[00:00:01]
[1. Call to Order]
AND, UH, WELCOME EVERYONE.I AM BOARD CHAIR LAURA CABELLA.
IT IS NOW 5 0 1 AND I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE JANUARY 28TH VIA BOARD MEETING, OUR FIRST REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF THE YEAR.
UH, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH ROLL CALL VICE CHAIR GOMEZ.
PRESENT, ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER.
HERE, TRUSTEE TWI AND TRUSTEE WOLF.
[2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance]
LET'S MOVE FORWARD FOR, UH, A MOMENT OF REFLECTION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.UH, PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO US AND TEXAS FLAGS.
OKAY, MR. HERRA, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? YES, IT'S ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE ON.
[3. Swearing in of Board Officers]
FORWARD WITH, UH, S SWEARING IN THE BOARD OFFICERS.I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, TO, UH, EVERYONE TONIGHT, JUDGE WILLIAM CRUZ SHAW, AND THANK HIM FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT JUDGE SHAW, A NATIVE HOUSTON.
UM, WE'RE NOT GONNA HOLD THAT AGAINST YOU.
THIS PASSION IS REFLECTED AS EDUCATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND PUBLIC PURSUITS.
HE HAS SERVED HIS COUNTRY AS A YEOMAN'S SECOND CLASS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY RESERVES FROM 2003 THROUGH 2011.
AND WHILE IN THE RESERVES, UH, JUDGE SHAW SERVED IN SAN ANTONIO AND SINGAPORE, HE IS A GRADUATE OF FROM THE TH THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
AND IN 2009 OPENED UP HIS OWN LAW PRACTICE IN THE HEART OF THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND IN, UH, THIS WAS AROUND SEPTEMBER, UH, 2010.
JUDGE SHAW WAS ELECTED TO SEE COUNSEL IN JUNE OF 2017, AND THEN WAS APPOINTED AS AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE IN THE 4 36 DISTRICT COURT OF BEXAR COUNTY.
AND IN JANUARY OF 2019, WAS ELECTED TO THE 4 36 DISTRICT COURT IN NOVEMBER, 2022.
AND I MIGHT ADD, AS A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, JUDGE SHAW WAS ALSO ON OUR LEADERSHIP 44 STEERING COMMITTEE, WHICH I WAS ABLE TO CHAIR.
JUDGE SHAW, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
DO YOU WANT US IN FRONT OF THIS OR DO YOU WANT IT? DOES IT MATTER? I THINK THEY'RE GONNA COME FORWARD.
WELL, I'M SAYING, BUT DO YOU WANNA WANT ME OVER HERE OR, OH, COME ON.
AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANNA THANK THOMAS MARKS FOR, UH, REALIZING HOW I'M GETTING OLDER IN AGE, AND HE GOT BROUGHT ME SOME READERS, THEREFORE I CAN SEE THIS, WHATEVER IT IS, 10 FONT.
[00:05:35]
WELL, FIRST WE'RE GONNA DO THE CHAIR, MS. LAURA CAB CABILLA, MY BAD CHAIR OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I LAURA CAB DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CHAIR THAT I FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF, UH, OFFICE OF CHARITY OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF UNITED STATES, DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
THANK YOU MS. ILLA, AND FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND YOUR SERVICE.
WE'RE GONNA, THIS IS GONNA BE FUN.
MR. GOMEZ LEO GOMEZ, VICE CHAIR OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE ALL THE DUTIES? I'M JUST KIDDING.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF VICE CHAIR OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF THE OFFICE OF VICE CHAIR OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT, TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT, AS WELL AS DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, AS WELL AS DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF THIS STATE.
SO HELP ME, GOD OF THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THIS STATE.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WOULD DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
I WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT, TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT, AS WELL AS DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, AS WELL AS TO DEF WAIT TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT, AS WELL AS DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
CONGRATULATIONS RIGHT HERE AGAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER ME.
YOU WERE THE ONE THAT STARTED ME ON THIS PATH.
[00:10:53]
ALL RIGHT, JUDGE SHAW, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TODAY.[4. Citizens to be Heard ]
GONNA ADDRESS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, BOARD MEMBERS.
WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
HER NAME IS, UH, MS. WILLIE MAY CLAY.
LEMME GO AHEAD AND READ THIS STATEMENT.
WE NOW COME TO THE S TO BE HEARD PORTION OF OUR PUBLIC MEETING.
THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS IN THE SAN ANTONIO BAYAR COUNTY AREA.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING PUBLIC BUSINESS OR POLICY OVER WHICH THE BOARD HAS SUPERVISION AND CONTROL MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT, CEO AND OR HIS STAFF.
THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVE THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION OR CONCERN.
AND VIA APPRECIATES YOU TAKING THE TIME AND, AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.
MY NAME IS WILLIE MAY CLAY AND I UTILIZE NOT ONLY PARA TRANSIT KNOWN AS VIA TRANSIT, BUT ALSO EVERY, EVERY NOW AND THEN USE THE MAINLINE TRANSPORTATION.
UH, I MUST COMMEND VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT FOR HAVING ITS CURRENT STAFF AND BOARD REFLECTING THAT ISSUE OF DEI CONVENTION.
HOLD FAST TO IT BECAUSE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, IT'S BEING ATTACKED.
THE PURPOSE OF MY BEING HERE TODAY IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS AS A RESULT OF THE FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS ARE JOINED WITH THE FORCES VIA TRANS USED TO GO INTO FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS, AND ALL THE DRIVER HAD TO DO WAS PRESENT A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE.
IT HADN'T BEEN THE CASE FOR THE TWO TO THREE YEARS.
IF YOU KNOW THIS IS SHARE PAIR OF TRANSIT SHARE, TRANSPORTATION, SHARE RIDE, AND YOU KNOW THAT THE PERSON WHO'S GOING TO ANY DESIGNATED POINT IS THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO BE DRAFT OFF, PICKED UP AND DROPPED OFF AT THAT POINT.
AND THAT MEANS THAT MAYBE OTHER PERSONS ARE LEFT ON THE VAN FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS.
NOW, YOU GO IN, YOU SHOW YOU MUST HAVE THAT ID, MILITARY ID AND I HAVE MINE.
BUT IF THERE OTHER PERSONS ON THE VAN HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ON A VIA VAN GOES WITH ME ON THAT VAN TO A FEDERAL INSTALLATION THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN YOU GET TO THE GATE AND THEN KNOWS WE'LL HAVE A PROBLEM.
SO WHAT THEY DO TO A PERSON? WELL, I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THEY, THEY, THE, THE GUARD WILL CHECK THE DRIVER'S ID AND ASK, DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY ON THAT VAN THAT DOES NOT HAVE MILITARY ID? THE DRIVER WILL SAY YES.
WELL, THEN THE GUARD WOULD SAY, TURN IT AROUND.
I SAY, AND I'M HOLLERING FROM THE BACK OF THE VAN.
BUT THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT.
ONLY IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE ONE, YOU TURN THAT VAN AROUND.
[00:15:01]
THE DISPATCHER, WELL TELL WILLIE MAID, SHE CAN GET OFF, GO TO THE VISITOR CENTER, MAKE A WAY TO WHEREVER SHE NEEDS TO GO.OR THE OTHER TWO OPTIONS IS, OR THE OTHER TWO OPTIONS ARE, YOU COULD STAY ON THE VAN, LET US SLAP OFF THESE OTHER PEOPLE, THEN WE BRING YOU BACK.
NOW YOU ASKED ME IF I THINK THAT THAT'S FAIR.
IF FEAR DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, IF THEY HAVE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE VAN THAT DID NOT HAVE A MILITARY ID, THAT'S ONE THING.
BUT THEY'VE KNOWN FOR THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND I'VE BEEN CALLING INSIDE OF BAMSEY TO, TO THE, UH, PATIENT ADMIN.
NOW IT'S CALLED THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE.
I'M STILL WORKING ON THAT AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT, BUT I NEED SOME HELP.
[4. President/CEO Report]
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO NUMBER FIVE.MR.
