I currently work as the Public Affairs Manager for the pharmaceutical research and manufacturing company, Roche Colorado Corporation. I am fortunate to work for a company that encourages me to promote transit use among our employees and within the broader business community. I currently serve as Chair of the Boulder East Transportation Mobility Organization (TMO), a group that I helped to found. The Boulder East TMO works to expand the transportation choices for people who work in the area. Among other activities, the Boulder East TMO has successfully implemented Eco Pass promotion programs, a bike-pool system, and experimental circulator bus service.

From a regional perspective, it was my privilege to serve for a number of years as a member of the US 36 Transportation Mobility Organization. My work with this coalition of local government, agency and business representatives provided a forum for advancing business interests associated with transit investment in the region. I also served as the alternative business representative on the Denver Regional Council of Government’s (DRCOG) Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC is responsible for reviewing regional transportation plans and policies and provided me with another strong connection to the regional transportation arena.

Finally, working for a large local business, I have developed a direct appreciation for the challenges of expanding transit use amongst our workforce. Even with a free Eco-Pass in hand, employees will not choose transit unless it is convenient and comfortable. That means we need to be even more creative in our deployment of bus routes and high-frequency services that provide maximum commute flexibility. Further, we must be very conscious of the burden that rising Eco-Pass rates place on participating businesses. Continued rate hikes are jeopardizing this important employee benefit.