Spring 2022 Quarterly RIDE

Kenneth A. McDonald

Message from the CEO

 

You may have seen some of my “CEO inspirations” quotes posted throughout our facilities over the past year. This started when I posted quotes on leadership and other topics on my office door. As LBT employees saw these quotes, they commented on how some resonated with them, and they appreciated that I posted these inspirations. 
I decided to post the inspirational quotes throughout our facilities as a reminder of why we are here and who we serve as an organization. The quotes are also good things to ponder as we make our way out of the pandemic and build back service.  

I encourage each of you to think about the messages behind the quotes and how they assist in your daily life, help when working with your colleagues, and relate to LBT’s goals and priorities.

“The kindest thing you can do for someone else today…is to listen without forming an opinion.”  

-Lori Deschene

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” 

-Socrates  

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” 

-Winston Churchill  

Thank you for operating with integrity and being open to new ideas and continuous improvement. 

Notable Updates

As we move through 2022, it is shaping up to be a productive and positive year. The new BYD 40-foot battery-electric buses are here and will be in service soon. Also, LBT has received its first 35-foot New Flyer battery-electric bus, with 19 more on the way! Each new bus puts LBT closer to its goal of an entire fleet of zero-emission buses by 2030. 

Operator Appreciation Day

LBT recognized all of its Bus Operators on national Bus Operator Appreciation Day on March 18! They were greeted by representatives of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office, who provided refreshments to LBT’s hard-working Operators. Thank you to all our Operators for being dedicated to connecting communities and making everyday life better for our customers. 

Grand Prix

We had a great time at the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach this April! Our on-site activation featured the new BYD bus and allowed visitors to race buses on our very own LBT Raceway.

Safety Corner

A new feature in Quarterly RIDE is the Safety Corner. Safety is LBT’s top priority, not only on the road but also at each of our facilities. Safety is everyone’s responsibility. 
Ergonomic Safety for Administrative Staff  

Safety in an office environment is important. While your environment might not be traditionally dangerous, injuries can also occur.   

 To avoid ergonomic issues: 

  • Stretch and walk around regularly. Make sure you do not remain sedentary. 
  • Do not ignore pain.
  • Refrain from carrying items that are too heavy. 
  • When seated, use the correct posture (shown in the picture). 
Illustration of a person sat at a desk with good posture
Illustration of a person sat at a desk with bad posture
Illustration of two people walking outside in a city with palm trees
Walking Breaks

Taking walking breaks is also good for your mind. It can help you improve concentration, increase your creativity, as well as boost your mood. But did you know that even short little walks can be good for your physical health too? So, enjoy the nice ocean breeze and take a walk during your break. Don’t forget to wear your safety vest when walking in our yards for added visibility and your safety.

Yard Safety – Don’t Speed!

Do you know the speed limit in our facilities? 5 MPH 

The speed limit and other posted road signs always must be obeyed. Go slow, be alert, and always use your turn signals in parking lots. LBT’s yards are shared with pedestrians, vendors, and visitors.  

Sign post with the words Speed Limit 5 on it
How to Prevent Parking Lot Accidents: 

  1. Slow down and obey the 5-mph speed limit.  
  2. Yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians, especially when exiting the yard.  
  3. Give the right-of-way to those backing up their vehicles.  
  4. Stop at all stop signs, especially when exiting the yard by the guard shack.  
  5. Drive in the direction of one-way traffic.  
  6. Do not cut through the parking lot to get to a parking stall; instead, go with the traffic flow. 

Remember, safety starts and ends with you!

Meet the Procurement Team!  

The Procurement department is responsible for purchasing (procuring) the goods and services that are vital to our organization. Our Procurement team works tirelessly to support daily operations by partnering with vendors, negotiating terms, purchasing items and keeping records of purchases. Their work touches every department at LBT and is integral as we continue to transition to a zero-emission fleet! 