MADAM, CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO OPEN WITH A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU AND OUR STAFF OF FRONTLINE WORKERS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY IN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS YOUR PRESIDENT AND CEO AND STAND ALONGSIDE YOU WHILE WE KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UH, THESE MONTHLY RECOGNITIONS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME NEW COLLEAGUES AND SHINE A LIGHT ON OUR VIA TEAMMATES WHO HAVE MADE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ROLES.
I WANNA ALSO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, GREAT AND SMALL, THAT HELP US REACH OUR MISSION AND ACHIEVE OUR MISSION, OUR VISION FOR A MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GONNA START OFF BY, UH, RECOGNIZING OUR STAR OPERATORS OF THE QUARTER AND THESE STAR OPERATORS OF THE QUARTER AS WE RECOGNIZE 'EM.
THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE THEM COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN THIS MONTH BY RECOGNIZING HERNAN PINEDA.
HERNAN AND DIANA AND DIANA RODRIGUEZ.
ALL RIGHT, DIANA, AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY UP, UH, TO THE FRONT TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH OUR BOARD AND OUR BOARD WILL ALSO, UH, START MAKING THEIR WAY UP.
I'M GONNA READ A BIT ABOUT YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK, UM, THAT HAS LED YOU TO US TO TAKE, UH, AND RECOGNIZE YOU AS A STAR, UM, OPERATOR OF THE QUARTER.
NAN POLICE, UH, OPERATOR PINEDA IS KNOWN BY HIS PATRIOTS, A STAFF ALIKE FOR HIS FRIENDLY AND COURTEOUS DISPOSITION, NAN MAINTAINS A HIGH ON-TIME PERFORMANCE AVERAGE WITH HIS MOST RECENT MONTHLY ON-TIME PERFORMANCE AT 80%.
HE SHOWS A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE BY MAINTAINING PERFECT ATTENDANCE AND IS ALWAYS READY AND WILLING TO STEP IN TO COVER EXTRA WORK.
ONE STATION SUPERVISOR DESCRIBED HIM AS AN EXEMPLARY EMPLOYEE OPERATOR.
PINERA EMBODIES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A VIA SUPERHERO.
OUR PARATRANSIT OPERATOR, DIANA RODRIGUEZ, OPERATOR RODRIGUEZ, RECEIVED A GLOWING COMMENDATION FROM A COMMUNITY MEMBER ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE WRITING TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT RECENTLY WITH A FRIEND ON THAT'S A VIA TRANS CLIENT.
MS. TRISH MALONE EVEN POSTED ABOUT IT, OF, OF HER EXPERIENCE ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE, WHICH WAS SHARED BY THE SUPERVISORS AT VIA SO WE COULD PROPERLY RECOGNIZE THE OPERATOR.
RODRIGUEZ FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE.
YESTERDAY, A FRIEND OF MINE SCHEDULED A VIA BUS RIDE TO HER DOCTOR, BUT BECAUSE SHE CAN'T DRIVE, I TOLD HER I WOULD DRIVE HER, BUT NOT TO CANCEL THE VIA RIDE BECAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A BUS OF ANY, ANY KIND SINCE I WAS A CHILD.
AND WHEN WE COULD TAKE THE BUS FOR JUST THE EXPERIENCE OF IT.
AND I'M SO GLAD EVERY DAY THAT LIFE OFFERS YOU A NEW EXPERIENCE IS A GOOD DAY NO MATTER WHAT.
YESTERDAY WAS ONE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES.
I HAD A GREAT TALK WITH THE DRIVER ABOUT HER 17 YEARS WITH VIA AND FELT SO GLAD FOR THE PEOPLE WHOM WE OFFER SUCH A SERVICE.
WATCHING PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY NAVIGATING LIFE BECAUSE OF ILLNESS OR DISABILITIES EXHIBIT SUCH KINDNESS TOWARDS EACH OTHER, WHAT GENTLE SOUL SOULS AND HOW FORTUNATE I WAS TO RIDE WITH THEM.
AND NOW WE FEEL THE SAME WAY HAVING SUCH A CREDIBLE OPERATORS ON THE TEAM.
[00:20:07]
SECOND TWO PLACES.NOW I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON AND, UH, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING SATORI SAMSA SATORI, WHO HAS JUST RECENTLY BEEN PROMOTED TO OUR VS.
VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
I KNOW, SATORI, YOU GOTTA STAND LONGER THAN THAT.
SINCE, SINCE JOINING OUR TEAM AS THE EO IN THE DIVERSITY OFFICE HERE IN APRIL, 2024, SATORI HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED HER DEDICATION TO FOSTERING AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE AND DRIVING STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH OUR ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS.
WITH OVER 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN HUMAN RESOURCES EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP, SATORI HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN CREATING IMPACTFUL CHANGE WITHIN OUR AGENCY.
IN HER NEW ROLE, SHE WILL OVERSEE ALL ASPECTS OF OUR HUMAN RESOURCES OPERATIONS.
SO TORI'S VISION AND EXPERTISE WILL BE VALUABLE AS WE NAVIGATE OUR INDUSTRY EVOLVING LANDSCAPE.
HER COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND EXTENSIVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AT HR LEADERSHIP, COMPLIANCE, TALENT ACQUISITION AND TRAINING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT MAKE HER AN IDEAL FIT FOR THIS POSITION.
WE'RE CONFIDENT HER LEADERSHIP WILL POSITIVELY SHAPE THE FUTURE OF VIA.
PLEASE JOIN ME AGAIN IN CONGRATULATING SATORI ON THIS WELL-DESERVED PROMOTION.
SEE, I, I TOLD YOU YOU SHOULD HAVE STOOD LONGER.
SO SEAN'S OUR NEW V VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY TRAINING AND SYSTEM SECURITY.
SEAN IS A LIFELONG SAFETY PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS BE, WHO BEGAN WORKING IN THE PUBLIC INDUSTRY APPROXIMATELY 19 YEARS AGO.
HE COMES FROM US RECENTLY FROM CAP METRO IN AUSTIN, WHERE HE SERVED AS THE AGENCY SAFETY DIRECTOR SINCE 2021.
HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED 15 YEARS AT HOUSTON METRO, WORKING HIS WAY UP IN THE ORGANIZATION AND BECOMING ITS CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY PROGRAMS. IT WAS IN HOUSTON THAT SEAN SAYS HE FOUND A STRONG SENSE OF PURPOSE AND FULFILLMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
HE'S A GRADUATE OF UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CLEAR LAKE.
WE OBTAINED A BACHELOR IN SCIENCE AND A MASTER IN SCIENCE.
HE IS CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD OF CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONALS AND THE GRADUATE OF LEADERSHIP APTA CLASS OF 2016.
CURRENTLY SERVING AS VICE CHAIR OF APTA SAFETY COORDINATING COUNCIL BUILDING ON THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR DEPUTY CEO TRAMELL BROWN.
WE ARE CONFIDENT SEAN WILL CONTINUE VIA HIS LONG HISTORY OF SAFE AND COMPASSIONATE SERVICE.
NEXT, I AM THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT TERRY TREVINO
[00:25:01]
TERRY HAS JOINED OUR TEAM AS OUR NEW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, OUR SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND CUSTOMER CARE.TERRY IS A RESULTS DRIVEN LEADER WITH DEMONSTRABLE EXPERIENCE AND DELIVERING KEY OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING DRIVING CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT, ENHANCING BRAND VISIBILITY, AND PROVIDING IMPACTFUL MARKETING INITIATIVES.
WITH MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE, TE TERRY HAS A PROVEN RECORD OF DRIVING IMPACTFUL INITIATIVES, STRENGTHENING BRAND PRESENCE AND FOSTERING MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT.
HER STRATEGIC VISION AND ABILITY TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS MAKE HER AN EXCEPTIONAL FIT TO LEAD V'S.
EFFORTS IN ELEVATING CUSTOMER COMMUNITY FOCUSED INITIATIVES.
IN HER NEW POSITION, TERRY WILL OVERSEE V'S EFFORTS TO, TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS AT PROMOTING IMPROVED FREQUENCY AND RELIABILITY AND THE CUSTOMER FOCUSED INITIATIVES.
SHE'LL BE WORKING WITH AN EXPERIENCED HIGH PERFORMING GROUP THAT WILL ENSURE WE KEEP DELIVERING SUCCESS TO THE AGENCY.
PLEASE JOIN ME AGAIN IN WELCOMING TERRY TVIA.
