DSHS's Kocholpulos Award Profile

Dedication makes the difference
The State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services' Fircrest Facility, a 24-hour residential facility for the developmentally disabled, has approximately 800 dedicated employees. One employee, Charlotte Kochopulos, is not only dedicated to the residents and mission of the facility, she is dedicated to helping the environment and to reducing the traffic problems in the Puget Sound region.

Jan. 30, 2002 Awards Ceremony

Accepting her Diamond Award for ETC Leadership is DSHS Fircrest School's Charlotte Kochopulos (r), Employee Transportation Coordinator, and Director Chris Olsen.

Kochopolus has been the Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) at Fircrest Facility for five years. Except at very large corporations, the role of ETC is usually added to a staff person's already full job description. Typically, organizations change staff in this position almost annually.

According to Fircrest's Superintendent, Dr. Asha Singh, “Kochopulos is quite likely one of the most ardent supporters of the Commute Trip Reduction Law in the state. She consistently promotes alternative transportation methods to our staff by holding frequent transportation fairs, contests and other promotions and by writing Commute Corner articles for our staff newsletter, which always includes rideshare opportunities.”

Kochopulos' work has had a great impact. When she started as ETC, almost all employees drove to work alone. Now almost 14 percent are registered in the facility's Rideshare Subsidy Program. In achieving this, she has worked with management to resolve many issues and with employees to overcome resistance.

In the early years of the Commute Trip Reduction Law, state agencies were not permitted to provide financial transportation subsidies. Kochopulos worked with the CTR coordinator for the Department of Social and Human Services in Olympia to begin a bus subsidy program. Fircrest Facility now subsidizes all alternative commute options and recently increased its transit and vanpool subsidy amounts to $65 a month. Carpoolers, bicyclists and walkers receive up to a $40 a month subsidy.

“Initially, there was little interest and a great deal of resistance from the staff,” Kochopulos said. “Now we have a comprehensive package of transportation benefits. We have an internal ridematch system in conjunction with neighboring worksites, and I do a lot of publicity. Employees now see the benefits of participating.”

“I really like being an ETC because I am personally committed,” Kochopulos said. “I am in a vanpool that commutes across on the ferry. Prior to that, I commuted by bus. I live what I am trying to accomplish.”

*Some definitions: An “ETC” is the staff-level employee transportation coordinator responsible for the daily administration of the transportation program; “PM” is the transportation program manager; and “CEO” refers to the top management-level person at the worksite. “SOV” stands for single-occupant vehicle, and “CTR” for commute trip reduction.