Meet our Managers

Ms. Linda Deavens
Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Deavens has served as Paratransit's CEO/Executive Director since January 1, 2008. She served most of the previous 29 years as the Deputy Executive Director of Paratransit after beginning her career as Paratransit's part-time temporary Secretary in 1979. Throughout her tenure Ms. Deavens has been directly responsible for designing, implementing, and managing all consolidation, coordination, and service expansion activities of the agency, including the successful transition of paratransit service to full ADA compliance before the statutory deadline.

Ms. Deavens has been responsible for conducting all public participation activities related to ADA service provision, including development of the ADA certification and appeals processes and policies related to riders. She has designed strategies to encourage use of fixed route transit by persons with disabilities, which are coordinated with the ADA certification process (initially managed by Paratransit staff under her direction), and which included consumer orientations to public transit, one-on-one mobility training, and fixed-route fare incentives.

Her expertise includes development of cost-sharing policies and procedures applicable to social-service agencies to prevent agency reliance on ADA complementary paratransit for agency program service delivery. Ms. Deavens has also implemented operating procedures designed to increase ADA capacity and improve productivity by reducing the consumer cancellation rate. These promising ideas were featured in the Transportation Research Board's Best Practices workshop in Monterey, California in 1997, as ideas worth replicating in other operating environments.

Paratransit uses automated scheduling software to develop manifests for its drivers and those of its taxi and van service providers. Its entire fleet is equipped with automatic vehicle location technology and Mobile Data Computers to facilitate paperless, real-time dispatching of trip data. This system is interfaced with Interactive Voice Technology to provide passenger database access to real-time data for on-line booking, automatically generated passenger phone calls providing "where's my bus" information and day-before ride reminders with cancellation opportunities all without speaking to a dispatcher or reservation agent. Likewise, similar satellite-based hardware and software is used for paperless reporting of vehicle defects identified on the road or in the pre- and post-trip driver vehicle inspections and it is interfaced to transportation and maintenance operations personnel so reporting occurs in real-time. Ms. Deavens has considerable experience successfully managing the transition to automation, including development of technical specifications, orderly implementation plans, ongoing comprehensive staff training programs, and consumer orientation services.

Ms. Deavens has served on the Board of Directors of the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CalACT) for the past several years having held every office and is its current Chair. CalACT is the largest statewide transit association in the United States with nearly 300 members dedicated to promoting professional excellence, stimulating ideas, and advocating for effective community transportation. Ms. Deavens led the statewide effort to establish operation by CalACT of California's Rural Training Assistance Program (RTAP). Ms. Deavens was the first transit professional to receive CalACT's Leadership Award presented at CalACT's first-ever Wall of Fame Awards Ceremony in spring of 2007. Among other things, she was selected for this award because of her role in guiding CalACT through a transition of executive leadership with the departure of its long-standing executive director at a time when CalACT was rolling out a national summit a landmark event focusing on critical challenges the transit industry faces today and in the future.

Recent experience includes development of the transportation element of California's Long-Range Strategic Plan on Aging, which includes implementation of a California Mobility Council, Mobility Task Force, and establishment of Mobility Management Centers throughout California. Working with the Transportation Task Team (TTT), which she currently chairs, Ms. Deavens helped organize and participated in California's United We Ride Mobility Summit "Convening Aging and Mobility Leadership" in March of 2005. She also chaired various TTT subcommittees, including the CTSA Mobility Management subcommittee. In 2003 Ms. Deavens was invited by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education to participate with other leaders in transportation in the first United We Ride Region IX Workshop for Coordinating State and Local Human Services Transportation building on the President's Executive Order on Human Service Transportation Coordination.

In the summer of 2006 Ms. Deavens and three other Californians formed a statewide team and successfully competed for a scholarship to attend the Institute for Transportation Coordination (ITC) sponsored by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA). This was an intensive training and planning forum created to enhance the capacity of communities to provide cost-effective and customer-focused transportation services by coordinating funding, information, services, and equipment. This opportunity brought additional training dollars to California to further the work of the TTT in implementing California's Mobility Action Plan. CTAA is a nationwide network of public and private transportation providers, local workforce development and human services agencies, public officials, transit associations, community-based organizations, and others working together to improve transportation access for all. Ms. Deavens is a long-term participant in CTAA activities and is recognized by its executive leadership as the "go-to person" at Paratransit, Inc. and CalACT. She has been featured in its national magazine as an early adaptor to transit technology and served as a national peer trainer in transportation management.