WE GOT A LOT OF A LOT OF NEW FOLKS HERE.
NOW LET'S WELCOME SARAH SMITH.
SARAH JOINS US AS VIAS NEW DIRECTOR PERFORMANCE AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT.
SARAH BRINGS A REMARKABLE RANGE OF EXPERTISE IN LEADING PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND PROCESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES ACROSS MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS.
HER CERTIFICATIONS IN SIX SIGMA AND PRO METHODOLOGIES UNDERPINNING HER PROVEN RECORD OF SUCCESS.
SARAH HAS DEMONSTRATED A STRONG PASSION FOR UNDERSTANDING, UNDERSTANDING THE VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER, ALIGNING STAKEHOLDER NEEDS WITH BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS, AND APPLYING INDUSTRY'S BEST PRACTICES TO IMPLEMENT CHANGE WITH PRECISION.
HER ANALYTICAL MINDSET AND HER COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ACHIEVING HIGHER EFFICIENCIES, ENHANCING EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENTS, AND IMPROVING ACCURACY ACROSS DIVERSE OPERATIONAL WORK STREAMS. HER EXPERIENCE INCLUDES CHANGE MANAGEMENT LEADER AT HEB PROCESS ENGINEER AND BUSINESS PROCESS CONSULTANT LEAD AT USAA.
IN ADDITION TO PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, SARAH HAS DESIGNED ONBOARDING PROGRAMS AND A GUARDED GARNERED CONSISTENTLY HIGH PROMOTER SCORES REFLECTING HER ABILITY TO CREATE IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCES THAT RESONATE ACROSS ORGANIZATIONS.
SARAH HOLDS A, A BACHELOR'S AND, AND MASTER'S DEGREES IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH CONCENTRATIONS IN MARKETING AND FINANCE.
SO LET US WELCOME SARAH TO THE VIA TEAM.
ALL RIGHT, NOW WE GET TO DO A UNITED WAY RECAP WITH EL BUSTER.
UH, WHEN WE GIVE WE WIN, I'M PROUD TO SHARE THAT THROUGH THE GENEROSITIES OF OUR EMPLOYEES VIA RAISED AN IMPRESSIVE $105,500, WHICH IS MORE THAN TWICE THE FUNDRAISING GOAL OF $45,000 THAT WE HAD SET THIS YEAR.
IT ALL GOES THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO AND BAYAR COUNTY.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO, WHO MADE DONATIONS THIS YEAR FOR THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPECIALLY RECOGNIZE OUR VIA EVENT ADMINISTRATOR LAUREN CHU AND COORDINATOR JUAN LOZOYA AND THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM FOR ORGANIZING THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN.
ALSO, ALL THE TEAM CAPTAINS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE AGENCY WHO HELPED MAKE THIS A SUCCESS, A RECORD BREAKING SUCCESS THIS YEAR.
WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.
IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EFFORT BY SO MANY.
AND WERE GRATEFUL YOUR DEDICATION AND COMPASSION FOR THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.
WE'RE GONNA QUICKLY RECOGNIZE THE WINTER WEATHER RECAP.
I KNOW DURING OUR, UM, BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK, MADAM CHAIR, WE HAD, WE HAD, WE WERE JUST IN THE MIDDLE IN THE THROES OF THAT.
BUT I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE OUR STANDING TEAMS AT VIA WHO HELPED US CONTINUE DELIVERING SAFE, RELIABLE SERVICE.
DURING THE RECENT WINTER STORM, WE WERE ON TIME FOR PULLOUT EVERY DAY.
WE MAINTAINED SERVICE LEVELS, WE WERE PROACTIVE, WE WERE PREPARED, AND WE AVOIDED PREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS DURING SERVICE.
WE ALSO CONDUCTED SEVERAL RESCUE MISSIONS OF CUSTOMERS WHO WERE STRANDED DUE TO DETOURS OR IMPASSABLE ROAD CONDITIONS.
AND WHILE IT IS, UH, WHILE IT WAS A LARGE COLLECTIVE EFFORT BY MANY TEAM MESS, UH, MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR NEW EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, JANAE JANAE.