 

Joanna Bould

Joanna Bould

Manager, Procurement

Doris Pham

Doris Pham

Administrative Assistant, Procurement

To better serve our organization, each buyer has specific partners within LBT, below you will each buyer and their assigned departments:
Majed Albokaei

Majed Albokaei

Senior Buyer

  • Customer Relations and Communications
  • Information Technology
  • Transit Service Delivery and Planning
  • LBT Corporate Office
  • Assists with Bus Procurement
Jillori Grepo

Jillori Grepo

Buyer

  • Facilities and Infrastructure
  • Warehouse
  • Environmental Health and Safety
Vivian Garcia

Vivian Garcia

Buyer

  • Maintenance
  • Transit Customer Amenities
  • Finance
  • Risk
  • Human Resources
Gene Sandoval

Gene Sandoval

Buyer

  • Bus Procurement

How and Who does the LBT Procurement Department help?

Long Beach Transit Quarterly Ride Spring 2022 - Procurement Diagram

New Faces at LBT

As LBT continues to grow, there are more faces around the facilities. Each quarter, you can see the new employees that have joined the LBT family.

Please welcome the newest employees at LBT:

Billy Anderson Jr.

Billy Anderson Jr.

Manager, System Security

Ethan Brennan

Ethan Brennan

Bus Operator

Johnny Cabrera

Johnny Cabrera

Utilities

Liliana Cervantes-Landeros

Liliana Cervantes-Landeros

Customer Care Agent

Arantxa Chavarria

Arantxa Chavarria

Manager, Communications & Marketing

Scherrll Clark

Scherrll Clark

Bus Operator

Peter Contreras III

Peter Contreras III

Parts Storekeeper

Mikaela Deckner

Mikaela Deckner

Transit Analyst

Christian Garcia

Christian Garcia

Data Collector

Chauenga Hakeem

Chauenga Hakeem

Bus Operator

Chela Heath

Chela Heath

Bus Operator

Danielle Jackson

Danielle Jackson

Bus Operator

Ryan Jeter

Ryan Jeter

Supervisor, Maintenance

Semaj Johnson

Semaj Johnson

Bus Operator

Haracheo Jones

Haracheo Jones

Bus Operator

Christian Lopez

Christian Lopez

Mechanic

Ismael Lopez

Ismael Lopez

Utilities

Pablo Lopez

Pablo Lopez

Bus Operator

Maritza Luviano

Maritza Luviano

Administrative Assistant, ODA

Kimberly McKay

Kimberly McKay

Risk Management Representative/Workers Comp

Anderson Meger

Anderson Meger

College Intern, Service Planning

Guillermo Mejia

Guillermo Mejia

Bus Operator

Jonathan O'Lawrence

Jonathan O'Lawrence

Customer Care Agent

Artemio Ortega

Artemio Ortega

Mechanic

Luis Pacquing

Luis Pacquing

Utilities

Andrew Palma

Andrew Palma

Bus Operator

Sergio Quintero

Sergio Quintero

Mechanic

Fabiola Robles

Fabiola Robles

Talent Acquisition Manager

Sergio Rosales

Sergio Rosales

Bus Operator

Melanie Scott

Melanie Scott

Administrative Assistant, Maintenance

Alonso Zarate

Alonso Zarate

Bus Operator

Now Hiring

We are currently hiring Operators and Mechanics! We are currently hiring Operators and Mechanics. Have someone in mind who would make a great Operator or Mechanic here at LBT? Encourage them to take the next step in their career.

For more information on requirements and benefits, interested candidates can visit our Careers page at ridelbt.com/careers.

Hello LBTeam

Hello LBTeam is a voluntary internal communication system that uses text messages to share important information on LBT operations with employees, including service changes, COVID-19 procedures and other necessary information. It is a quick and easy way to be in the know.

To sign-up, just text “HELLO” to 855.922.2770 to opt-in, no additional app download needed.

If you have questions regarding Hello LBTeam or need assistance signing up, please contact Emily Rasmussen, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, at x8463 or [email protected].

Congrats to All the Employees of the Month!

Thank you to all the Employees of the Month who have shown their hard work and dedication over the last quarter. To celebrate and acknowledge the incredible workforce at LBT, Quarterly RIDE features all the Employees of the Month from the previous quarter. Congratulations to all recipients!

January 2022

Edward Perez

Transit Service Delivery and Planning

Reuben De Ocampo

Maintenance and Infrastructure

Sergio Ortiz

Administrative Staff