In 2007 Ms. Deavens was invited by the American Public Transit Association to participate in its first effort to address the broad range of mobility issues for people with disabilities, seniors, and the transportation disadvantaged through the establishment of the APTA Accessibility Standards Program. The standards or recommended practices developed as part of this national program may potentially impact all bus and paratransit, commuter rail, and rail transit operations in the United States as well as on a variety of issues with regard to policy and planning, legal affairs and legislation. This group is guided by a policy committee and technical committee, on which Ms. Deavens serves. She also serves on two of the initial three working groups: Call Center Management and Fixed Route Stop Announcements recently hosted at Paratransit, Inc. Working Group meetings are sponsored and paid for by APTA and are conducted at transit systems all across the country.

Ms. Mary Steinert
Deputy Executive Director

Ms. Steinert has over 28 years experience in public transit and paratransit management and is currently Paratransit's Deputy Executive Director. Her expertise covers all facets of transportation management including operations, business development, marketing, contract services, facilities management, customer communications, and driver training programs, dispatching, scheduling, maintenance, risk management, mobility training and labor and contract negotiations. She joined Paratransit in 1979, serving throughout the years in various management capacities and was a key player in developing the first statewide drivers' training program and the first small bus rodeo.

From 1988 to 2005, Ms. Steinert was the Director of Fleet and Maintenance Operations. In this capacity, she was responsible for management of the vehicle maintenance department which included procurement of vehicles, fuel and vehicle maintenance equipment. She secured state-of-the-art maintenance software allowing the department to go to a paperless shop and turned this department into a profit center. In addition she was responsible for all aspects related to driving operations. Supervising a staff of up to 120 drivers and 11 supervisors she managed driver recruitment and hiring, risk management, workers compensation, labor negotiations and contracts for transportation services. In addition, Ms Steinert worked with the Air Quality Management District to develop an Alternative Fuels Demonstration Project involving both agencies. She obtained a $1.3 million federal grant for this project to build and operate six alternatively fueled, purpose-built, small and medium buses (CNG, A55 and LPG).

In 1998, she was instrumental in securing the donation of Paratransit's current operations facility. The donation included more than four acres of land and a 20,000 square foot, ten-year old car dealership. Ms. Steinert was the lead coordinator and managed the ensuing extensive facility renovation. The needs of the organization required the addition of 24,000 square feet of office and maintenance space and the installation of a fueling site. It also included the need to meet and negotiate with the City of Sacramento, members of the City Council and local residents for permits, plans, site approvals and design. The facility design, contract development, and managing of the contractors were her responsibilities. The organization took possession of its new facility in June of 2001.

In 1999, Ms. Steinert was part of a team responsible for collaborating with various neighborhood groups to provide needed transportation to low-income, urban townhouse complexes and a local air force base now used for low-income housing. This collaboration resulted in the development and successful operation of three shuttles serving the needs of this identified group of citizens.

In 2001, she led the development of a coordinated local transportation system that interfaced with the regional transit service by working with stakeholders from the private sector, city officials and local residents of North Natomas, and the North Natomas Transportation Management Association in Sacramento, California.

In 2003, she developed successful working relationships with local utility companies and received grants exceeding $400,000 to complete one of the largest solar energy projects existing in the South Sacramento area. The majority of the existing roof top (44,000 square feet) is covered with solar panels.

In other collaborative ventures Ms. Steinert has worked with a private company to develop a "taxi" type all-electric vehicle to be used in commercial service. This innovative technology will be the first of its kind in the Sacramento Region. With an eye to future projects such as this, the development of a car share program, and the continuation of the Paratransit Mobility Training Program she hopes to set the stage to have a significant impact on air quality and mobility options in the Sacramento Valley.

Ms. Steinert currently directs Paratransit's new division, Innovative Paradigms. The purpose of forming this new division is to seek new business opportunities to enhance Paratransit's revenue base. Since its formation, Innovative Paradigms has assisted transit agencies and commissions in multiple states and jurisdictions developing business plans; performing financial and operations audits, transportation studies and functional reviews; developing and implementing Public Transit-Human Service Coordination Plans; providing temporary executive transit management services; and operating mobility management services.