IS SHE HERE? I KNOW SHE WAS HERE EARLIER.
JANAE JOHNSON, WHO JUMPED IN WITH BOTH FEET AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
THANK YOU JANAE AND THE STSS TEAM FOR KEEPING US INFORMED AND COORDINATING SUCH AN INCREDIBLE AND SAFE EFFORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RIDERS.
[00:30:01]
ME IN THANKING TRUSTEE IDA GONZALEZ.IF SHE COULD START MAKING HER WAY UP FRONT HERE.
WE'RE THANKING HER FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE VIA BOARD.
TRUSTEE GONZALEZ WAS APPOINTED TO SERVE IN 2022 AND COMPLETED HER SERVICE IN 2024.
DURING HER TIME HERE, TRUSTEE GONZALEZ WAS A VALUED AND TRUSTED MEMBER OF THE BOARD, HELPING GUIDE US THROUGH IMPORTANT WORK OF THIS BODY AND KEEPING US FOCUSED DURING CHALLENGES AND CHANGES AT THE AGENCY.
YOU HAVE OUR GRATITUDE AND SINCERE BEST WISHES FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS.
AND NOW WE HAVE A PLAQUE FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF YOUR SERVICE.
AND WE, IF YOU DON'T MIND THE BOARD, TO JOIN YOU FOR A PHOTO.
WOULD YOU LIKE OUR, OUR BOARD CHAIR OF COURSE, SAYS, UNLESS YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE GIVE YOU YOUR PLAQUE.
UM, I KNOW, UH, TRUSTEE WOLF ISN'T HERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK TRUSTEE WOLF AND, UM, FORMER JUDGE NELSON WOLF FOR APPROACHING ME FOR THIS POSITION OVER TWO YEARS AGO.
UM, IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY, UM, TO WORK WITH GREAT LEADERS THAT I STILL SEE SITTING HERE TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE DID A LOT TOGETHER AND IT WAS FUN.
IT WAS HARD, BUT WE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FOR, FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS EXCITED BUT ALSO NERVOUS WHEN I FIRST STARTED.
'CAUSE I WAS STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS LIKE HOPE ANDRA AND BOB CUOMO, WHO I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH, UH, RECENTLY.
I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE WERE AMAZING.
BUT I LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM AND I SEE THE LEADERS THAT ARE STILL HERE TODAY, BONNIE AND JOHN, YOU AS A CEO, AND ROD AND JOHN AND SO, AND TRAMEL.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA DO GREAT THINGS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO GROW AND, AND, UH, HELP, UH, VIA MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO I'M ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU GUYS IF Y'ALL NEED ME.
UM, BUT, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, JUST SENDING Y'ALL FUNNY TEXTS DURING Y'ALL'S BOARD MEETINGS.
IDA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PASSION AND YOUR SERVICE TO THIS BOARD AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR SMALL BUSINESS, UH, HERE AS WE, UH, LOOK AT OUR PROCESS AND, AND AN ADVOCATE FOR CLEANING UP THE PROCESS ITSELF IN TERMS OF PAYMENTS.
YOU'VE BEEN A, A HUGE ADVOCATE IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN, IN DOING THAT.
UH, AND THEN THIRDLY, JUST YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE VIA FAMILY, YOUR STEADFAST ADVICE.
UH, THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT I KNOW YOU HAD WITH THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM LAST YEAR AND THE YEARS PRIOR IN TERMS OF SUPPORT AND THEN YOUR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND RELATIONSHIPS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, PROVED TO BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
UM, AND SO FROM MY HEART TO YOURS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PASSION.
UH, AND THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMENTS, BUT, UH, WE WILL BE TAKING A, A PICTURE, UH, UP IN FRONT.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, ADA, THANKS FOR YOUR SMILE AND POSITIVE ENERGY THAT YOU BRING THAT EVERYTHING AND FOR HAVING BROUGHT IT OVER TO VIA ITS ORGANIZATION AND STAFF AND EVERYBODY, YOUR ENERGY WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT AS I HEARD ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SERVICE HERE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING BEAR COUNTY ON THIS BOARD AND THANK YOU FOR CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO STEP IN AND SERVE, UH, AS AN APPOINTEE OF BEXAR COUNTY.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS.
