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Category:
Diamond Award Gary Ford–
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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 Gary Ford. |
Nintendo's "Rock
star of alternative commuting" is carless and committed
Gary Ford, ETC of Nintendo of America, is a rare breed. He is so dedicated
to using alternative modes of transportation that he has in fact sold
his personal vehicle, making himself the ultimate example for alternative
commute modes. This dedication to turning others on to alternatives to
driving alone has earned him a 2003 Commuter Challenge Diamond Award for
ETC Leadership.
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March 16, 2004 Awards
Ceremony
Congratulating Nintendo's Gary Ford on his Diamond Award for outstanding leadership as an employee transportation coordinator is Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives. |
Ford sold his car in 2002 and now uses an alternative commute mode 100% of the time. He uses transit, rides a bicycle or carpools, and to get between Nintendo work sites, uses Flexcar. In his first year without a car, he saved so much in car insurance that he treated himself to an all-inclusive trip to the French Alps. His own experience gives Ford an exceptional soap box from which to extol the benefits of utilizing alternative commute modes to his co-workers. "As someone who is passionate about alternative commuting, it is a portion of my job that I gladly throw myself into," said Ford.
Nintendo employees receive free FlexPasses for use on Metro and Sound Transit buses or receive $63 per month in vouchers for use on Community Transit buses. Vanpoolers also receive $63 per month in subsidies as well as prioritized parking. Regular "Krispy Kreme Kaffee Klatsches" bring employees from neighboring zip codes together to identify potential ridesharing partners.
The company’s intranet plays a vital role in educating employees on their commute options by providing a section dedicated to alternative commute mode support and information on the different options. Articles are published on the Intranet site that include testimonials from employees touting the financial and other benefits they experience using commute options. Announcements for monthly prize drawings for non-SOV commuters also are advertised via the intranet.
A variety of on-site services also make Ford’s job of convincing his co-workers to leave their car at home that much easier. Employees have access to dry cleaning, ATM machines, stamps, newspapers and a cafeteria complete with—what else but video game entertainment—are all easily accessible on the Nintendo campus. Even on-site massage services are available.
Ford gets ideas for promoting and improving Nintendo’s CTR program from his own experience and from talking to other employees who use alternative commute modes. He attends monthly meetings with other area ETCs and works with the Greater Redmond TMA and the City of Redmond to develop ideas and provide incentives. Currently, Nintendo and the City of Redmond are working on securing R-Trip funding to undertake a six-month trial Flexcar project that would locate a vehicle on the Nintendo campus for employees’ business and personal use during the day.
"Gary has been called the ‘Rock Star alternative commuter’ by his co-workers because he doesn’t just provide lip service," said Greater Redmond TMA Commuter Services Program Manager Lea McWhorter. "Through his efforts in promoting and educating employees about their options, they understand the program and are excited about the benefits!"
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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.