Manager of the Year
Last Updated (Friday, 04 December 2009 20:56) Written by Jon Hesson Friday, 09 October 2009 11:53
EDITORIAL
Times West Virginian
Fairmont - George Levitsky is the recipient of a national honor.
Levitsky said that the awards were presented at a breakfast meeting at the Community Transportation Expo in Providence, R.I.
"There was a lot riding on public transit last year," he said. "We wanted to change the perception of riding the bus, that it's OK. Ridership was up 15 percent last year and this award would not have been possible without the support of our board and the fine work of our employees."
Caryn Souza of the Community Transportation Association said that the award is presented each year to honor "a community transportation leader that provided service that is integral to the community while creating a vision for the system that has the support from within and outside the organization."
"That seemed to fit us pretty well, I thought," Levitsky said. "Last year, with moving while our place was being renovated, we hope that our service wasn't interrupted for our passengers while we changed from one headquarters to another."
"It was really neat to be honored by your peers, voted on by the board of directors of the CTA of America."
Levitsky gave an example of the kind of service the Fairmont Marion County Transit Authority gives.
"Last year Project Graduation leaders asked me if we could transport some of the kids from the North Marion graduation to the armory," Levitsky said.
"I actually took a van up there and broght some down for the party. I stayed the entire time and took them back. It was a real neat experience."
He said he thought that was on of the things that stood out.
Souza said the award was presented among four others "where we honor the very best in community and public transportation."
Other winners were the Rural Community Transportation system from Auburn, Maine, the Urban Community Transportation System from Danbury, Conn., the William and Bud Bell Award which went to Sister Brendan Cinlon of Christian Help, Inc. in Kermit, W.Va for Association of the Year, and the State Agency of the Year Award that went to the New Jersey Council in Special Transportation in Mansfield, N.J.
Levitsky is pleased that West Virginia won two of the five national awards.
He said that "we enjoy being the community transportation system, msall enough to take our citizens where they need to go, and we take pride in being good stewards of the tax dollars. And that our services add to the quality of life of our citizens.
"There are a lot of good people in public transit."
The farmington native has been manager of the Fairmont Marion County Transit Authority for just over six years. He was a Leadership Marion member, is on the board of directors for the Fairmont Federal Credit Union, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Region VI Planning and Development Council.
FMCTA has grown over the years from a small garage and maintenance facility and office space to its new renovated facility. The building project completed last year added 3,000 square feet to the original 10,000-square-foot building that was constructed in 1980.
The authority provides regular routes throughout the county to shopping centers, medical facilities, offices, businesses and places of employment. Equally as important, it travels through the small rural communities and on the back streets of Fairmont.
George and his wife Candace have two grown sons.
E-mail John Veasey at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Suzane Park
Director of Communication
WV Public Transit Association
PO Box 1312
Bridgeport, WV 26330
Phone: 304.844.0123
www.wvtransit.com
West Virginia Public Transit... THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON IT!