a shuttle driver? Every day we are doing our best to ensure every one of our passengers gets to where they need to go in a safe and timely manner. What motivates you to drive another 100,000 miles without incident at Cincinnati Children’s? Knowing that I am making a difference and that I am contributing to the vision and mission of Safer Together.

Javonna Fuller

How long have you been driving for Cincinnati Children’s, and what brought you here? In November, I will be at Cincinnati Children’s for 19 years. I remember I started seeing the Cincinnati Children’s shuttle’s driving around the area as a school bus driver and decided to make the career switch to Children’s as a shuttle driver. What do you like best about your job? My favorite part about my job is driving! I love to drive and be out and about. Who taught you to drive? I took a driver’s education class at school, and that is where I learned my initial driving skills. What is your most memorable moment as a shuttle driver? Every year when I get to add another number to my years worked at Cincinnati Children’s. It is such an accomplishment for me. What’s your top safe-driving tip? Wait a second or two before pulling fully into the intersection after the light turns green. This allows me to be more aware and stay alert. What’s your pet peeve with other drivers? And how do you keep your cool? Careless drivers. I am constantly on the lookout for other drivers on the road who might not be paying attention. When I see or experience something that upsets me, I always try to take a minute for myself. Whether it’s a calming breath or pulling over and calling the office, this lets me re-collect and move along with my day. When I’m not at work, you can usually find me doing nothing! On my days off I like to relax with my three kids and my granddaughter. People would be surprised to learn that I ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­love to be silly and crazy. What do you most want your passengers to know about being a shuttle driver? That every second of our shift, we are thinking about your safety and doing our best to protect you. What motivates you to drive another 100,000 miles without incident at Cincinnati Children’s? Knowing that I have driven 100,000 miles without incident and that if I keep doing what I have been doing, I will drive another 100,000 without incident.

The remaining honorees are:

Tamiki Flagg

Don Evans

Rachel Lester

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