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Category:
Diamond Award Stephanie Innis–Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center, Seattle
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Listen to one of the ads featuring this winner. (Produced and broadcast by KUOW.) |
| View our online video "Stories of Success," which includes an interview with Stephanie Innis. |
ETC goes the extra
mile
Endless supplies of creativity and energy as well as a willingness to
listen to employees’ needs are key traits of a successful ETC. According
to those who have worked with her, Stephanie Innis embodies those characteristics
and many more, garnering her a 2003 Commuter Challenge Diamond Award for
ETC Leadership.
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March 16, 2004 Awards
Ceremony
Helping Stephanie Innis celebrate her Diamond Award for leadership as an employee transportation coordinator for Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center are Jim Sawyer (l.) and Jeff Sconyers (r.). |
One example of her creativity can be found in Stephanie’s work with hundreds of Children’s employees who relocated to new worksites in Sand Point (where parking was limited) and South Lake Union (where parking was more expensive). By implementing new programs such as Flexcar, Vanshare, and a South Lake Union Flexpass, each new site opened with low SOV rates and well-served commuters.
Stephanie has worked hard to increase the use of alternative commute options among her colleagues. Perhaps some of Stephanie’s success is due to her example. She uses her science background to discuss the environmental and health impacts of transportation, and is long-time bike commuter herself. "I even bike or bus to meetings; it only takes a few extra minutes and if parking is bad, it is even more efficient than driving the Flexcar," Innis said.
Stephanie believes that high-quality resources are important tools. Children’s uses a 16-page color booklet that includes descriptions of each commute option, its financial benefits, and staff testimonials. This booklet was distributed to all staff in 2003, is available via a comprehensive internal website, and is distributed at new hire orientations. She even goes so far as to provide each new hire with personalized commute research during their orientation day, listing available vanpools, offering ridematching assistance, and outlining the best bus routes and safest bicycle routes.
"Children’s
offers such a generous and comprehensive program, it sells itself!"
insists Innis.
Children’s provides employees with 100% subsidies for bus, ferry,
Sounder and vanpool fares. It also provides monthly commute bonuses to
carpoolers, bicyclists, walkers, motorcyclists and telecommuters. Commuters
who might be hesitant about leaving their car at home can be reassured
by the availability of a Guaranteed Ride Home program and the convenience
of an on-site Flexcar. Vanpools and carpools enjoy free parking on rideshare
days, and have reserved priority parking spaces.
Camaraderie and morale among employees using alternative commute modes has been exceptionally high, which in turn has a positive impact on recruitment and retention. This is an important benefit to the organization, considering the challenges Children’s Hospital faces with healthcare workforce shortages.
Stephanie keeps the program fresh by regularly tapping several sources of ideas and inspiration. "My colleagues and our commuters keep me well-supplied with new ideas," said Innis. Other ideas have germinated from brainstorming with Metro staff and other ETCs."
"Stephanie is an outstanding ETC, always going the extra mile, and acting as an employee advocate to make commuting easier for her co-workers," said King County Metro Employer Transportation Representative Anne Ward-Ryan. "She meets each new challenge with unbridled creativity!"
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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.