Ms. Steinert studied political science and public service at the University of California, Davis. She received a certificate in Transit and Paratransit Management from Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business. She was Board Chair of Community Transit Agency in the City of Galt for three years, is a past Executive Board Member of the Environmental Council of Sacramento, a founding member and Secretary of "For Our Children's Foundation", a founding member of the Sacramento Mobility Coalition, and a founding member of the Power Inn Transportation Management Association (renamed "The Power Inn Road Business and Transportation Association"). Ms. Steinert recently served on the California Highway Patrol's Advisory Committee, and is currently serving as Chair of the Older Californian Traffic Safety Task Force Mobility Workgroup. She also works with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments as an active participant in with the Metropolitan Transportation Planning process and has led an effort to provide travel training to Sacramento residents with limited English language skills.

Ms. Chris Brown
Human Resources Manager

Ms. Brown has been with Paratransit since 1994 and is the Human Resources Manager. She earned her Human Resources Management Certificate from California State University, Sacramento in December 2001 and is a member of the national human resource organization, Society for Human Resource Management. Ms. Brown has streamlined Paratransit's employment application process to ensure the efficient processing of applications and compliance with federal and state laws. She administers the benefits programs for bargaining and non-bargaining unit staff and has been a key factor in controlling the costs in these areas. Ms. Brown has developed procedures for the timely and accurate processing of all federally mandated leaves of absence requests as well as those governed by Paratransit policy. She also leads her staff in the implementation of the Company's Wellness Program to promote health and well-being among the employees. Ms. Brown ensures Paratransit's compliance with the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Mr. J.D. Culver
Director of Mobility Options

Mr. Culver joined Paratransit in 1983 working his way up in short order from driver to leader of Paratransit's nationally-recognized Mobility Training Program. Each year his staff trains nearly 600 people with disabilities to safely utilize fixed route transportation in the Sacramento region. Over 30 local agencies serving clients with disabilities have become regular consumers of Mobility Training due to Mr. Culver's marketing efforts. Each trainee's transit mode choice is monitored regularly to demonstrate the remarkable success of this program. To his credit, nearly 70,000 trips a year that would otherwise have been taken on complementary paratransit in Sacramento have been successfully diverted to fixed route. This program is funded with local resources and competitive grants written by Paratransit. Mr. Culver's efforts at getting people with disabilities to give fixed route transit a try have yielded an annual savings to Sacramento Regional Transit and the community of approximately $1,600,000. These mobility management services are currently being marketed by Paratransit's Innovative Paradigms division to other communities within and outside of California. Mr. Culver not only manages Paratransit's program, but also that of Spokane Transit in the state of Washington, and is developing the newest program for the San Joaquin Regional Transit District in Stockton, California.

Ms. Ninh Dao-Dickinson
Director of Transportation Operations

Ms. Dao-Dickinson came to Paratransit in 1983 at age 19. She was a Vietnamese immigrant participating in the Asian Job Resources' Summer Youth Program. Ms. Dickinson demonstrated exceptional skills in paratransit operational functions and quickly rose through the ranks, handling steadily increasing responsibilities. She was ultimately promoted to the position of Director of Transportation Operations. In this capacity she manages the day-to-day operations of the Call Center, Customer Service, Dispatch Center, Scheduling Center, Training Center, and Support unit staff and their first line supervisors and managers. She has assembled and trained a multi-lingual team possessing skills to operate Paratransit's sophisticated computerized scheduling technologies and the ability to provide exceptional customer service to Paratransit's elderly and disabled consumers. She specializes in managing the introduction of new technologies within Paratransit's transportation and maintenance operations, ensuring that the operating protocols between work units are synchronized, adhered to, and achieve multiple objectives that yield efficient service to Paratransit's various consumers. Typical technologies include automated real-time scheduling systems, in-vehicle dispatching systems (mobile data computers equipped with GPS and satellite tracking devices), wireless GPS/AVL-based vehicle preventive maintenance inspection devices that interface with vehicle maintenance software, and automated telephone system technology. Her staff prepare and provide a variety of information useful to management and decision making of the organization's leadership group and Board of Directors.

