Every day, our teams bring WeDriveU’s company values to life in ways that go far beyond transportation. From creating safe and reliable journeys to building stronger communities, our people show us what it means to put values into action. Behind every safe trip, innovative solution, and act of kindness are teammates who embody these values.

Each quarter, we shine a spotlight on their stories to recognize the people who make our mission real. We’re proud to highlight outstanding teammates and Customer Service Centers (CSCs) across the country who demonstrated operational excellence, safety, innovation, teamwork, sustainability and community impact in the fourth quarter.

Congratulations to our Q4 Honorees

WeDriveU Operational Excellence Award: Bismarck de Melo – Hyde Park, MA

Operational Excellence is about consistency, professionalism, and going above and beyond to provide a positive experience for every passenger.

Bismarck de Melo stands out for his professionalism, dedication and empathy. Within months of joining WeDriveU, he earned recognition for outstanding performance. Paratransit passengers praise his kindness, such as helping carry groceries all the way to their apartments. For passengers, especially elderly riders, these gestures make a world of difference.

As the father of a daughter with special needs, Bismarck brings deep empathy to his role. He knows the importance of patience, comfort and understanding. His perspective helps him build unique connections with every rider.

WeDriveU Safety Award: Anna Cicio – White Plains, NY

Safety is the foundation of everything we do. Our passengers and clients trust us because they know we put their well-being first, and teammates like Anna Cicio make that possible.

Anna is a driving force behind safety training and compliance. A certified New York State 19-A trainer, she has supported training at our White Plains Customer Service Center. She also stepped up to help with a start-up where we hired, retrained and road tested more than 70 bus drivers; a monumental task that required focus, precision and many long weekends.

Thanks to Anna’s contributions, the operators were not only ready but confident in providing the safest possible service for our riders.

WeDriveU Innovation Award: Hyde Park, MA team

Innovation at WeDriveU is about more than technology; it’s about reimagining how we serve our riders and clients. This quarter, the Hyde Park team showed what’s possible when fresh thinking, collaboration, and technical excellence come together.

Working closely with our partners at Spare, they prepared for one of the year’s most important technology launches for MBTA’s The RIDE, one of the largest ADA paratransit programs in the U.S, with over 1 million trips every year. WeDriveU is one of the private contractors proudly operating services for the customer, and our Hyde Park team made us proud by engaging early, providing access to demo environments and building trust through ongoing collaboration.

The results speak volumes, as highlighted in this video with the customer discussing the project. We’ve seen some impressive praise for the project, including exceeding the goal of 90% on-time performance and demonstrating a proactive approach. Riders now enjoy an improved trip booking experience, self-service tools, real-time trip optimization, and a new transparent eligibility platform that empowers users throughout the process.

Our role in this project was the result of careful planning, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to excellence under the leadership of General Manager Marcy Elliott. Special thanks to our friends at Spare for being the spark!

WeDriveU Community Award: South San Francisco Team with Yoots

Community impact is at the heart of our WeDriveU Cares initiative, and this quarter, we’re proud to honor our South San Francisco CSC team for their partnership with one of our favorite non-profits called Yoots (the Youth Transportation Organization).

In collaboration with our incredibly generous local customer and Yoots, WeDriveU’s team has enabled underserved youth to experience adventures year-round: trips to the ocean, towering redwoods, and inspiring museums. These aren’t just outings; they are life-changing experiences for children and families who may not own a car or have access to reliable transportation.

“Yoots’ partnership with WeDriveU and [the customer] has opened doors for the communities we serve. Transportation has given kids the opportunity to see the ocean and forest for the first time. Hundreds of kids and families have been able to expand their world…” – Craig Flax, Founder/CEO of Yoots

Thanks for those kind words, Craig!

The South San Francisco team’s efforts go back years, even before COVID. By donating time, fuel, and even an electric bus thanks to support from the customer and WeDriveU, the team is giving back in ways that open doors for the next generation.

Thanks to the leadership of GM Ruben Ledesma and the dedication of Padgitt Houston, Tanika Perry, Javier Martinez, Javier Sanchez, Paul Vanenburg, and Zhen Xie, hundreds of children have seen the ocean or a museum for the first time in their lives. That’s the power of community partnerships, and the essence of WeDriveU Cares.

WeDriveU Teamwork Award: WeDriveU’s Seattle, WA team

When challenges arise, teamwork makes the difference between disruption and success. At our Seattle CSC, a dedicated group of drivers and dispatchers showed just how powerful collaboration can be.

Michael Roper, Jesse Hameed, Ammar Abdulhadi, Andy Wei, and Jorge Ojeda Querales noticed that two routes were experiencing delays and stepped up with a creative solution: swapping loops on heavy traffic days to keep service running smoothly.

Drivers and customer service staff coordinated to guide riders to the right shuttle, and dispatch kept the group aligned with proactive check-ins. Together, they functioned like a finely tuned orchestra; each playing their part at the right moment to prevent missed loops and keep passengers moving.

WeDriveU Sustainability Award: St. Louis, MO team

Sustainability at WeDriveU is about protecting the environment while building stronger partnerships with our customers and communities. Our team in St. Louis demonstrated that through their leadership in Earth Day activities.

Each year, they play a vital role in coordinating transportation for the EarthDay365 Festival in partnership with the customer, WashU. This work requires careful planning, from assigning routes for drivers to ensuring service runs smoothly on the day. And their dedication goes beyond logistics; at the festival, WeDriveU’s team engaged attendees at our booth, shared company information, and showed our commitment to sustainability.

What Makes WeDriveU Special

Each of these stories highlights WeDriveU team members who care deeply, innovate boldly, and work together to make a difference. That’s what sets WeDriveU apart.

To our Q4 WeDriveU Values in Action honorees: thank you for bringing our values to life every day. Your leadership and dedication inspire us all and remind us that when we combine excellence, safety, innovation, teamwork, sustainability, and community, we create something bigger than ourselves.

Here’s to continuing that journey, together.

Learn more about WeDriveU’s phenomenal team and explore career opportunities across the U.S. – we’re hiring!