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Category:
Diamond Award Vernon Arendse–
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Listen to one of the ads featuring this winner! (Produced and broadcast by KUOW.) |
ETC at manufacturer
takes job personally; SOV rate down 18%
Alaskan Copper & Brass Company and Alaskan Copper Works are the nation's
largest combination full service center and manufacturer of corrosion
resistant alloy products. In manufacturing settings, promoting alternative
commute modes can be an uphill battle, but it is one that ETC Vernon Arendse
has met head on. For his outstanding work as ETC at Alaskan Copper, Arendse
has been awarded a 2003 Commuter Challenge Diamond Award for ETC Leadership.
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March 16, 2004 Awards
Ceremony
A Diamond Award for his outstanding leadership as an employee transportation coordinator was presented to Vernon Arendse of Alaskan Copper and Brass Company. |
Alaskan Copper allows employees to use pre-tax income to purchase transit or vanpool fare for their commute. Special promotional events around Rideshare Week are held as are smaller rideshare events with neighboring employers. Arendse has gradually been able to make inroads with employee use of alternative commute modes by raising awareness about CTR and working to get management more involved. "One of the ways Vern has been able to expand his program is through his participation in the local and state promotional programs," said King County Metro Employer Transportation Representative Jane Finch. "He does an excellent job communicating with employees about CTR and getting them involved in the promotional campaigns."
From the first day on the job, new employees are provided with information on their commute options and Alaskan Copper’s CTR program. A brochure produced in-house explores all alternative commute modes available to employees and the financial benefits of each. The brochures include an application for the regional ridematching system and a form to sign up for the pre-tax deduction for commuting expenses, encouraging employees to take that first step to leaving their car at home. Free bus tickets are provided to employees interested in "test-driving" transit for their commute.
By seeking out opportunities to participate in projects with other worksites, Arendse works to expand the number of possible rideshare matches for Alaskan Copper employees. From 2002 to 2003, Alaskan Copper participated in the Rideshare Plus Project provided by the Manufacturing Industrial Council of Seattle. This project provided personalized ridematching assistance and incentives to employees interested in joining carpools or vanpools. Participation in this project helped to identify employees from neighboring unaffected businesses who were interested in ridesharing.
Arendse has made it his personal challenge to have someone from every section within the company using an alternative commute mode and has succeeded. He commutes by transit himself to set an example for others and provides personalized assistance to co-workers to help them identify transit routes or rideshare partners. In one instance, an employee contacted Arendse because his car was in need of repairs and he needed to find an alternative way to get to work while his vehicle was in the shop. Arendse helped the employee map out his commute on Metro’s Trip Planner and discovered there was a bus route that would meet his needs. The employee couldn’t believe how easy it was and became a monthly transit pass holder.
Arendse’s success can be seen in the worksite's survey results. On its most recent survey, Alaskan Copper came within 1% of making goal with an SOV rate of 58%, down 18% from just two years earlier. And since the site was surveyed, even more employees are now taking transit, carpooling, vanpooling, or using vanshare.
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Commute Program
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*Some definitions: An “ETC” is the staff-level employee transportation coordinator responsible for the daily administration of the transportation program. “SOV” stands for single-occupant vehicle, and “CTR” for commute trip reduction.