Ms. Mary Harding
Transportation Operations Manager

Ms Harding came to Paratransit in 1983 as a driver for the Senior Nutrition Program. Similar to other members of the leadership group, she worked her way through the ranks by assuming increasingly responsible duties within the transportation operations unit. She currently serves as a Transportation Operations Manager responsible for managing the Training Center and the Scheduling Center. The training unit develops and administers training programs in the use of all software and hardware utilized at Paratransit by various transportation operations personnel. In addition to becoming technically proficient, Ms. Harding makes sure new employees feel truly welcome in their new jobs and are equipped to be successful. She oversees the DMV Employer Testing Program and ensures Paratransit is compliant with all regulations related to this program and passes its annual audits with zero deficiencies. Ms. Harding also manages the scheduling staff whose duties are to maintain subscription trip demand and to optimize the daily demand response routes to make them as productive and realistic as possible before the day of service. This entails planning and scheduling approximately 2,000 trips a day. While Ms. Harding trained to become a massage therapist, she ultimately chose to make Paratransit her life's work, demonstrating her commitment to the mission and the community Paratransit serves. Ms. Harding has earned the respect of her peers and subordinates through her expertise, compassion for what we do, and her uniquely keen sense of humor.

Ms. Janice Howes
Transportation Operations Manager

Ms. Howes is a Transportation Operations Manager and started her work with Paratransit in 1987 in various capacities within transportation operations. She is responsible for Paratransit's Call Center, Customer Advocacy unit, and oversight and management of Paratransit's Consolidated Transportation Services Agency (CTSA) agreements. She is also in charge of the collection and reconciliation of all statistical data related to Paratransit's multiple services and programs. Ms. Howes works closely with Paratransit's Information Systems Department to ensure the integrity of a wide variety of ever-expanding statistical data used to responsibly manage Paratransit's resources and to respond to the requests for information made of Paratransit by various funding agencies. Development of Paratransit's Customer Advocacy Department has been one of her most noted achievements - she puts the customers first and provides a level of transparency that is unprecedented in paratransit operations, making routine reports to the Board of Directors and answering all queries made of Paratransit by its customers. As a CTSA Paratransit is charged with coordinating with human service agencies to ensure their transportation programs remain viable and are efficient and effective. She has solidified working relationships with senior leadership of these agencies, negotiates annual cost-sharing agreements, develops improvements to their transportation programs, and acts as Paratransit's primary liaison with these agencies and various advocacy and advisory groups.

Ms. Colleen Johnson
Director of Administrative Services:

Ms. Johnson is Director of Administrative Services and pursuant to Paratransit's bylaws is Assistant Secretary to the Corporation. She joined Paratransit in 1989 after serving as Assistant Branch Manager for Sacramento Savings Bank. Ms. Johnson administers Paratransit's Drug and Alcohol Testing program and is an expert in the Federal Transit Administration's regulations for pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty and follow-up testing and reporting. Through her leadership Paratransit became the first agency in Sacramento to provide domestic partner coverage through Kaiser Permanente. She also instituted Paratransit's Modified Duty Work Program, and is credited with reducing Paratransit's workers' compensation claims by nearly half within the first year of operation of this new program. Ms. Johnson participated in the successful formation of the first self-insurance, workers' compensation pool for nonprofits in the State of California. Because of her expertise in personnel administration, risk management, and the FTA Drug and Alcohol Testing regulations, Ms. Johnson is called on to share her knowledge with other social service agencies in our region as part of Paratransit's CTSA charge.

Mr. Philip McGuire
Executive Director (Innovative Paradigms Division)

In 1978 Mr. McGuire and Paratransit's recently retired CEO, Bill Durant, founded Paratransit, Inc. In 2006, Mr. McGuire returned to his roots to create a new division at Paratransit called Innovative Paradigms - the consulting and management arm of Paratransit designed to supplement Paratransit's mobility management activities that serve the older adults and disability communities. Mr. McGuire has worked in the transit field his entire career during which he has held senior management positions with some of the nation's largest transit operating companies. As the head of Paratransit's new division Mr. McGuire specializes in the temporary executive management of transportation programs operated by the nonprofit and public transit sectors. He also prepares proposals, business plans, and transit studies on behalf of Paratransit, sometimes forming project teams in conjunction with other consulting firms. The overnight success of Innovative Paradigms is attributed to Mr. McGuire's leadership in rolling his former private management and consulting practice into this new division. His nationally-recognized expertise in creating and managing Consolidated Transportation Services Agencies, providing mobility management services, and preparing and implementing locally-developed public transit-human service transportation plans makes Paratransit highly competitive in landing new business opportunities as borne out by the large number of projects currently underway within California, and in Hawaii and the state of Washington.