HOPEFULLY I'LL BRING SOME POSITIVE ENERGY
IF NOT, I'M SURE YOU'LL, UH, MAKE SURE I KNOW THAT I NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
ADA, UH, IN ALL SINCERITY, THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING HERE AND WE'LL CALL ON YOU.
AND I DO WANNA SAY I COULDN'T HAVE HAD SOMEBODY GREATER REPLACE ME THAN LEO GOMEZ.
SO, UM, YEAH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
AND I WILL BE ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU TOO.
I'LL BE QUICK 'CAUSE THEY ALREADY SAID ALL THE COOL STUFF, BUT, UH, I ALWAYS JUST, UH, UH, REALLY APPRECIATED THE, THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH YOU AND BE COLLABORATIVE.
UH, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES IN THOSE MEETINGS, UH, YOU BROUGHT UP A LOT OF HARD POINTS AND HARD QUESTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE ASKED, AND YOU'RE ALWAYS SORT OF LIKE A VERY, UH, UH, OBJECTIVE MIND, UH, AND DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
AND WHAT I APPRECIATED MOST ABOUT YOU WAS THAT YOU ALSO BROUGHT THIS SORT OF, UH, OPENNESS TO FRIENDSHIP AS WELL.
UH, YOU SUPPORTED ME ALSO AS AN EMERGING SMALL BUSINESS.
GAVE ME A LOT OF ADVICE OUTSIDE OF THE BOARD, UH, JUST AT A PERSONAL LEVEL.
AND I ALWAYS, ALWAYS APPRECIATE, UH, THAT LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAD, UH, BEYOND THE BOARD.
UH, BUT THAT WAS ALWAYS SORT OF BRINGING THE WORK BACK TO, TO OUR GROUP.
SO, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND, UH, REALLY, UH, EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE DO DO NEXT.
[00:35:01]
YOU, JAVIER.I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU,
I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR TWO BOYS IN THE BACK.
AIDEN AND AVERY, THANK YOU FOR HAVING AN AMAZING MOM, BY THE WAY, AND, UH, FOR SACRIFICING YOUR TIME WITH HER SO SHE CAN BE YOURSELF.
IF YOU CAN GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE OVER THERE STANDING.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE REPORT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THOSE, UH, THAT WERE RECOGNIZED THIS EVENING.
UH, AND TO THE NEW HIRES, WELCOME TO THE VIA FAMILY.
UH, WE ARE A BIG FAMILY AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT, UH, NOT ONLY TO THE AGENCY, BUT TO THE COMMUNITIES.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU, UH, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
UH, AND SO THAT WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE
[7. Consent Agenda]
ON TO AGENDA NUMBER ITEM SIX.UH, IT IS IN A CONSENT AGENDA.
DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS TO PULL? UM, BOARD TRUSTEES? NO, THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, MS. UH, ELDER LEGAL BRIEFING CHAIR.
WE DO NOT HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING TODAY.
UH, TRUSTEES, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE VIA BOARD MEETING BEFORE ADJOURN.
JUST A REMINDER THAT TO ALL THAT WILL, UH, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE A TD MEETING.
UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING SO WE HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND.
AND A MOTION CARRIES VIA BOARD MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO, GO AHEAD AND
[ATD 1. Call to Order]
CALL TO ORDER, UH, THE A TD UH, BOARD MEETING FOR JANUARY 28TH.UM, WE DO, WE HAVE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
[00:40:01]
NO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.[ATD 4. Consent Agenda]
AND MOVE TO CONSENT.TRUSTEES, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, MAY I HAVE MOTION? AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY OPPOSED? THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
WE DO NOT HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING.
TRUSTEES, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING? SO MOVED A MOTION.
ALL, UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THE A TD MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
AND JUST A LITTLE NOTE BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WANNA OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE OUR NEW PRESIDENT, CEO, FOR, UH, PRESIDING OVER HIS, UH, FIRST BOARD MEETING TODAY.
AND, AND MADAM CHAIR, THE FIRST ONE THAT YOU PRESIDED AS CHAIR OF OUR BOARD OF OF TRUSTEES, CONGRATULATIONS.