Metro News

Every March, transit agencies nationwide come together to express gratitude to the dedicated operators, mechanics, street supervisors, custodians, and administrative staff who keep public transportation running smoothly. 

To kick off the celebration, Metro honored seven employees for outstanding achievement at its Golden Bus Awards Employees of the Year Banquet, celebrating their dedication to service and excellence. 

The winners of the Golden Bus Awards are: 

• Nathan Kemphues, Fixed-Route Scheduler | Administrative Staff 

• Tara Walker, Senior Manager of Vendor Diversity & Inclusion | Leadership Team 

• Karen Bolden, Body Shop Specialist | Queensgate Maintenance 

• Jed Gaulin, General Facilities Repair Person | Bond Hill Maintenance 

• Curtis Gibson, Operator | Access 

• Angelo Irving, Operator | Queensgate Operations 

• Randy Klein,  Operator | Bond Hill Operations 

“We’re blessed with a top-notch team at Metro and we continue to nurture and grow our workforce because investing in our employees is just as important as investing in our service,” said Darryl Haley, Metro’s CEO and General Manager “The winners of the Golden Bus Awards are shining examples of leaders that elevate others and help Metro make a profound impact on the community around us.” 

A Golden Bus Award is the highest honor in Metro’s employee recognition program. Recipients of this prestigious award are chosen from among recipients of Metro’s monthly Silver Wheel Award. In 2024, there were 285 nominations for the Silver Wheel Award, out of which a total of 22 winners were subsequently nominated for the Golden Bus Awards. 

Throughout March, over 1,100 Metro employees will be acknowledged, celebrated, and thanked for their dedicated service and commitment to the organization and the community during national Transit Employee Appreciation Week.