Seven days a week, 11:30 p.m. or 4:30 a.m., the time of day is not significant. Ring. . .ring. . . “Hello.”
     “Hi, Teri. This is your friendly dispatcher. I have a last-minute airport shuttle, Riverton to Lander, and the flight is two hours late. Can you cover this?”
     “Sure, no problem. I’ll be right there.” This positive attitude is only a small piece of the whole picture. Teri Osborne came to WRTA Bus Lines in August 2000 with no clue of what was in store for her. Because of her driver skills, passenger awareness, outstanding initiative, dedication and leadership to all those around her every day along with her fellow drivers, Teri was promoted to the WRTA Driver-Trainer position. Teri has put together a manual for training new drivers which has proven highly effective.
     Each day Teri transports Head Start three- and four-year-olds, grade-school, high-school, and college-age students. Early morning and late-evening hours, she transports passengers for employment and airport shuttles.
     WRTA has received numerous telephone calls and written commendations for her exemplary, professional, kind, and helpful manner. She is flexible, willing, punctual, and prepared for anything that might arise. Teri takes pride in and shows respect for all that she does. Whatever the task, from home to school, Riverton to Salt Lake, washing her bus or bay, to shoveling snow, Teri conquers the task safely, on time, and with a smile.

Sean Solan, WYTRANS President and WRTA Transportation Manager, left, presents the 2003 Driver of the Year Award to Teri Osborne of WRTA.

     As WYTRANS Trainers, we would like to nominate Bert King, Wind River Transportation Authority (WRTA) Operations Supervisor, as Trainer of the Year. Bert has been a WRTA employee for five years and is always ready to perform at extraordinary levels. She is a proud person and an excellent team leader. WRTA drivers and the other dispatcher report to her. Her daily tasks include answering and processing telephone requests. She also prepares special tour and group travel rates. She has been the in-house trainer for quite some time and she has been certified as a WYTRANS Safe Driver Trainer.
     Bert is very dedicated and she always goes the extra mile. She is very confident in answering any inquiries and is always an excellent representative of WRTA. Bert is also responsible for operational reports to WYDOT. Bert is truly an indispensable asset.
     We feel Bert is very deserving of the WYTRANS Trainer of the Year Award.