Ms. Linda Parker
Executive Assistant

Ms. Parker has been with Paratransit since 1996 after serving as an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager with Sacramento Savings Bank. She has held several increasingly responsible positions in Paratransit's transportation operations unit, and its planning and transit development department utilizing her management, organizational, and customer service skills. Located at Paratransit's downtown office, Ms. Parker is responsible for managing all administrative functions of the ongoing diversified services and projects underway, supervising support staff, managing accounts payable; and coordinating scheduling and planning activities, meetings, and events. Ms. Parker is also an Associate Consultant in Paratransit's Innovative Paradigms division. In this capacity she is responsible for writing capital grants for contracting agencies and coordinating and overseeing administrative functions at agencies utilizing Innovative Paradigms' temporary executive management services.

Mr. Ed Radza
Information Systems Manager

Mr. Radza joined Paratransit in October of 1995 and manages the technical support team of programmers and hardware technicians. He is responsible for the development, procurement, security and maintenance of Paratransit's transportation, maintenance, and accounting computer network, telephone system, facility monitoring systems, and various other computerized and electronic systems essential to the operations. He managed the testing and implementation of the satellite-based dispatching and mobile data computer systems as well as a variety of other in-vehicle technologies, including the radio system, wireless preventive maintenance inspection system, and automated fueling system. He manages Paratransit's multi-queue automated call distributor system, radio and telephone recording system, voice-mail system, and Automated Booking and Cancellation Telephone System. Mr. Radza and his programming team develop in-house software applications where inadequate or no commercial solutions are available to meet the needs of Paratransit. A recent innovation he designed for Paratransit's customers is web-based access to Paratransit's scheduling database providing riders with real-time "Where's My Bus" information displayed on a Google map showing the actual time and location of the last location of the vehicle, the projected time and location of the passenger's stop, and the projected time and location of the next location of the bus in addition to the bus number and driver's name. Mr. Radza is the developer of Paratransit's website and is its webmaster. Not only does he continue to keep Paratransit up to date with the latest technological advances, but he provides the data sets needed by various individuals to mine and analyze the information contained in Paratransit's databases. He also maintains the service area map as the fixed routes are modified from time to time.

Mr. Steve Robinson-Burmester
Chief Financial Officer

Since joining Paratransit in 1991 Mr. Robinson-Burmester has managed Paratransit's Accounting Department bringing Paratransit's practices to the highest levels of accountability. As Chief Financial Officer he is responsible for budgeting, financing, auditing, data analysis and all accounting functions. In 2002, he formed Paratransit's data analysis group, which analyzes and reports data from Paratransit's operations, financial, personnel and maintenance databases. The data analysis group also uses external economic and census data to create and maintain long-range service and financial forecasts to ensure that Paratransit's service meets the needs of the community and complies with federal regulations related to the provision of complementary paratransit service. Mr. Robinson-Burmester has an MBA from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management in Management Information Systems, and a BA in Psychology (with a Statistics minor). He came to Paratransit with more than seven years' experience with the following firms: UC Davis (as an internal auditor), Hewlett Packard (as a systems analyst), and with both Ernst & Young and Smedley, Munn, and Company (as a manager in their respective microcomputer consulting divisions). He is active with volunteer groups performing wildlife and emergency animal rescue services, and has been a Big Brother. He is the champion of Paratransit's wildly popular employee wellness program.

Ms. Letitia Young
Transportation Operations Manager

Ms. Young joined Paratransit in August of 1981 as a clerk in the transportation operations unit handling ride reservations and Paratransit's former Senior Transportation Taxi Assistance program. She was subsequently promoted to increasingly responsible positions at Paratransit because of her natural ability to simultaneously juggle multiple complex problems unique to the dispatching and scheduling world. As Paratransit grew, so did the level of responsibility she assumed. Today Ms. Young manages the first line supervisors who oversee the driving staff and the dispatching staff. She has organized the dispatching team into a support unit for the drivers and the customers. She makes certain that the drivers have the tools and support they need to do their jobs well, that they take off on time every day so their passengers receive on-time service. She devises training and operating practices to measure and monitor staff performance in all areas under her sphere of influence. Ms. Young's passionate support of Paratransit's mission comes partially from her personal experience of having a visually challenged parent. Her rise in the ranks to senior management was hard earned. While working full time during the day, she attended community college by night, ultimately completing her studies and graduating from California State University, Sacramento. Ms. Young is a firm believer in providing Paratransit's passengers with quality service and showing them dignity and respect. She is also an advocate for older adults and members of the disability community.